Easterns Automotive Group has been one DC, Maryland and Virginia go to used car dealership groups since 1988. We have established such an amazing place in our communities by not only selling high quality, certified vehicles but by also selling some of the best additional coverage packages available to the market. We believe in keeping your investments safe, affordable, and reliable to keep you and your family on the road and happy.

You can be confident in your choice because every car sold at Easterns comes with a 7-Day Return Policy and a complementary 30 Day/1,000-Mile Warranty.

Auto Loans 101 – What are they and how do they work?

For a large majority of car buyers, getting a car loan is part of the process. Whether it is a new $50k SUV or a used car for under $10k, getting financing allows for one to make monthly payments toward the total cost of the car. There are many factors that go into an auto loan – the total price of the car, the loan terms and length, the downpayment amount, and any additional fees. Your credit score also determines what type of loan you can get, although here at Easterns Automotive we are pleased to offer bad credit loans – giving those with not so perfect credit a chance to purchase a car. Read on to get a better understanding of exactly how a car loan works!

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How will I know what my monthly payment will be?

A car loan has three primary factors that affect monthly payments.

Loan Amount: This is the amount of money you are borrowing. It includes the cost of the vehicle, but can vary due to what you get for a trade-in and what your are making for a down payment.

APR on the loan:  This is the effective interest rate you pay on your loan. It can greatly vary as well.

Loan Term: The final factor is the loan term, which can vary from 36-84 months. This is the amount of time you have to pay back the loan.

At Easterns Automotive, we will always ensure you understand your monthly obligation to your car loan provider. So once all of these factors are taken into account, we can explain to you what your monthly payment will be, and even work towards a target of a certain monthly payment that fits your budget. 

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I need financing for a used car, what are the next steps?

So, you have determined you are ready to buy your next vehicle, and you know you need financing – how do you get started?

1) Credit score: The first step is to be aware of what your credit is. Everyone has access to view their credit report. If there is anything inaccurate, that is making your score lower, you can report it and have the info corrected. 

2) Determine your budget: Getting a new or used vehicle is an exciting event; you should be able to enjoy your big purchase, so it is important to determine a budget that you can handle, and stick to. Don’t forget to consider other costs such as insurance and registration. 

3) View inventory: Now you know your general budget, it is time to decide the type of vehicle you want. Consider top priorities, such as passenger space or engine power. View the various inventory and look at specific models that are for sale. At Easterns we have a huge selection of cars, trucks, SUVs, minivans, and more! We are sure to have something for everyone. 

4) Get pre-approved: You can apply to get pre-approved for an auto loan right on our website, it’s that easy! Our finance team will go over your application, and get in touch with you in a timely manner. They will let you know how much you are approved for, and the fine details of the vehicle loan. 

5) Visit the dealership: Lastly, stop by the dealership to test drive the vehicle you are interested in, go over the final details, and sign the paper work. Make sure you understand all aspects of your loan and vehicle purchase. If you have questions, feel free to ask! The friendly staff at the Easterns dealerships is happy to give you answers. 

Shopping for your next car is an exciting time. If all goes well you will drive away in a vehicle that serves all of your needs, fits your budget, and makes you happy to drive! At Easterns Automotive, we also know that the car buying process can be a bit nerve-wracking. You might be worried about finding a used car that meets ALL of your needs, as well as your wants. But you also may be a little overwhelmed when it comes to the financing process. Of course, our professional finance team at Easterns is here to help! We will walk you through getting a car loan, step-by-step. We welcome your questions and concerns, and will be pleased to offer you any information you need. But before you start your process of getting a loan, you may want to get an understanding of the basic lingo that you might hear. It is truly important to know exactly what you are signing for when you sign on that dotted line. So, read on for a quick overview of some terms to learn, or watch our video below:

LTV:  This stands for loan-to-value ratio. In other words, if you have an $18,000 loan on a $20,000 car, that’s a 90% LTV. To refer to your position in an existing car loan, you might hear the terms upside-down, underwater or negative equity. All of these terms simply mean that you owe more money on a vehicle than it is currently worth. This situation could increase the LTV of a new loan if you roll over the equity.

PTI: PTI stands for payment-to-income, which is the amount of your car payment divided into your pre-tax income. In general, this number should be around 15%.

DTI: This term stands for debt-to-income, which is all of your monthly debt divided by income. This could include credit card payments or mortgage payments. In general, this number shouldn’t be higher than 50%.

POI: POI stands for proof-of-income, and POR stands for proof of residency.

In this video, Joel Bassam, the Director of Marketing for Easterns Automotive Group, breaks down some of the car lingo you might hear during the process of buying your car.

Ever wonder how we get such great looking photos of our inventory? We know online shoppers want to have a detailed look at any vehicle that they might potentially want to buy, and are pleased to offer our customers an incredible look at each car, without ever having to leave your home!

