Getting Car Loan With Bad Credit Approved: What Every Applicant Needs to Know

Apr 13
08:22

2013

Devora Witts

Devora Witts

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Getting a car loan with bad credit can be tricky, but there are options available out there. Specialist lenders and banks offer plenty of choices. But there factors applicants need to know first.

mediaimage
There is no secret to the fact that getting a loan of any kind without the benefit of excellent credit scores can be a little tricky.  But thanks to the variety of specialized bad credit lenders,Getting Car Loan With Bad Credit Approved: What Every Applicant Needs to Know Articles it is possible to get financing like consolidation loans, home loans and car loans, with bad credit.Large loans are certainly difficult to get, with lenders generally nervous about parting with sums greater than $10,000 when the applicant has a very poor credit rating. But there are ways to secure approval with poor credit scores. All applicants need to know is what lenders are actually looking for.In the case of a car loan, for example, the applicant needs to understand that the benefits of securing a loan greatly outweigh those of getting financing via the dealership, even with terrible credit scores taken into account.Some Basic Facts To KnowBuying a car at the best of times is something of a lottery unless some basic facts are understood in the first place. For example, poor scores are graded, with each grade causing the interest rate to change. So, getting a car loan with bad credit will be more expensive than getting one with good credit.A bad credit score, by the way, is anything below 650, averaging at around 620. A score that is below 550 is considered extremely poor. The interest rates can differ quite a bit between 620 and 540, often proving the difference between affordable and too expensive.While loan approval with poor credit scores is still possible, a little extra effort is usually needed to get the green light – and it is in this respect that knowledge can become extremely useful. As with every other kind of loan, seeking a good car loan means knowing what compromises to accept and measures to take improve terms.The Subprime OptionThere are many lenders who are willing to consider applications from people with scores of around 650. But a traditional lender is unlikely to grant a car loan with bad credit scores of less than 600 – particularly one that is affordable.This is where a subprime lender is needed. Subprime means that the lender charges a higher rate of interest than your local bank would, but there are also clear advantages despite the expense. For a start, loan approval with poor credit scores is very likely because the lender is an expert in bad credit lending.Also, the repayment schedule is much longer than that of a typical bank. This means that the repayment sum each month is kept low, so despite the overall expense, the car loan is very much affordable. Of course, with a longer term, the amount of interest paid is more too.Why Not Through a Car Dealership?Well, the simple answer is that car finance deals secured through a car dealership are much more expensive than a bank and offer none of the flexibility a subprime lender does. Many people think the only way to get a car loan with bad credit is to accept the first loan offered by the dealer himself.But the actual terms are worse than those advertised. This is because the dealer goes through a certified lender, and adds 1% or 2% to the interest rate for whatever expense they say they incur. So, borrowers are paying the lender, and paying the dealer too. They may grant approval with poor credit scores but they will charge through the nose.There are plenty of better car loan options out there. Dealers are known to bully applicants into agreeing to their terms, but this is often a poor move. So, spend time checking out the offers, either online and over the phone, before deciding on one.