EXPRESS LANE BLOG

Shopping for a car can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time because there are multiple factors that go into deciding which vehicle to purchase. Outside of price, other factors include quality, reliability, and cost of ownership. Here are a few important factors to consider when shopping for a car.

Adulting can come with its fair share of challenges, especially pertaining to your finances. Whether you’re a first-time car buyer with limited credit history or someone who’s experienced financial hardship (i.e., bankruptcy, repossession, foreclosure, etc.) that resulted in bad credit, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to help you along your credit and car buying journey.

Depending on how you use it, having a credit card can come with positive or negative outcomes. If you have a limited credit history or no credit history, a major advantage is that it can help you build positive credit. On the flip side, misusing your credit card by spending beyond your means can do some serious damage to your credit. Understanding the pros and cons of using a credit card is important, which is why we’ve compiled a list of them below:...

Cars have evolved drastically over time, from their design to their technology. But have you ever seen a car so unique looking that it makes you do a double take? If not, check out some of these strange-looking cars ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

While gas-powered vehicles remain the most conventional option for car buyers, fuel-efficient vehicles are steadily gaining traction as consumer values become more centered on environmental sustainability. If you’re car shopping and are torn between whether to purchase a gas, hybrid, or electric vehicle, the following information may be helpful to you.

So, you’re ready to buy a car, but don’t quite know where to start. Understandable! The car buying process involves a lot of time, research, and of course, money, which is why you should be as prepared as possible. Here are six things you should know before buying a car: 1) Know your credit history. If you are considering buying a car, it’s important to know where you stand in terms of your credit, especially if you plan on applying for auto financing. You can do this by checking your...

While buying a car should be an exciting time for car shoppers, it can come with its challenges if you have bad credit or no credit. When you apply for financing or a loan to buy a car, auto lenders and finance companies will review your credit history to determine whether you will be approved and, in some cases, what interest rate you will receive. Typically, these companies consider borrowers with prime and super prime credit scores (661-850) to have high creditworthiness, meaning...

With so much that has transpired in the automotive industry and economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be wondering if now’s the right time to buy a car. Before we dive into the answer, let’s look at the stats. Microchip shortages have resulted in limited availability of new vehicles, increasing the demand — and price — of used vehicles. But auto industry experts are seeing a slow decline in new and used car prices, an early sign of recovery. In a Kelly Blue Book article published...

Your credit history is one of the first things auto lenders and finance companies review to determine if you’re qualified for car financing. If you have bad credit or no credit and are looking to get approved for a car loan, mortgage, or credit card, there’s a strong chance you may not get approved for prime credit with lower terms and interest rates. Depending on your credit score, you could qualify for nonprime or subprime financing. What is nonprime financing? According to Experian,...

With purchasing a vehicle being a major investment for most people, getting approved for auto financing is typically a central component of the car buying process. Since there are numerous factors that go into determining your car loan or financing amount, it’s important to understand what’s involved and how this impacts your monthly car payment, so you can make an informed decision. Keeping this in mind, here are some key factors that affect your monthly car payments: Credit score ...

Credit building is an important part of your financial wellness journey. When you’re trying to secure financing to purchase a car or home, lenders and other finance companies will typically check your credit reports to review your payment history and other credit attributes. Since you essentially need credit to build credit, here are some ways you can establish and manage your credit after school: Start paying your student loans. If you have student loans, making timely payments every...

Life can come with its fair share of adversity, especially pertaining to your finances. While some situations — such as car repossession, foreclosure, and bankruptcy — can cause your credit score to take a hit, there are effective ways you can rebuild your credit. But rebuilding your credit doesn’t happen overnight — it takes time, consistency, and patience. There are no shortcuts or secrets, just dedication and determination. Before we get into how to rebuild your credit, let’s briefly...

Anyone who owns a car and lives in colder climates has, at one point or another, experienced the nuisance of walking to their car on a brisk, icy day to find their windshield frozen solid. While most people in this scenario may opt to scrape the ice off their windshield and/or run the car with the heat blasting to melt the ice (which isn’t the most environmentally friendly method), there are ways you can prevent your car windshield from freezing over. Effective Methods to Prevent Icy Car...

Learning how to properly parallel park is like a badge of honor for many drivers. While the thought of squeezing your car between two vehicles may seem intimidating at first, it’s smooth sailing – or parking – once you get the hang of it. If you’re a new driver learning the ropes, here’s a quick crash course (no pun) on how to parallel park your car: Find a parking spot with the right amount of space for your vehicle. As you approach a parking spot, be sure to check your mirrors, turn...

For many folks, getting from Point A to Point B is a daily task — one that requires a quality, reliable vehicle. Between commuting to and from work, chauffeuring the little ones between school and extracurricular activities, taking trips to the grocery store, and running weekend errands, the amount of time we spend in our cars adds up. So, how much time is that, exactly? According to a recent article, Americans spend an average of one hour per day in the car and approximately six percent...

As you’re probably aware, owning a car costs money to not only purchase, but maintain. It’s an investment that requires time, care, and attention to detail – that’s if you want your car to last a while. And with the winter season upon us, it’s especially important to ensure you’re intentional about your car maintenance. Here are some car maintenance tips to prevent vehicle wear and tear and keep your car running properly. Reduce start-and-stop driving Constantly starting and stopping...

When purchasing a vehicle, most car buyers are focused on getting approved for a car loan or auto financing. With auto lenders and finance companies making credit to buy a car more accessible to borrowers, it’s possible for car financing terms to stretch out for years. Here’s how you can pay off your current car financing faster: Determine your current balance When planning to pay off your car faster, the first step is to look at the details of your auto loan or financing. Generally,...

With your vehicle most likely being one of your most valued, used possessions, it’s natural to want to keep it looking and feeling fresh and clean. In addition to getting your car washed consistently, having it detailed is an effective way to keep your car sparkling clean while using it for daily commutes, road trips, etc. What is car detailing? Car detailing involves two components: interior detailing and exterior detailing. Interior detailing involves cleaning (i.e., vacuuming, steam...

If you’re a first-time car buyer or someone who recently purchased another new or used vehicle, your car maintenance routine is something you should establish early on, and getting your oil changed is a must. So, how often should you get an oil change? The frequency of changing your car engine oil can depend on various factors such as your car’s year, make and model. For this reason, your safest bet would be to check your car owner’s manual, which should give you the full rundown on your...

While it may not be as frequent as getting your car washed or oil changed, tire rotations are a necessary part of your car maintenance routine. How often should you get your tires rotated?