This post is sponsored by Capital One Auto. All opinions and ideas are completely my own. Thanks so much for supporting the brands that keep Somethin’ Southern running!
I’ll be the firs to admit that in the past I’ve done a pretty terrible job car shopping. It all goes back to when I was a teenager and my dad and I were shopping for my very first ride. I HAD to have a Volkswagon Jetta (excuse me, a silver VW Jetta) – I’m not sure why I was so adamant about cruising around in one of these bad boys, but I was. So naturally when we finally found a VW Jetta in our price range that was in pretty great shape (or so we thought) we said YES! My first VW lasted under a year and turned out to be a complete lemon. The next time around I made the mistake of buying a car that a dealer talked me into. I woke up the next morning with SERIOUS buyers remorse. I went in for a sporty SUV and left with what might have been the saddest looking minivan wannabe that ever was. Seriously, y’all. When I traded that one in the kind folks working at the dealership said “what IS that?!” This time around I was determined to make the best car buying decision possible.
A few months ago both Pearce and I decided that it was time to go ahead and trade in both of our vehicles. He had just started a longer commute to work and needed the most fuel efficient car on the market, and I was ready for anything but my wannabe minivan. Oh, did I mention that my wannabe minivan had no AC? Southern summers + no AC = the worst. It was most definitely time for an upgrade!
I had been using Capital One Auto Financing for the past few years and their customer service was always so impressive. Honestly, y’all, I called in to make my payments instead of using the online payment option because it was so easy to talk to the team at Capital One. I’d recommend them again and again! So when I found out about the Capital One Auto Navigator I was thrilled.
I tried out the Navigator and was pleasantly surprised by how simple it was to use. The navigator will help you find great rates without having to jump through a bunch of hoops. There’s very little paperwork involved and you don’t have to hand over your first born child to get through the process. The Capital One Auto Navigator tool allows you to see if you pre-qualify for a loan and find out your monthly payments + APR (Annual Percentage Rate) before you ever visit the dealer. Trust me, this is a powerful tool to have on hand when it comes to negotiating your vehicle price with a dealer. Ps. Using the Capital One Auto Navigator will not add any risk to your credit score.
(Side note: I just noticed my dress matches the throw pillow. Obviously I’m a fan of this pattern!)
How does it work?
Step One: Pre-Qualify. You’ll find out almost immediately if you’re pre-qualified for auto financing.
Step Two: Get your numbers. This is the coolest part! You’ll have access to thousands of vehicles and you’ll be able to find out your monthly payment and APR for each one. This is such a big help when making the final decision!
Step Three: Adjust your financing. In this step you’ll be able to adjust your term length to see how that impacts your payments and APR.
Step Four: Go get your new ride! Now that you’ve done your research and know where you stand, it’s time to visit the dealership. With your pre-qualification and terms in hand, you can buy with confidence.
I’m so glad we discovered the Capital One Auto Navigator! It’s such a great secret weapon to have in your pocket when purchasing a vehicle. You can find your dream car and take care of the financing, all on one site. I love that you can complete most of the process from the comfort of your home with a cup of coffee in hand! Car buying is no longer a stressful experience for us, praise the Lord for that!
You’ll be glad to hear both Pearce and I found cars we LOVE and there was no buyers remorse involved! The process was easier than it’s ever been. We’re so excited to have new rides for this exciting new season of life.
Be sure to tryout the Capital One Auto Navigator before purchasing your next ride!
xo, mckenzie
