Car Shopping: 3 Ways to Offset Bad Credit

When you try to get a loan for a car from the dealership, one of the first things we look at is your credit score. If your score is low, however, there is still hope. There are ways to get approved for the car loan you need even if you have bad credit.

Qualified Co-Signer

A co-signer with better credit can be your saving grace. Having someone co-sign the loan can help you get the car you want while reassuring us that the loan will be paid. The co-signer agrees that, in the event that you do not make payments, he or she will take responsibility for them. You get approved, and we get assurance that the loan will be paid.

Trade-In

Another way to be approved for bad credit car loans is to trade in your old vehicle for the one you want to purchase. The value of the trade-in can lower the total loan amount, making lending to you less of a risk, even if you have bad credit. The car you no longer need can help you get the next car.

Large Down Payment

As lenders, we tend to consider bad credit a big lending risk. If, however, you can demonstrate that your credit is not indicative of poor cash flow, it is not so much of a problem. One way to do that is to offer a large down payment on the car. If you are able to put a significant portion of the car's value down, this increases your chance of being approved for a loan. It lowers the amount you will need to borrow and proves that producing money is not an insurmountable challenge to you.

Even if you have bad credit, it is still possible to be approved for a car loan. Credit score is just one factor used in determining approval.
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