If you’re planning to buy new or used cars in Houston but you have bad credit, then the following suggestions might come in handy.
1. Work on your credit
If you feel your credit score is bad, try to improve your score before buying a car. Pay off past due accounts, dispute any credit report errors, and work on your credit utilization.
2. Try to avoid bad credit items
Try to avoid bad credit items like major credit obligations (new credit cards, etc.) Just try to keep your record neat and avoid bad marks like late payments, delinquent accounts, bankruptcy, tax liens, charge-offs, lawsuit judgements, and collections.
Img source: checkingcreditcard.com
3. Check current interest rates with respect to buying a car with bad credit
Ideally, you can browse online or visit the respected showroom to check the interest rates. Usually, if you have bad credit, your interest rate tends to be higher than those for people with good credit. Simultaneously, the price of your car too tends to get affected when you have bad credit. Keep that in mind.
4. Get pre-approved
Try to get a pre-approved loan from the bank or any type of lender; this will help you in purchasing the car within your budget. Often, the dealership itself will have a specific lender it works with. Make sure you compare interest rates and terms before jumping in.
Img source: CarBeed.com
5. Skip the extras
Try to skip the extra “nice-to-have” features like the sunroof, leather seats, and premium speaker system – you don’t need them. In the end, this will help you reduce your loan amount.
6. Check with non-profit agencies
Try to make use of the non-profit agencies that provide loans or vehicles to the low income consumers; only few states do such agencies and check your local area for the same.
Img source: gobankingrates.com
7. Read all the paperwork
This is a crucial part of the purchase. Try to read the paperwork on your own or read it in the presence of an advocate to know the important details involved like the interest involved, etc.
Don’t sign until you fully understand the paperwork. Once read, make sure that you sign immediately in the presence of your advocate to prevent any possible future problems.
8. Do not buy with expectation to trade in future years
Try to avoid the type of cars which can be potentially traded after a few years for well-off prices; this will help in avoiding the possible increase in existing loan amount.
Img source: dealereprocess.com
9. Watch out for scams
Before sealing the deal or more preferably, before visiting the desired car showroom, try to check the authenticity as well as the credibility of the place. This can help you avoid possible legal issues in future. Additionally, once you select the car, do a quick and thorough background check; this will help in avoiding a possible scam which in turn will save you money.
No matter how you choose to buy your car with bad credit, make sure you research the seller before signing anything.
Ideally, when you’re buying Used Cars Houston try to avoid places like unregistered showrooms or the ones with existing police complaints or cases to avoid problems.
