Dealer-Bank Tie-Ups for Car Loans Are Multiplying — Deal or Trap?

This month HNB Finance became Toyota Lanka's tied-in financier for new and Toyota Sure used vehicles, and HNB Bank partnered with IDEAL Motors to bundle leasing with free life cover and insurance discounts. More brands seem to be moving new sales through one 'preferred' finance partner instead of leaving buyers to shop around. One side: it's simpler — one counter handles the paperwork, you may get perks like free life insurance, and the dealer has already vetted the lender so there's less chance of getting stuck with a shady finance company. Other side: when the dealer hands you the financier, you lose the leverage of getting quotes from three banks and playing them against each other, and 'free' bundled extras can just be quietly priced into the rate or the vehicle cost. If you've taken a dealer-tied lease recently, did the rate actually beat what you got quoting around on your own? Or did you just sign whatever the showroom put in front of you? ගැනුම්කරුවන්ට මේක වාසියක්ද, නැත්නම් උගුලක්ද?