Bad Credit Used Car Loan – Financing Tips

If you have previous credit problems on your record and need to purchase a car, you may need to apply for what is called a bad credit used car loan. A bad credit used car loan will allow you to purchase a vehicle, but you will usually be expected to pay it off in a shorter time frame and at a higher rate of interest.

Today many traditional car lenders are offering extended payment terms; some allow you up to seven years to pay off the vehicle. A bad credit used car loan usually must be repaid within a 48-month time frame. Since the vehicle you are buying is used and your amount financed will be less, the lender expects the loan to be paid off in a shorter amount of time.

Research the Prices of Used Cars

Before making an offer on a used car, you should research the average price value. By doing this you will know if a dealer has inflated the price in order to make an excessive profit. You will want to make sure you are purchasing the car from a reputable dealership.

There are a lot of companies who do most of their business with customers who have less than perfect credit scores. Some of these dealers may try to take advantage of customers. Just because you have had credit problems in the past, this does not mean you should pay an outrageous amount in interest rates or other fees.

Shop Online For a Lender

Online auto loan lenders make applying for a loan quick and convenient. By applying online you will have access to several lenders and their rates. Applications for online auto loans can be filled out in just a short time and the approval is almost always granted the same day.

An important point to remember when applying for a used car loan on bad credit is that banks have limits to how old of a vehicle you can purchase. The majority of banks will not grant loans to vehicles more than four or five years old. You should also try to make a substantial down payment when purchasing a used car. This will lower both the interest rate you are charged and the length of the loan.

Bad Credit Used Car Loans - Advantages Of Comparing Auto Loan Lenders

When buying a used car with bad credit, do not begin the car buying process without doing your homework. Sadly, many car buyers are taken advantage of by dealerships. A few car dealerships advertise fresh start programs intended to help bad credit people rebuild credit. Instead of offering fair rates, some dealership charge excessive fees to innocent buyers. Thus, it is crucial to compare auto lenders before finalizing the car purchase.

How Buying a Car Helps Improve Credit

Many people with poor credit and no credit choose to finance a vehicle in an attempt to improve their credit rating. The key to re-establishing or building credit is opening new accounts and maintaining a good payment history. Those with bad credit can attest to how difficult it is to obtain credit cards and other types of loans. For this matter, secured credit accounts become necessary. Because auto loans are secured, these are easy to qualify for.

Once you have been approved for an auto loan, strive to make all payments on time and never skip a payment. Each month that you make a regular payment, this will reflect on your credit report. In time, your score will rise, thus making it possible to attain additional lines of credit.

Bad Credit Auto Loan Lenders

If you’ve done your homework beforehand, you likely realize that bad credit auto loan lenders offer the best rates to individuals with poor credit. Unlike dealerships that offer excessive rates, bad credit lenders have a reputation for approving loans with fair rates. The objective is not to profit off of someone’s misfortune, rather to help people re-establish credit.

How to Avoid Shady Auto Lenders

Shady auto lenders are always on the prowl. Smart car buyers who obtain quotes from different lenders rarely fall prey to their tactics. However, if you accept the first auto loan offer received, and neglect shopping around, you may pay unreasonable fees.

The single, most effective approach to avoiding a shady lender involves making loan comparisons. For quick and instant comparisons, complete a quote request with an online auto broker. Simply submit information regarding credit rating, income, and desired loan amount. Within minutes, the broker will remit at least four quotes from different lenders.

Bad Credit Used Car Loans - 3 Tips For Getting An Auto Loan With Poor Credit

Getting a used car loan with bad credit is as easy as getting approved for a loan with good credit. Because automobile loans are collateral-based, many auto loan lenders approve loans to persons with bad credit.

There are pros and cons to obtaining financing with bad credit. A primary disadvantage involves higher interest rates. However, there are ways to avoid paying more for a used vehicle financing. Here are a few tips to help you get approved.

