by Three words that can either give you hope or make you think about how bad your credit was last month: “bad credit car dealerships.” It’s possible that you skipped a few credit card payments or that life threw you a surprise. You really just want to go back on the road without all the looks of surprise, don’t you? That’s when places like Freedom Auto Sales Idaho come in, open link. Instead of a lecture, they provide a handshake.
Imagine it. You go to a normal dealership lot. As they run a credit check, you can almost taste the stress. It seems like you’re back in the principal’s office waiting for a lecture. At a bad credit vehicle dealership, on the other hand, the mood is different. They’ve been through it all. That’s what they do for a living. You have a repo on your report? Old news. A bankruptcy? Not even a speed bump.
Let’s look at what’s really going on behind the scenes. Dealers who are prepared to work with people with bad credit often have a network of lenders that can handle risky situations. Sometimes they even take out loans on their own, without going through a bank. The chorus says, “Buy here, pay here.” Is this choice perfect? Not at all. But sometimes you have to walk through a little more muck to get where you want to go.
A lot of people think that if you have 200,000 miles and a damaged taillight, you’ll only get clunkers. That’s not true! Car dealerships with bad credit still want you to drive away waving, not limping. Their goal is to get you to come back, like “Hey, send your cousin!” That won’t happen if your car doesn’t make it to the next gas station.
But loan terms can be more difficult. Rates of interest are greater. That’s how much it costs to get a second (or third) opportunity. But if you come ready with evidence of income, a down payment, and a little bit of patience, you’ll be ahead of the game. Some people utilize this as a way to go ahead; if you pay all of your bills on time, your credit will have had some time to recover by the time you walk in next time.
Let’s talk about being open. Before you sign anything, you should always ask for all the loan information. Even if your eyes glaze over and you feel like you’re back in math class, you should still read the fine print. If you have to, bring a friend who is strong with numbers.
Everyone knows that auto shops don’t give away hugs for free. But negative credit dealers, at least the honest ones, do provide something that isn’t very common: a means to get back on your feet without feeling horrible about it. You might have to haggle a little and agree to “as-is, no warranty” terms, but if you’re careful, you’ll be able to drive home instead of walking.
Don’t take things too seriously. If it helps, pretend you’re bargaining in a bustling street market and ask questions. And what if the deal doesn’t feel right? If you don’t feel right about it, have some coffee and try again tomorrow. It’s worth it to wait for the greatest wheels sometimes.