Is No Credit Worse Than Bad Credit
While both bad credit and no credit can make it difficult to get an auto loan with a low interest rate and favorable terms, bad credit is usually worse than no credit. Bad credit shows that youve made some credit mistakes and could be irresponsible when you borrow money.
If you have bad credit, you likely have a track record of late payments, use more than 30% of your available credit limits, have let accounts go to collections, and may even have a past bankruptcy. Your goal should be to rebuild your credit so you can position yourself as a low-risk borrower in the eyes of lenders.
No credit means that you dont have any type of credit history. There is nothing on your credit report because you have not borrowed any money within the last seven years.
Maybe youre a college graduate and have never had to borrow money before. Or, maybe youre an immigrant who recently moved to the United States with no track record of borrowing. You may also have no credit because you simply dont believe in borrowing money and have paid for everything in cash.
If you have no credit, you have a clean state and can focus on building a positive credit history. On the other hand, if you have bad credit, the damage has already been done and youll have to work hard to rebuild your credit.
It will take longer to rebuild and recover from bad credit than it will to establish credit and build a positive history.
What Do You Need To Apply For A Loan
If you apply for a loan with a car dealership, you’ll have the advantage of working with a team of experienced auto finance advisors who have built relationships with a wide network of local lenders. They’ll work with you one-on-one to secure the right loan for you.
To help them out with this process, it’s recommended that you bring along a few pieces of information that the lenders will want to see:
- A Bank Statement
While you don’t need a bank account to secure an auto loan, bringing along a bank statement will give the lenders a better idea of your financial situation and show them that you have money saved.
- Proof of Employment and Income
Bring pay stubs from the past couple of months to prove to the lenders that you have a steady job and enough income to cover your monthly payments.
- Proof of Identity and Utility Bills
Lenders, understandably, want proof that you are who you say you are when applying for an auto loan. Bring a form of ID and a few utility bills. This will not only provide proof or residence, but will also show that you have experience making regular and on-time payments.
Go To Credit Unions And Community Banks
If youre a student, a recent graduate, or someone just starting to build their credit, your community bank may also offer special financing to you. For example, when you get a car loan, you may also want to pair it with a small credit card to get you started on credit-building as you repay your loan. Just make sure you make timely payments on both of them.
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Figure Out How Much You Can Afford
Before you apply for any sort of financing, its important to first consider how much car you can afford. Be sure to take into account your regular monthly expensessuch as rent, utilities and groceriesto see what you can reasonably manage to spend on an auto payment as well as on things like gas, maintenance and car insurance.
You can use our auto loan payment calculator to estimate your monthly payments.
Make A Big Downpayment
If you can save up some cash for a significant downpayment, this could reduce your trouble getting a loan since it means you have to ask for a lower loan amount. Even if you can get a loan with no trouble, many lenders will require a downpayment of some sort.
A down payment allows you to borrow less money, which may decrease the loans cost because youll pay interest on a smaller loan balance. Furthermore, putting money down may prevent you from going into negative equity.
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Keep Old Accounts Open
If you have old accounts that you no longer use, its generally best to keep them open. Thats because these accounts contribute to your overall credit history, which is a key factor in your credit score.
Additionally, closing old accounts can hurt your credit score by lowering your overall credit limit and increasing your credit utilization. So, unless youre being charged an annual fee for an account you dont use, its best to keep it open.
Now that you know the most important factors to build your credit, here are a few other great options that can help build your credit score as well.
How Your International Credit History Can Help You Get A Car Loan
Until recently, newcomers to the U.S. were unable to use their existing international credit history to get a car loan. Many immigrants had to start over because banks and credit bureaus could not translate international credit to fit the U.S. model. Even those with extensive credit in their home country had to start from scratch, taking time and effort to build up brand new U.S. credit history â an arduous task that can take as long as five years.
Today, Nova Credit offers an easier way for newcomers to the U.S. to get credit cards and loans while building positive credit history. Nova Creditâs technology can connect to your international credit data and translate it in a way that fits the U.S. model. This enables you to access your international credit here in the U.S. Weâll delve into the details on how later in this guide.
