Sep 5, 2022

bad credit used cars

Are you struggling with a low credit score? Or perhaps you don’t have a credit score at all. In either case, if you want to finance a used car near Columbus, Ohio, or anywhere else, you may have a lot of trouble qualifying for an auto loan with bad credit. You shouldn’t let this trouble discourage you, however, as there are options out there for people who want to buy a car with bad credit. 

If you know what to look for, you can find dealerships like Toyota Direct’s Toyota dealership near Columbus, Ohio, which caters to all car buyers, including those with bad credit. These dealerships use factors other than credit, such as income-to-debt ratio, to determine auto loan eligibility. With this being said, we at Toyota Direct want to inform you of your options when it comes to bad credit auto financing. Therefore, we’ve assembled a list below describing how you can purchase a vehicle with little to no credit. 

  1. Set A Budget

Whether you want to purchase a used car near Columbus, Ohio, or anywhere else, you should always set a budget before considering what you can buy. A budget is especially important when it comes to auto loans for bad credit since some bad credit buyers may not be in the best financial situation. In crafting a budget, you should factor in every cost associated with buying a car to see how it will work with your current finances. You can browse every factor that comes with buying a vehicle below:

  • Vehicle Price
  • Initial Fees
  • Taxes
  • Maintenance
  • Registration
  • Insurance Rates
  • Fuel Cost
  1. Find Suitable Vehicles

Upon setting a budget, you can then begin searching for your preferred used cars near Columbus, Ohio, or wherever you may be. During this time, you should consider exactly what you need out of a vehicle to determine the best options for you. For example, if you need to tow something, you may want to consider finding some trucks for sale that interest you. 

  1. Research Bad Credit Car Dealers

The next step in finding a car with low to no credit is to research bad credit car dealers around you. When browsing these dealerships, you should ideally find somewhere reliable with a reputation for providing good service. In determining a dealership’s reliability, you should watch for and consider the following aspects:

  • Easily Accessible Website
  • Positive Customer Reviews/Ratings
  • Many Forms Of Contact
  • Diverse Inventory

A great example of a reliable bad credit auto dealer is Toyota Direct. At our Toyota dealership near Columbus, Ohio, we go above and beyond, accomplishing everything on the above list and more. 

  1. Trade-In Or Down Payment

Trade-ins and down payments are a great way to save money and improve your financial eligibility when shopping with a used car dealership near you. In fact, trade-ins and down payments act similarly by helping to take money off the total value of a vehicle. By taking money off the total value of a vehicle, both trade-ins and down payments help to reduce the minimum payments on auto loans. Some dealerships, such as our Toyota dealership near Columbus, Ohio, also offer trade-in incentives that can help you to get additional money for a trade-in.

  1. Consider A Co-Signer

If you want to finance a car with low credit, co-signers can exponentially help to improve your chances of getting a good auto loan. A co-signer is someone who signs a loan with someone else, taking responsibility for any missed or delinquent payments if they occur. Thus, a co-signer helps to ensure increased financial security for a lender. This financial security translates into better loan rates and improved eligibility for auto loans.

  1. Improving Your Credit

While struggling with low credit, it may feel impossible to improve your credit score if you don’t know how. Luckily though, there are many things you can do to improve your credit, although it may take some time. The list below details the most common methods for improving credit:

  • Pay off past-due accounts
  • Reduce revolving debt
  • Pay bills on time
  • Ensure an accurate credit score by checking your credit report
  • Keep old accounts open
  • Limit credit card and loan requests