• Check Your Credit: Having a good credit score is of high importance for borrowing a secured vehicle loan. With a higher credit score and a good credit history, the borrower may be entitled to lower interest rates and convenient loan terms. As long as the borrower pays bills on time, settles his debts, and avoids penalties, he can have a good credit score.  Also, it is important to review the credit report to look for any unusual activity. Check for incorrect balances and late payments. If credit score is low, take steps to improve it before applying for the vehicle loan.
• Know The Budget: It is essential to have a predetermined budget and know how the budget for buying a car. The borrower should be sure that the vehicle’s cost is aligned with other financial goals. To determine the budget subtract usual monthly expenses from monthly income after deducting taxes. Also, include intended monthly savings in the expenses.
• Determine Affordability: After understanding current financial situation, it is required to decide on a reasonable monthly vehicle payment. Check with the loan officer to figure out the maximum loan amount that can be afforded. It should include the monthly payments, interest rate, and the loan period.
• Get Preapproved: It is important to research for the terms of the loan and get preapproved from the credit union. Getting preapproved for a vehicle loan will help expedite the process, determine eligibility, and find the right price.

A secured loan is one in which the borrower puts up a personal asset as collateral, based on which the value of the loan is determined. In most cases, the collateral is the same item for which the loan is being borrowed, which in the case of an auto loan is the car. This means that the lender can repossess the vehicle if the borrower fails to make the agreed-upon payments.

In some cases, the lender might also ask for additional security on top of vehicle for which the loan is being taken. This could be in the form of the borrower’s home, boat, or other property, which the lender holds against the loan. The legal document possessed by the lender in case of a secured loan is known as a lien, which the lender releases upon repayment of the loan. In case the borrower fails to repay the loan, the borrower can legally exercise the lien to take possession of the collateral.

The requirements for getting a secured auto loan in Texas are:

• Verifiable income: The primary requirement by most lenders for secured auto loans is a verifiable source of income. This could be in the form of paycheck stubs from several previous pay periods, bank statements showing regular monthly deposits from a certain source, or federal tax returns in case you are self-employed.
• Residency: The lender will usually want to know that you have been occupying your current residence for a sufficient period of time- usually 12 months. If you have recently moved into your present home, you might need to show that you have resided at a single address for a period of at least 12 months in the past ten years.
• Steady employment: The lender wants to ensure that you shall be able to make payments against your loan regularly, which usually comes with steady employment. You should be able to prove that you have been steadily employed for the past 12 months or more. Self-employed individuals or those with alternate sources of income need to prove that they have a steady source of income.

If you fulfill all the above requirements, you should be eligible to get a secured auto loan in Killeen, TX. Be sure to shop around and compare interest rates, penalties, and benefits offered by different lenders, before settling for a secured auto loan.