When you need to buy a car, but your credit's bad, you may struggle to find a loan at all, let alone one with the type of terms you can live with. However, there are some things you can do to ensure that you'll be eligible for bad credit car loans.
Work Toward Improvements
Even though you have bad credit, you can turn it around enough to at least show some improvement. This single step may help you work out better terms than you might expect from a so-called "bad credit loan." To complete this step, check out your current credit score. Sometimes, the reporting agencies will also provide tips on how you can improve your score. Within months, you should see some progress, and this can help you get into a better loan situation.
Don't Rack Up Inquiries
Did you know that every time you apply for a loan, your credit score takes damage? If you head into one credit purchase after another, you'll end up damaging your chances of getting any loans, even those that are intended for people with low credit scores. When you're ready to shop for a car, don't open up an account at your favorite shopping center.
Don't Be Misled by Low Interest Rates
Loans with longer terms generally have lower interest rates. Short-term loans, on the other hand, have higher interest rates. In many cases, in spite of those higher rates, you'll still spend less when you choose the short-term loan. If you can't qualify for one of these loans, be sure to check about an early pay-off penalty, so that you're free to pay off your debt as quickly as possible.
Make All Your Payments On Time
As you're working hard to improve your credit, you may be tempted to pay more towards one loan and let other loans suffer. However, every late payment can damage your credit score. This is especially true of any mortgage payments.
As you work toward improving your credit to the point that you can get a loan for that car you need, carefully stick to good credit principles. In time, you'll have a score to be proud of.