Gary Wollenhaupt

Gary Wollenhaupt is a freelance writer on the automotive finance team at LendingTree, where he contributes frequent articles on making wise auto financing choices and reviews auto loan providers.

He began writing for LendingTree in 2019, where he has been a significant contributor in expanding the site’s auto financing content. Gary loves to help readers do the math in understanding the impact of dealer fees, interest rates, and rebates vs. low APR on their automotive purchases. He compares auto financing offerings from banks, credit unions, and online lenders to inform readers that they have options beyond the dealer’s lenders.

He has written in the automotive space for a variety of outlets, covering classic and antique cars, new car introductions, insurance, and maintenance, in addition to financing. A lifelong convertible guy, he currently makes do with a Toyota with a moonroof.

As a former newspaper reporter, he is delighted to focus on automotive finance content, which helps people make good decisions about the second-largest purchase in their lives. In his free time, Gary is a concierge to his two golden retrievers, Kiwi and Duck.

You can see more of Gary’s work here:

• Tire Pros
• RBC Royal Bank
• Carvana

Specialties

• Auto financing
• New car buying
• Used car buying
• Buy vs. lease comparisons
• Manufacturer incentive comparisons
• Auto lender reviews

Achievements

• 25+ years of automotive reporting
• 6+ years of automotive finance reporting

Education

• Bachelor of Arts, Anderson University

Gary’s thoughts on buying a new car

“Buying a car is a major milestone in anyone’s financial life, and it’s common to feel overwhelmed in not only finding the right car but also the best financing option. That’s why it’s so critical to be well informed about your credit score and financial status before you ever set foot on a car dealer’s lot. You can make a deal that works for you and your budget.”