The news is full of consumers who have borrowed more money than they could afford to pay back. The words prime and subprime are thrown about regularly to talk about the loans that are now available for homes, cars, and other expenses. If you have had some bad luck with your credit, you may want to look into subprime auto loans.Don’t let the phrase “subprime auto loans” scare you; this simply means that lenders are unable to offer you their best interest rates and terms. This does not mean that you can’t get the money you need. Rather, it means that you may need to pay a little more each month or for a longer amount of time, for your vehicle.Loan rates fluctuate rapidly over time, so what may be subprime today could be prime tomorrow. By making sure that your credit rating is accurate and as high as you can get it, you can find lower interest rates and better terms for your vehicle loan. A few points can make the difference in saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars over the term of your auto loan.Banks, credit unions, dealerships, and other lenders are all happy to lend you the money for subprime auto loans, but how do you know that you are getting the best interest rate and terms for your credit score? The easiest way to check is to go online and use an auto loan comparison site. These can be offered by online vehicle information sites, online magazines, consumer sites, and more. The sites are not responsible for your loans; their job is to gather the offerings of several different auto lenders so you can find the best rates in terms for you.Once you have a good idea of the interest rates online lenders will give you, you can go to the dealership or bank armed with information that can benefit your bank account. They may be willing to give you better subprime auto loans than those you were offered online, which can save you money. If they cannot beat the loans you are offered, contact the online lender to hash out any questions you may have.Before you sign on the dotted line, do a little research to find out the company’s reputation. This can include customer service as well as legal aspects. After all, you don’t want to sign for a loan with a company that has had legal trouble. There are so many others to choose from, it is just easier to pick someone with a good reputation for subprime auto loans! Word of mouth is incredibly important for a lending company, so take into account what current customers have to say about the lender.Once you have accepted the best of the subprime auto loans, make sure that all of your payments are on time and in full. This will raise your credit score over time, bringing your credit rating higher and higher. The next time you need to borrow for an auto loan, you will hopefully be able to search for a prime auto loan instead!