If leasing a new vehicle is in your future, be prepared to fork over some extra cash before driving away, if you can get the keys at all. Why? Falling used vehicle values have caused losses on current leases and the overall credit squeeze is making it harder for the companies to borrow to finance new ones.

Shoppers have been increasingly dependent on credit cards to purchase basic necessities, but can a credit card be used to buy something as expensive as a car? Check out what credit card companies have to say.

In the market for a new car? Before setting foot into your neighborhood dealership, make sure you know the ins and outs of today's auto market. Check out these helpful tips and you'll be on your way to negotiating like a pro.

Before setting foot in a dealer's showroom, make sure you're armed with the knowledge you need to get the right car at the best price.

Learn the basics of auto loans. Find online resources, discover how your credit rating can affect your interest rate and learn how to use aggregators to find the best possible rate.

Vehicle-financing costs are the costs you incur when you buy a car. If you pay cash, you can avoid direct financing costs entirely, but the money that you take out of savings or an investment to pay for the auto has an opportunity cost. Find out more about these costs.

When considering a vehicle purchase, it's important to look past the sticker price and consider the related costs. Owning a car can be more expensive than you'd expect when you factor in the cost of property tax, registration and insurance.