Finance

1. WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP?

First, if possible, it's a good idea to tune up your credit score before applying for a car loan. Your credit score is the main thing that car dealers look at when you apply for a loan, so do what you can to improve yours before shopping for a car.

You may also want to save up some money for a down payment, because with a larger down payment you may qualify for a lower interest rate and have lower monthly payments.

2. WHAT'S MY CURRENT CREDIT SCORE?

Don’t just assume you have bad credit. Find out for yourself what your credit score is, what has affected your credit, and make sure there's no suspicious activity on your report.

Then, bring your credit report with you when you meet with the Chevy finance experts at Patriot Auto so we can help you get the car loan you need.

Remember that you can get a free credit report once a year.

3. IF YOU CAN, CHOOSE A SHORTER LOAN PERIOD

Interest rates are generally lower for shorter term loans, which means that you will end up paying less for your car in the long run.

This also means that when you're no longer making car payments, you can focus on paying off other loans and continuing to improve your credit score before your next purchase.

Then you may consider buying another car with a lower interest rate, or buying one with our Chevy finance options, and getting the best interest rate available.

4. SHOULD I LOOK FOR A NEW OR A USED CAR?

You may think that an older car will cost less, but interest rates may be higher on older vehicles.

Consider looking for deals on new cars first, and then newer used cars, since these are the cars that tend to offer the lowest interest rates.

Get into the best deal you can, given how much YOU can afford to spend on your monthly car payment.

It's still possible that you could find a better deal on an older used car, so do check out all of your options before making your final decision…and signing on the dotted line.

5. ISN'T IT BETTER FOR ME TO GET A COSIGNER?

Depending on your situation, getting a cosigner for your car loan might be the best option to get a reasonable rate. Consider looking for a cosigner if any of the following apply:

You have bad credit.

You don't have a fixed income.

Your income is lower than the minimum required to buy a car.

You have a high debt-to-income ratio.

But do remember that getting someone to cosign on a loan is a big responsibility. Your cosigner will be responsible for making payments if you aren't able to, so only get a cosigner if you are sure you can make your payments on time.

If you are able to make your monthly loan payments, having a cosigner may help decrease the amount you have to pay.

We hope this guide has been helpful. If you have any questions about buying a car with bad credit, just give our Chevy finance specialists a call at (610) 228-0027. Regardless of your credit, we'd love to help you afford the car you need in and around Limerick.

Sources: www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/buy-car-with-bad-credit.html www.bankrate.com/loans/auto-loans/how-do-i-buy-a-car-with-bad-credit