Some car companies seem to be pushing their new model year vehicles onto the lots earlier than ever, and with the new vehicles ready to hit dealerships, summer is the perfect time to get prequalified for a car or auto loan through Metco Credit Union.
The arrival of the new model year vehicles at dealerships provides opportunities for three different kinds of car shoppers.
The first group is obvious. If you are looking to get a 2026 model of a specific brand, this is going to be your first opportunity to get it.
This happens annually. Dealerships often have only so much space for their stock, and the need to move the current model year vehicles to make way for the new ones can lead to discounts and other incentives, assuming the dealership has remaining inventory of the vehicle you are looking for.
The third group is not as obvious, but just as important. The people who fall into the first two categories will often be trading in their vehicles. That’s important for those looking to buy a used car. As of May 2025, dealers’ inventories of used cars are lower than at any time since the pandemic-era. The extra inventory will help buyers in two ways. First, it will provide more options, making it more likely you will find something in your price range. Second, if dealers have more inventory, they are more likely to strike deals on prices in order to get a sale.
When buying a used car, one of the smartest moves you can make is to check its CARFAX Vehicle History Report. A CARFAX report can reveal:
Many dealerships will provide a CARFAX report for free when you express interest in a vehicle — just ask. If they don’t, you can purchase one yourself online. Spending a little extra on this report could save you thousands by helping you avoid hidden problems or costly repairs down the road.
Planning to go car shopping over the weekend but can’t get away to visit a branch during the work day? The entire prequalifying process can be done online. We make it convenient for you to get an auto loan with us.
Metco offers same-day response, within business hours, to prequalification applications. No need to wait a week to see what kind of loan you can get. Contact us on Monday and go car shopping on Tuesday.
Getting prequalified lets you not only know what kind of loan you can qualify for but also calculate what your payments would be and how long it would take to pay off. This can allow you to accurately budget what you can spend rather than getting pushed into a financing package you might not be able to easily afford after already deciding on a vehicle.
Find out more information about auto loans from Metco Credit Union on our auto loans page or contact one of our lending agents to speak with them about getting pre-approved.
