![Smiling woman sitting in driver's seat accepting a key from hand off camera](https://www.bankrate.com/2011/08/30010622/9-tips-to-get-a-good-deal-on-your-first-auto-loan.jpeg?auto=webp&fit=crop&width=230&height=150)
8 tips for choosing the right first-time auto loan
Your first auto loan can be mysterious — but you can peek behind the curtain.
The better you understand how loans work and how lenders think, the better equipped you are to save on your loan.
— Pippin Wilbers
About the author
Pippin Wilbers is a Bankrate editor. He joined the personal loans team in 2024, though he's also contributed work on the auto loans, credit cards, student loans and small business loan verticals. Pippin is passionate about demystifying complex topics, such as car financing or finding the best personal loan, and helping borrowers stay up-to-date in a changing and challenging borrower environment.
Pippin stays on top of industry news sources, such as TransUnion and Experian. Working with reporters Hanneh Bareham and Denny Ceizyk, he analyzes industry data and trends and asks: "What does this mean for borrowers?"
Pippin lives in Denver. Before joining Bankrate, he brought vital news to his community as a small-town newspaper reporter. In his spare time, he enjoys foraging for mushrooms, reading, and dabbling in amateur entomology.
The better you understand how loans work and how lenders think, the better equipped you are to save on your loan.
— Pippin Wilbers
Your first auto loan can be mysterious — but you can peek behind the curtain.
If your loan co-signer dies, you’ll take on full responsibility for the loan.
If your loan co-signer dies, you’ll take on full responsibility for the loan.
A breach of covenant is the violation of a contractual promise.
A breach of covenant is the violation of a contractual promise.
Gathering documents in advance can save you time when applying for a business loan.
Gather all the documents you need before applying for startup loans.
Many lenders offer lines of credit that top out at $500,000 or less.