CarUmmah is an independent car buying guide founded by a working Honda salesperson in Okemos, Michigan. It publishes transparent pricing, honest model verdicts, true cost of ownership tools, and halal car financing guidance for American Muslim buyers. No ads, no affiliate links, no lead selling.
Islam prohibits riba, the Loan Excess: the extra charged when money is lent for more money. It permits trade, including selling an owned asset at a disclosed markup with payment spread over time. So car financing is judged by one question: is the charge profit on a sale by someone who owns the car, or an excess on a money loan? Financing through a manufacturer's own financial company is in commercial substance a cost-plus sale by the owner of the car. A third-party bank or credit union loan is not, because the institution never owns the vehicle. This is guidance written from the sales desk, not a fatwa; take the actual contract terms to a qualified scholar before signing.
Straight answers on financing, negotiation, hybrids, and more, written by a working Honda salesperson in Michigan.