Credit scores today are a pretty powerful thing. If yours is above 700 or 750, those three little digits can help you come out with a sweet deal on a mortgage, car loan, or credit card interest rate. Alternatively, if your score is at the low end of the spectrum, it can wreak havoc on your financial life.

This is particularly true when it comes to taking out an auto loan. For anybody who has ever gone through the auto lending process, you know how much of a roller coaster ride it can be. One minute, you are on an emotional high as you find that car of your dreams out on the dealer lot, just waiting for you to buy it. The next minute, you are down in the dumps while sitting across the desk from the dealer’s finance manager who is telling you that he cannot work out a loan for you. That’s the pits.

It is no secret that the rate you get on auto loans and your credit score have a deep relationship to each other. The question is: what can you do about it? If you are wondering about auto loans and bad credit, here are 5 steps to coming out ahead despite your bad credit score:

1. Ignore conventional wisdom about auto loans and bad credit:

Convention car loan wisdom says that you will necessarily get offered a bad deal on your loan if you have a FICO score below 600. However, what conventional wisdom conveniently leaves out is that this is only true with traditional lenders. However, there is a special class of auto lenders who specialize in working with bad credit individuals. These lenders do not care much about your credit score. Instead, they look at other details about your financial history when considering you for a loan.

2. Increase your chances of qualifying for a low-interest auto loan:

To increase your chances of qualifying for a low-interest auto loan when you have a bad credit score, you will benefit from only approaching bad credit auto lenders to apply for a loan. Remember, your chances of loan approval are much higher when you choose to work with companies that specialize in bad credit borrowers.

3. Learn to work with bad credit auto lenders:

The best way to work with these special lenders is to be totally honest and open with them about your credit history. Remember, just like a medical doctor, these lenders have “seen it all.” There is no aspect of your credit or financial history that you should consider too embarrassing to discuss with them. And, make sure to disclose everything, because they are going to find out anyway – and honesty builds trust.

4. Practice how you will answer any tough questions about your past credit decisions:

Go through your latest credit reports and make sure you are able to answer any potential questions from your lender about your past. Again, just be honest and hope for the best; you will likely get what you want.

5. Have the self-discipline to follow through in applying to at least 4-5 lenders:

Even if you strike up a good working relationship with one of the lenders, have the self-discipline to follow through and apply to more than one. Preferably, you will be submitting an auto loan application to 5 lenders in all. Why not work to increase your chances of loan approval?

Take these 5 steps in order to come out ahead when questions arise about auto loans and bad credit.

Author Bio: Get access to more bad credit auto loan tips and lending resources at: My Bad Credit Auto Lender.

Category: Automotive
Keywords: auto loans and bad credit, poor credit auto loans, qualify for a bad credit auto loan