In this video, Joel Bassam, the Director of Marketing at Easterns Automotive Group, gives an eye-opening look into how we go above and beyond to make our cars picture-perfect. We have a dedicated, one-of-a-kind photography booth located in our reconditioning complex. The centerpiece of the room rotates so that we can offer 360-degree views of every car. We custom designed and produced a 24’ x 24’ lightbox to showcase every vehicle in its best light. Our two full-time professional photographers work throughout the day, taking 80 pictures per car so that every customer gets a transparent look at exactly what they are getting. Stay tuned for more inside looks at how we stand in a class of our own. Always remember—at Eastern Motors, your job is your credit!

Why take chances with your investment?

In the event that your vehicle is stolen, accidentally damaged beyond repair or otherwise declared a total loss, your insurance company will pay their interpretation of your vehicle’s value – not what it’s worth to you. 1 After your insurance company values your vehicle, you could still owe a substantial amount on your loan or lease. You remain liable for paying the difference between your insurance company’s settlement and your remaining balance. This difference – added to the amount of your deductible, time missed from work, rental car costs, a replacement vehicle and other expenses – can easily total thousands of dollars out of pocket.

In this video, Joel Bassam, the Director of Marketing at Easterns Automotive Group, describes the importance of GAP, or Guaranteed Asset Protection, insurance. This insurance goes into effect when a vehicle is totaled or otherwise lost, but more money is owed on it than it’s worth. That means your regular insurance will pay less than what you owe. GAP insurance covers the extra cost so that you can pay the vehicle off, and it is offered to every one of Easterns Automotive’s clients. Always remember – at Easterns Automotive, your job is your credit!

 

KBB Trusted Advisor Program

 

The KBB Trusted Advisor Program streamlines the vehicle trade-in and purchase process, from online to in-showroom. It helps to offer a fast, easy and less stressful car shopping experience; exactly what consumers are looking for!

In this video, Joel Bassam, the Director of Marketing at Easterns Automotive Group, discusses Easterns Automotive’s partnership with Kelly Blue Book. This partnership makes use of the Trusted Advisor Program, which allows consumers to do their research on Easterns Automotive’s website to find the most current market prices on the vehicle for which they’re shopping. The real-time data used in the Price Advisor Report product is aggregated by a third party based on real prices. Always remember – at Easterns Automotive, your job is your credit!

In this video, Joel Bassam, the Director of Marketing at Easterns Automotive Group, walks through a brief sampling of the history between our hometown team, The Washington Redskins, and Easterns. It all began 15 years ago when Lavar Arrington helped us to recruit our first all-star commercial cast. That first commercial had plenty of household names, including Clinton Portis, Lavar Arrington, Carlos Rogers and Sean Taylor. From that first commercial, our relationship grew to include the entire Redskins organization and not just the upstanding players. As of 2018, we’ve been a partner of the Redskins for over 13 years, and one of the first things local residents anticipate when a new player arrives in town is seeing them in an Easterns Automotive Group commercial. And yes, the ads are supposed to be corny! Learn more about our relationship with The Washington Redskins and check out our other commercials here. Always remember—at Eastern Motors, your job is your credit!

You have probably heard the term ‘buy-here pay-here.’ It’s generally used as a descriptor in marketing, which leads a lot of car shoppers to assume buy-here pay-here is a good thing. If you’ve seen dealerships advertising themselves as being a buy-here pay-here dealership but aren’t exactly sure what that means, or if it’s a good thing, we’re here to help.

Here at Easterns Automotive, we do our best to inform our customers about all aspects of the automotive world. We encourage you to watch the video above where Joel Bassam, the Director of Marketing for Easterns Automotive Group, breaks down the differences between a traditional car dealership and a buy-here pay-here lot.

 

How Does a Buy-Here Pay-Here Lot Work?

At a traditional car dealership, financing is secured through a partner or bank. At a buy-here pay-here lot, the financing is completed by the dealer.

While that might seem like a small difference, it greatly impacts the consumer experience in negative ways.

 

Shopping at a Buy-Here Pay-Here Dealership Won’t Improve Your Credit Score

Some people assume they won’t qualify for credit anywhere except a buy-here pay-here lot. Since buy-here pay-here dealerships allegedly help people who can’t qualify for financing through traditional dealerships and auto lenders, they often charge extremely high interest rates to their customers.

Paying higher interest rates is sometimes inevitable when you’re building or repairing your credit, but in order for your payments to positively impact your credit report they must first be reported to the credit agencies. A lot of buy-here pay-here dealerships don’t report to the three credit bureaus, so making payments on time won’t be positively reflected in your credit score.

 

Isn’t Getting Financing from the Dealership More Convenient?

Not necessarily. A buy-here pay-here dealership might also require particularly high down payments to reduce their risk exposure when “financing” their customers’ vehicle purchases.

Getting a vehicle through a buy-here pay-here lot in Washington DC or Baltimore isn’t just financially burdensome, it’s also logistically inconvenient in the long run. Many buy-here pay-here dealerships require shoppers to deliver their car payments to the dealership monthly or in some cases even weekly.

