What happens to the total finance charge if you prepay any principal during your loan?

When you prepay any principal during your loan, the total finance charge is reduced. This is because the finance charge typically consists of the interest calculated on the outstanding principal balance. When you make a principal prepayment, you decrease the overall balance owed on the loan. As a result, the amount of interest that accrues over the life of the loan is calculated on a smaller principal amount, leading to a decrease in total interest costs. Reducing the principal directly impacts the total finance charge, resulting in savings for the borrower.

Other options suggest that the finance charge might increase, remain unchanged, or lead to significant decreases in monthly payments without acknowledging the direct relationship between principal payments and interest calculations. However, the core principle asserts that prepaying principal effectively lowers the total finance charge, making it the correct answer.