IRVINE, Calif. — In addition to revealing some auto financing trends, Kelley Blue Book announced it has teamed up with Bank of America and Autobytel's Car.com to provide shoppers with prime and non-prime finance options via Kbb.com.

Thanks to the BoA partnership, Kbb.com surfers can now explore information on prime financing, estimated interest rates and even apply for a loan.

"We're committed to helping customers make the right decisions when buying a vehicle. By working with Kelley Blue Book, we can give the users of this trusted resource the most up-to-date information on prime financing, providing them with a smoother path to their purchase," highlighted John Hyatt, president of Bank of America Dealer Financial Services.

The Car.com partnership, meanwhile, is more geared for shoppers with challenged-credit histories. This relationship helps shoppers on Kbb.com by connecting them with Car.com's local network of participating dealers and lenders.

Basically, KBB said it found that 64 percent of new-car shoppers who plan to finance their next purchase will turn to the Internet to investigate options.

The most recent Market Intelligence survey on financing also discovered that 66 percent of new-car shoppers plan to finance some or all of their next vehicle purchase. Meanwhile, 34 percent of consumers say they will pay the entire cost of their new purchase in cash.

Among those intending to finance, 35 percent say they are leaning toward a 60-month loan; 23 percent prefer a 48-month loan; 23 percent indicate they would like a 36-month loan; 10 percent would prefer a 72-month loan; and 9 percent would elect for a 24-month loan.

Furthermore, of those planning to finance their new vehicle, 48 percent revealed they plan to use money from their trade-in as a down payment, while the rest of the purchase will be financed. Another 46 percent intend to use cash as down payment and finance the rest, while 6 percent plan to finance the entire purchase.

So, where are consumers turning for financing? According to KBB, 44 percent will look for pre-approval through a bank or credit union branch; 43 percent will look to the dealership to secure financing for them; and 6 percent plan to apply for pre-approval via an auto financing company.

Of the consumers planning to gain pre-approval before entering the dealership, KBB found that 50 percent turn to this method for a low interest rate; 28 percent say they want pre-approval so they have more control in negotiations; 13 percent say pre-approval is simply for convenience; 7 percent hope that pre-approval will help reduce time at the store; and 3 percent of consumers said they look for pre-approval due to their bad credit history.

"In these tough economic times, we're finding that the majority of new-car buyers plan to finance at least some of their next vehicle purchase. Because of the relatively lower monthly payments, five years is the most appealing loan term," explained Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kbb.com.

"Car shoppers who do their research online on sites like Kelley Blue Book's Kbb.com before heading to the dealership are more likely not only to understand what their current vehicle is worth and what they should expect to pay for their next new vehicle, but also what loans and interest rates are available so they can make the most informed purchase decisions," he continued.

Damon Bennett, vice president of business development and partnerships for KBB, added, "Kelley Blue Book's offerings from Bank of America and Car.com allow for all Kbb.com site visitors to have access to great vehicle financing resources on Kbb.com no matter what their current credit situation may be.

"We are committed to providing our site visitors with all the information and resources they need to make confident purchase decisions when buying their next new or used vehicle, and these recently announced collaborations with Bank of America and Car.com are another step toward achieving that goal," he noted.