Consider Using a Co-Borrower

Getting approved for an auto loan with bad credit or no credit history is not difficult. In fact, auto loan companies regularly offer financing to persons with low credit scores. Loan interest rates are primarily based on credit score. Obviously, those with excellent credit qualify for very low rates. On the other hand, if you recently filed bankruptcy, have a previous repossession, or bad credit, low rates would be a miracle.

Fortunately, there is an easy way to obtain a low rate auto financing with bad credit. This involves applying for the auto loan with a co-signer or co-borrower. Co-borrowers are beneficial for several reasons. To qualify as a co-borrower, the person chosen must have a strong credit history. Because they become responsible for the car loan if the primary borrower is unable to make payments, using a co-borrower will help buyers acquire a lower rate.

Apply for the Auto Loan with a Down Payment

Another approach for obtaining a lower rate on an auto loan entails applying with a down payment. Down payment amounts vary. A good down payment generally consists of 10%. Still, individuals with extreme credit problems may be unable to obtain a low rate. In this case, having a down payment will lower the amount financed, which could create a more affordable monthly payment.

Gradually Improve Credit Score

Although credit scores will not improve overnight, little things may add a few points. For example, paying bills on time will increase your credit score each month. Furthermore, paying down credit cards will also add a few points. Settling past due and collection accounts is another way to quickly add points to your credit score. If considering financing a used car with bad credit, attempt the previous suggestions. This could make the difference in acquiring an auto rate of 12 percent and 9 percent.

Bad Credit Automobile Loans - Tips On Finding A Good Lender

Much like the bad credit home loan market, the bad credit automobile loan market is a crowded and competitive arena. If you find yourself in the position of needing a bad credit automobile loan use caution in selecting your lender. While most lenders dealing in the bad credit car loan sector are honest, there are those who skirt the law with predatory loan practices. Knowledge is the best defense against these dishonest loan agents. Know more about your own credit than the lenders do. Arm yourself with a recent credit report and FICO score. If a lender says he has different information about your credit than you do, ask him for his sources. If at all possible deal with a financial institution where you already have a banking relationship. Many banks and credit unions will help you apply for "second chance" programs. They know that when they help their customers in the short run they will retain the business of those customers in the long run.

Be Careful Who You Apply With - Be extremely cautious when responding to any solicitations from bad credit lenders no matter how those solicitations are received. Do not give any sensitive personal information to a lender until you have checked the company out with the Better Business Bureau. The best course of action is to initiate contact with a lender yourself from a list you have compiled through the Better Business Bureau and personal references. Don’t be embarrassed by the fact that you are having to inquire about a bad credit automobile loan. Many lenders make more money off of their bad credit customers than off of their more credit worthy customers.

Find out the current interest rates - Interest rates fluctuate from day to day, so check them often. Depending upon the state of your credit you can expect to pay from as little as 2% above the average rate to as much as 17% above the average rate. Rates above this are in many cases illegal. Watch out for lenders who charge the legal rates but tack on an assortment of finance charges and prepayment penalties.

Research The Price of Your Car - When you have narrowed down your car choices, research the value of the different models. The price of a car being financed with a bad credit loan may be a little higher than the same car for a good credit loan, however, the difference should only be a few hundred dollars not a few thousand dollars. You can become trapped in loan if the dealer inflates the price to the point where the car is financed for more than it is worth. Just as you will shop for your car, shop for your lender and let all of them know that you are talking with more than one company. If you think a lender can do better, state your case and ask for different terms.

Any reputable lender will put its proposals in writing with all the blanks filled in. Further, you should always be allowed ample time to read all of the loan documents. Walk away from any lender who pushes you to sign something that you haven’t had time to read. There are compromises you will have to make because you need to obtain a bad credit auto loan. These compromises don’t include being taken advantage of by a predatory lender. A bad credit auto loan should be a stepping stone to reestablishing your credit not a trap that may result in additional credit difficulties.