In a consumer education brochure, the Federal Trade Commission traces steps that a family might take in fiancing an auto. Through the use of a case study comparison of the credit terms of two car dealers, explanations are given for terms such as annual percentage rate, credit life insurance, finance charge, and deferred payment price. Copies of contracts are shown to assist teachers in assembling their own copies of contracts in local usage, and discussion questions are raised that stimulate students to think in terms of using credit wisely. (EA)