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Options To Explore Before Getting A Car Loan
So, you have decided that you want to get a car loan but what can you do in order to improve your chances? Where can you get a loan so that you can finally have your dream car? Well, here are some tips that you might want to follow:
- Get a Co-signer
Each of these options is discussed in more detail below.
Buy A Car With No Credit History: Auto Loan Help With A Cosigner
Michael Jones
Auto Loan Expert
Youve been looking for the right car, and you think youve found one that fits what you want and need. Maybe youve already negotiated with the dealer on the price, and now youre ready to make the purchase.
If, like most other car shoppers, youre going to need a car loan to pay for the car, you may be wondering if youll receive approval for the loan. This is an even bigger worry when you have a limited credit history or no credit history at all. That doesnt mean that youre out of luck, but it will make obtaining a loan more challenging.
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Personal Loans: Loans With Low Interest Rate
Personal Loans is one of the few lending services out there today that offers you the choice of dealing with two separate networks of lenders.One of these networks consists of lenders that specifically cater to those with bad credit ratings. Neither of these networks requires you to pay any hidden fees or extra costs.
It takes only minutes on this platform to connect with borrowers, as that is how much time it takes to fill in the online form. This form does not require too many details, and you will find you can complete it in no time.Your application will then be forwarded to the relevant lenders, who have the option of choosing to approve or disapprove of your application.
Features
The following are the main features ofPersonal Loans:
- Consumers can obtain funding of up to $35,000
- Both consumers with good credit ratings and those with bad credit ratings can use this website
- Funding obtained can be used for a variety of purposes
- Has various lending partners in dozens of states across the country
- Allows you to compare loan offers from various vendors
Pros
- Offers more flexible funding options than nearly any other site in the business
- Loans are available at competitive rates
- The site is easy to navigate and use
- Offers loans of high and medium-sized amounts alike
Cons
- Not available in a few U.S. states
Customer Experience
Tap Alternative Credit Data
So, you dont have a credit card, nor do you have a mortgage which means you dont actually have anything to help you build your credit history. However, you still have your checking account, your utility bill, your cell phone, and your rent.
When the traditional proof is not available, lenders can make use of the non-traditional ones to demonstrate your ability to make your payments on time. They just have to use credit scoring formulas, such as the FICO score XD.
The bad news is that not every lender will use this kind of alternative credit score model which is why you might have to do some research before locking into a certain lender. In some cases, you might want to move past car loans and move onto personal loans. These tend to be more flexible, and the interest rates are also generally more convenient.
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How Long Does It Take For An Auto Loan To Be Approved
Having no credit history makes the whole approval process a bit longer than it would be if you had a long credit history. In this situation, lenders typically need to take a look at other factors to determine your eligibility. These factors always include your employment history, current income, and other debts youve may have collected over the years. No matter if you decide on a new or used car, a loan with no credit history will take some time. The whole process will usually be about two weeks long, but if you ask us, its totally worth it in order to get the best car loan for no credit history possible.
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How Does A Car Loan Impact Your Credit
When you pull out a car loan, you may notice that your credit score drops. This is because you have a debt that you are still paying off, so the score decreases to reflect the fact that you have a debt. This drop occurs in order to apply debt restrictions so you don’t pull out too many debts at once and overwhelm yourself.
However, as you go through the process and make a payment each month, you will start to pay off your loan. Once you pay it all off, your credit score will begin to improve again. You can be rest assured knowing that it won’t be bad forever. And as soon as the debt is off your record, you can then use your auto loan term as an opportunity to increase your credit score.
Financing A Car With No Credit
If you dont have a credit history, youre not alone. There are an estimated 45 million Americans who have little to no credit. It will require some work on your part, but it is possible to purchase a car with no credit. Here are the steps to take when looking for an auto loan with no credit:
Check your credit report
Your credit report contains the information that gives lenders insight into your borrowing history. A credit report includes your personal information and credit history. Consumer reporting agencies use this information to calculate your . Lenders rely on this score and whats in your credit report to determine whether to give you an auto loan.
