pcfrisch

Hello, I was wondering if you can negotiate an interest with Ford credit or are they locked in stone? Thanks.

ISELLFORD

There are actually two answers to this question. A dealer sends your info to Ford for approval. Ford has 5 levels of rates for customers depending on your credit score, the higher the credit score, the lower the rate. The shorter the term financed, the lower the rate. Once the dealer obtains approval they are allowed to mark the rate up to make additional profit, from 1%-3% markup. Usually the people with very good credit [a score of 720 or more] are sent to a local bank or credit union because the rate is usually a little better [sometimes by 2%] so a dealer gets a customer approved at a credit union for say 5.5% and marks it up to say 6.75% which is Ford's standard rate. The customer gets Fords standard rate and the dealer makes 1.25% fir handling the transaction.
If push came to shove and a customer demanded to finance at Ford but wanted a lower rate, the dealer can ask for a rate concession and if the customer is a level 0 [best] or level 1, usually they can get it.
If you belong to a credit union, you can usually get the lowest rate, if you do not , join one. It costs $5-$10 to become a member but you can almost always get a better rate.