 

Reduced Selection of Vehicles and Loans

The interest rates offered by buy-here pay-here dealerships are often extraordinarily high. You likely qualify for a significantly better rate at a traditional used vehicle dealership even if your credit isn’t perfect.

If you’re worried about your credit (or lack of it) preventing you from purchasing a vehicle, contact Easterns Automotive. We specialize in helping everyone, even people with less-than-perfect credit, find a legitimate auto financing solution.

Unlike at a normal dealership where your auto loan and vehicle purchase are separate, these two transactions are combined at a buy-here pay-here dealership. That means the dealer determines how much financing you qualify for and which vehicles you’re “allowed” to choose off their lot.

At Easterns Automotive the vehicle you choose to purchase, your choice of auto loan and your vehicle purchasing method are entirely your decisions.

Some buy-here pay-here dealerships are forced to offer their own financing because they sell cars that can’t be financed through normal channels. Auto lenders generally won’t loan money for the purchase of vehicles past a certain age or for a vehicle with known problems. At a buy-here pay-here dealership they can get away with selling customers lower quality vehicles since the auto lenders aren’t involved.

That means the vehicle selection on a buy-here pay-here lot generally won’t feature many high-quality, reliable cars, trucks and SUVs.

 

Why is Easterns Automotive in Virginia and Maryland Better? 

When choosing the right auto financing or vehicle purchasing method for you, remember that at Easterns Automotive Group, your job is your credit.

Because we do our financing through secure and reputable financing partners, making full on-time payments will gradually improve your credit score! If you’re relying on car financing as one of your tools for improving your credit, Easterns Automotive can help.

We also offer convenient monthly payments that can all be done online. You can even setup autopay, so you never have to worry about paying late.

Lastly, Easterns Automotive has a HUGE selection of cars, trucks, SUVs and more. When you are shopping for your next vehicle, you want selection – and at Easterns, you will find it, every time. 

Does Any Type of Warranty Come With My Used Car?

If you are used to a new car purchase, then you are used to getting a warranty that will cover any issues on your car for a certain period of time. If you are now in the market for a used car, one of the main questions you might have is…does a warranty come with the car?

Used Car Warranties Explained

In this video above, Joel Bassam, the Director of Marketing for Easterns Automotive Group, breaks down what car warranties are. Warranties in the automotive space can be surprisingly complicated, and things get more complicated when purchasing a used car. There are two types of warranties, the original manufacturer warranty, and extended warranties. 

 

The Original Manufacturer’s Warranty

The first type of warranty to consider is the original manufacturer’s car warranty. It will stick with the vehicle regardless of ownership, so some used cars will still have coverage at the time of purchase. You can always see what remains on the CarFax report.

 

Extended Warranties from Easterns Automotive

You can choose to extend the coverage by purchasing an additional vehicle service contract or extended warranty. At Easterns Automotive Group, our extended car warranties are designed to keep your car in great shape and keep you on the road for as long as possible. Repairing and replacing all protected parts and labor will be covered, in addition to added benefits like roadside assistance, towing coverage, rental car reimbursement and more. Finally, every car purchased from Easterns is backed up by a 7-day return policy and a 30-day, 1,000-mile warranty. Remember, at Easterns Automotive Group, your job is your credit!

Choosing a Used Car Dealer You Can Trust

So, you are in the market for a used car. Maybe you have browsed various online inventory, and have even found something you are interested in! When you purchase a vehicle, it is a huge investment. You want to make sure that you have trust in the dealership you are working with. There are various ways to get an idea if a dealership is trustworthy, or not. The most important thing to do is to be observant, do a little research, and make sure it feels right to you. In the video above, Joel Bassam, the Director of Marketing for Easterns Automotive Group, discusses what every consumer should consider before choosing a car dealership to purchase a car from.

How a Dealer Presents Themselves

First, you should think about how a dealership presents itself. Look at photos of the dealer’s lot and cars. A good, honest car dealership will be proud of the inventory on each lot. A dealers website experience will also most likely reflect the in-store experience. A good dealer will have an updated and easy to navigate digital presence.

Multiple Review Platforms

Next, you should examine review platforms like Google, BBB, and cars.com. You should also pay attention to how dealerships respond to reviews. A good dealer takes constructive criticism as an opportunity to improve.

Additional Benefits

Finally, you should think about what additional benefits a dealership might offer. Things like what we offer. A 7 Day Return policy and 30 Day / 1,000 Mile Warranty. We also offer an extensive list of additional protection plans to keep you on the road in budget.

Finding a Used Car Dealer in MD or VA

We hope that Easterns Automotive Group checks all of the boxes on your car dealership list. We pride ourselves on offering high-quality vehicles and making customer service our top priority. We are also pleased to have a variety of locations across Maryland and Virginia, making it easy for you to find a store right in your area! Give us a call, or visit us today!