Help Needed On Getting Car Loan

[NewStart2010]

Hello! I've done some research on here and really can't find the best overall rate for a car loan. My bankruptcy was final almost 2 years ago and I'm ready for a good used car. I want to trade my 97 Taurus in for a down payment and want payments around $125 a month. This would greatly help my credit score which is 651 and I'm ecstatic!

Any threads I've missed with good info for agencies/banks I can apply to? I don't want too many credit pulls on my report to bring me down. I also want to look for a reasonable amount for the car too. I really am looking at raising my score this year. I pay off a small credit card and a student loan and so far my payments are on time and look great! I really hope someone could help me with this.

I sure do appreciate it!
Thanks!

[StartingOver08]

Since it has been two years since your discharge, go to your local credit union and get a loan there...then shop for a car. You will be able to strike a much better deal because you have your financing all lined up and it is a cash deal to the dealer.

If you go to a dealer, not only is the interest rate higher, but they do all kinds of credit pulls because they shop you with a bunch of lenders. Then you end up with a loan that usually costs more and you have reduced your score because of all in the inquires! BTW, this is SOP for dealers to do that...they want to charge you higher interest to make more money on the deal. Many of the dealers make more on the financing than on the car sale itself.