Hi friends,

I wasn't sure which buzzwords to use to Google my question, so I was hoping to turn to all you helpful people.

Situation: so my car decided to give out on me and therefore I'm in the market for a new car. Problem for me is, I'm graduating medical school in 2 weeks and my contract for residency doesn't start until June 26th. Therefore, I currently have no income. My parents (bless their hearts) said they would buy the car with me, pay some of the down payment and take over the first year's payments while I get my finances together during my first year of employment. My credit score is 750 and my father has a credit score >800.

I know interest rates are pretty terrible right now and I'm definitely going to shop around (myself and my father are members of Navy federal credit union) for better rates. But here are my questions:

Since my credit score is lower than my father's, would I bring the interest rate up if my name is on the car and he is a co-signer? Would we get a better rate if my father is the only name on the car? If my father is the only name on the car, can it be insured to only me, as I live in a different state than him/not in the same house so I need my own insurance?

These might be silly questions, but this is the first car I'm buying and I want to be intelligent and informed on the process. I want to be sure I make the best decisions. Any other advice on how to best buy a car in this market are welcome!