Even if you dont have a credit card or havent borrowed money before, you should always check your credit report before trying to finance a car. Mistakes happen, and your credit report could contain erroneous information. If your credit report isnt accurate, you may be denied for a loan or receive higher interest rates.
There are three main credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Your reports from each may not match, so its important to review all three. You can receive free copies of your credit report from each bureau by visiting www.AnnualCreditReport.com.
Find your best no-credit loan
Start by establishing a budget and determining how much car you can afford. With that number in mind, you can begin investigating financing options from the following institutions:
Dealer financing
Online lenders
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Buy Here Pay Here Loan Programs
Cars Direct explains that some car dealerships provide programs for someone who has poor credit or no credit history. Known as In-House Financing, Tote the Note, or Buy Here Pay Here , these unique programs may help you get approved for a car loan.
One of the unique requirements to become eligible for a BHPH program is your employment history or the current job you’re in. The dealer looks at your overall income, how long you’ve been employed, and what your residence status is to determine if you’re able to make on-time payments.
If you’re trying to build a credit history, be sure that the dealer offering the BHPH program reports your payments to the credit bureaus so you can start building that credit. Because most dealers that finance in-house don’t work with third-party lenders who would normally report payments, be sure to ask the dealer if they will do that for you.
When working with a BHPH dealer, most likely you’ll get approved for a loan, but be prepared for the high-interest rate you’ll need to pay. If you can put a large down payment on the vehicle, you’ll reduce the amount of the high-interest monthly payments for the remainder of the total amount owed on the vehicle.
Be aware that the BHPH and other financing options from a dealer only allow you to purchase a used car as opposed to a new one. While most used cars are reliable and most often will suit your needs just fine, if you are wanting to buy a brand-new car, you may have to rethink using in-house financing.
Getting A Car Loan With No Credit History
There are a few ways that you can receive approval for a car loan even with no credit history.
Look for lenders in your area that offers loans to people who dont have credit histories. There are many financial institutions that offer loans, and not all of them only lend to prime borrowers. Some focus on lending to those borrowers that dont have good credit. Keep in mind that these lenders will charge higher interest rates.
If you can save up a sizable down payment, it increases your chances of obtaining a loan for two reasons. The first is that youll need to borrow a smaller amount. When you have no credit history, a lender will obviously be more willing to loan you $10,000 than $15,000. The second is that when it you can put more money down, it shows that youre financially responsible enough to save money, which is a good sign.
The best option, though, is to get a cosigner with a good credit score. When someone else cosigns on your car loan, the lender will check their credit instead of yours. This allows you to get the loan you need at a lower APR than you could get on your own, saving you money in the long run. Family members are a good choice when it comes to cosigners. Your cosigner is putting their credit score on the line when they cosign on your loan, so make sure that you dont miss any payments. If you do, they will be held responsible and it can negatively affect their credit score.
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Can I Buy A Car If I Have No Credit
Yes. In fact, youre generally better off having no credit than having bad credit when applying for a car loan.
Bad credit is a sign youve made some credit mistakes and could be irresponsible when borrowing money. Late payments, using more than 30% of your available credit, having bills in collections, and going through bankruptcy are some things that can lead to bad credit scores.
Having no credit means you dont have a credit history. Youre kind of a blank slate because theres nothing on your credit report if you havent borrowed money in the last seven years.
Lenders may see this as a good sign in some ways, and at least better than having bad credit when offering no-credit car loans.
Youre not alone if you have no credit, which is also called having a thin credit file. One in 10 adults in the U.S., or about 26 million people, are credit invisible and dont have a credit history with one of the three national credit reporting companies, according to a 2015 report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
More recent data from Experian estimates that 62 million Americans have thin credit files and, therefore, have limited access to credit. Some people live in what is referred to as such as low-income neighborhoods, where people are more likely to have trouble accessing credit.
Along with living in a credit desert, some consumers may not have a credit score for other reasons:
