Bad credit, no credit, or starting over
A low score narrows your options. It does not eliminate them, and it matters less than most people assume — the lenders we work with weigh verifiable income, time on the job and down payment heavily, sometimes above the score itself.
Recent bankruptcy
Discharged Chapter 7 and open Chapter 13 with trustee permission are both financeable. Bring the discharge paperwork.
Repossession history
A prior repo is not automatically disqualifying, especially once it is a couple of years old and your income is stable.
No credit history at all
First-time-buyer programmes exist precisely for this. A co-signer or a larger down payment usually clears it.
Recent job change
Time on the job matters, but a lateral move in the same field is treated very differently from a gap. Context helps.
Self-employed or 1099
Financeable with documentation — typically two years of returns or twelve months of bank statements.
Fixed income
Retirement, pension, disability and benefit income all count as verifiable income for most of our lender panel.
Do these five things before you apply
- Pull all three credit reports free at annualcreditreport.com and dispute anything factually wrong. Errors are common, and removals can move a score quickly.
- Pay revolving balances below 30 percent of their limit if you can. Utilisation updates faster than almost any other factor.
- Do not open or close accounts in the 60 days before applying.
- Gather documents now — licence, proof of income, proof of residence, proof of insurance, and references.
- Save toward a larger down payment. Every extra thousand improves the loan-to-value and the approval odds together.
Use the loan to fix the problem
An auto loan that reports to all three bureaus is one of the more effective credit-repair tools available, because it adds instalment history to a file that is usually all revolving debt. Twelve months of on-time payments visibly moves most subprime borrowers into a better tier — at which point refinancing is worth a serious look.
Credit questions
Can I get financed with bad credit?
Yes. We work with a panel of lenders that includes subprime and first-time-buyer programs. Credit score matters, but verifiable income, time on the job and down payment often matter more to the lenders we use.
Will applying hurt my credit score?
Our pre-qualification uses a soft credit pull, which does not affect your score. A hard inquiry only happens once you choose a vehicle and ask us to submit a formal application. Multiple auto inquiries inside a 14-day window are treated as one by the major scoring models.
How much do I need for a down payment?
It depends on the lender, the vehicle and your credit profile. Many approvals land between ten and twenty percent. Some programs approve with nothing down; a larger down payment lowers both your payment and the total interest you pay.
Do you offer buy here pay here or in-house financing?
We place financing through outside lenders rather than carrying notes ourselves. In practice that works out better for the customer, because you get a normal auto loan that reports to the bureaus and builds your credit.
Can I pay cash?
Yes, and it does not change the price of the vehicle. Bring a cashier’s check or arrange a wire; large amounts of physical currency trigger federal reporting requirements that slow the delivery down.
Do you accept co-signers?
Yes. A co-signer with stronger credit frequently improves the rate enough to be worth the conversation, particularly for first-time buyers and recent graduates.
Find out where you stand
Soft-pull pre-qualification. No impact on your credit score, and no obligation to buy anything.