A reader wants to know if it's better for her credit standing to pay off her car loan or to continue financing for the life of the loan.

Whether you graduated school last week or last decade, you still have a very important grade to worry about: your credit score. This magic number is essentially a measure of how financially reliable you are and helps determine whether you can get a credit card, car loan, mortgage or other credit product — and it affects the interest rate you'll face on your debt.

Americans rely heavily on cars and credit cards, and when a credit score gets in the way of obtaining one or both of these items, it can make life difficult.

Dear Debt Adviser, Please help me decide which option to take -- debt management or debt settlement. I have two mortgages and my car loan is stable. With the consequences of my credit score being ruined with either option, I still need to do one of them. Please advise. Thanks.

Getting a car loan can be a hassle, but shopping around can save you thousands in interest payments. Finding a cheap car loan depends on factors such as your credit score, the type of car you're buying and the institution from which you're receiving the loan.