If you have bad credit, you might feel as if you could never get a car. However, that really isn’t true. If you shop around, you can find a car dealership that will be able to help you finance a car, even if you have bad credit. In Glen Burnie, MD there are car dealerships ready to help you out. But there are things you can do to help yourself out too. So here are some tips to know if you want to finance a car, regardless of your current credit score.
First – Know Your Credit Score
Knowing your credit score before you begin car shopping and looking for financing will definitely help you understand what you can expect. If you have a low credit score, you can get financing but the credit might cost you more, meaning higher interest rates and higher payments. But if you don’t know your score, you are starting at a disadvantage and you might not be fully prepared for what options or obstacles you might face.
Getting approved for car financing with a low credit score does limit your options. However, if you know your score you can be prepared and possibly combat the higher cost of credit by having a larger sworn payment or shopping for a less expensive car.
Try to Pre-Qualify
Another thing that you might want to do is try to pre-qualify for a loan. Many car dealerships in Glen Burnie, Md that offer financing options for bad credit will allow customers to apply for financing online. If you apply online, you will know what purchase price you can afford before you even look at your car options. Even if you can’t pre-qualify, applying online will get your credit information to the credit experts at the car dealership and the expert can work with you to get you approved and find the best financial option for you.
Lastly – Once You Apply, Make Sure You Buy
Finally, once you start applying for financing, don’t wait around too long to buy your car. Here’s why! Multiple credit inquiries can lower your credit score. If you make credit inquiries and don’t purchase a car or open a new credit account, the next time you apply for credit, your score is likely to be lower. However, if you make multiple credit inquiries and end up purchasing a car and opening a new account, your score will likely improve as you make payments. It’s far better for your credit health if creditors see you as an actual shopper who only seeks credit when they intend to purchase, rather than someone who is just regularly trying to get approved for credit. Simply put, your credit score will likely only get worse the longer you spend shopping for your car – so once you know you want a car and you seek financing, be prepared to buy. Not only will you be the new proud owner of a car you love, but your credit score will improve too.
Happy Shopping!
