To make the most of your vehicle, use the age-old 20/4/10 personal finance rule, suggests Bindisha Sarang.
![](https://im.rediff.com/money/2019/dec/19tata-nexon-ev1.jpg?w=670&h=900)
IMAGE: The Tata Nexon EV electric car. Kindly note the image has been published only for representational purposes.
Photograph: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com
- To make the most of your vehicle, use the age-old 20/4/10 personal finance rule.
- 20 stands for the minimum percentage you should pay as down payment. This will decrease the overall cost of your loan.
- 4 means you should finance a car for no more than four years. If you opt for a longer tenor, you will end up paying more in interest cost.
- The sooner you close the loan, the earlier you will become the owner of the car. Until then it will be hypothecated to the lender.
- 10 stands for the maximum percentage of your monthly income you should shell out for your car EMI.
- Ideally not more than 30% to 35% of your take-home salary should go towards servicing all your debts.
![](https://im.rediff.com/money/2020/jan/05car-loan.jpg?w=670&h=900)