You won't be charged for a nick in a door or a small stain on a seat. And that's not the case with many auto leases. With leases, you never know what you're going to get charged. We expect there to be dings and scratches. While 1 percent of credit unions offered balloon auto loans in 1984, roughly one in five offer them today, according to the Credit Union National Association .
Some programs are more complex than others.
But even the more complicated programs, such as Payment Shaver loans, are often easier for people to understand than a typical lease. Most people who lease a car don't know how much of each monthly payment is being pocketed by the finance company as a fee. With a balloon auto loan, the interest rate is made crystal clear up front. And people are opting for more expensive vehicles. U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, Fl.