Whether this is your first auto loan or your fifth, deciphering loan offers isn’t exactly easy. Here are some definitions to help. Pay attention to the bolded content — it specifically applies to car loans for bad credit.
APR
APR measures the cost of a loan, including interest and fees. When you’re researching loans, you might see APRs as a range. Or the lender might only advertise its starting APRs.
Since you need a car loan for bad credit, pay attention to the lender’s maximum APR (if it’s specified). The lowest APRs go to borrowers with the best credit, so they won’t apply here.
Loan terms
Your loan term is the length of time you have to pay off your car. Car loan terms generally range between 12 and 84 months.
Some bad credit car loan lenders may try to entice you by offering an extra long loan term. Longer loan terms typically mean lower monthly payments. Choose the shortest loan term you can reasonably manage. The longer your loan term, the more overall interest you’ll likely pay.
Loan amounts
Not all lenders offer large loan amounts to borrowers with bad credit. As a result, you may need to limit yourself to used cars. Also, use our car affordability calculator before going car shopping. This can help come up with a car budget you can handle.
Fees
Car loans come with fees — some are mandatory and some are optional. You will need to pay a fee to transfer the cars’ title into your name, as well as a fee to register it. These fees are mandatory and are charged by your state. You’ll also pay sales taxes.
On the other hand, there are some dealer fees you can avoid. These could be extra charges for extended warranties or protection packages.
Dealerships also usually charge a documentation (doc) fee. This fee covers the cost of creating your sales contract. Some states regulate documentation fees. Others allow dealerships to charge whatever they want.
Some bad credit car loan dealers may charge higher documentation fees to make a car look cheaper than what it is. Then, when you go to finalize the loan, they’ll smack you with a high doc fee. Always ask for the out-the-door cost before getting your heart set on a ride.
Lender reputation
Being without reliable transportation can make you desperate. How will you make it back and forth to work or get the kids to school? Shady lenders know this and might try to take advantage of the situation.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) keeps a public record of consumer complaints against lenders. If you’re considering a lender, search for it in the CFPB’s database. This, along with LendingTree lender reviews, can give you a good idea of the customer experience you might expect.
Insights from Jacob Channel, LendingTree senior economist
What can I do if I need a car loan with bad credit?"Unfortunately, even if your credit is less than ideal, sometimes you just can’t put off buying a car.While loans offered to those with weak credit are likely going to come with steeper rates, it can pay to shop around and compare offers from different lenders before you buy.Different lenders can offer different rates to the same borrowers, so one lender may be willing to give a lower rate than another is." | What can I do if my rates are high?"Remember that refinancing is an option.Just because you’ve got bad credit now doesn’t mean it’ll stay bad forever. Once your score is higher, you may be able to refinance your bad-credit auto loan into something much more appealing." |