The direct finance business works as a good credit auto loan would from your local bank, except borrowers with bad credit will be expected to bring in a larger down payment and pay a higher interest rate. Most local lenders, of course, will not make these auto loans at all to borrowers with bad credit. Depending on the severity of one's bad credit you may need to resort to other sources of finance.

Sub Prime Auto Loans

Bad credit auto loan financing (also called a "sub prime auto loan") is special auto financing with a higher-than-normal interest rate offered to buyers with poor credit histories or past bankruptcies. If you fall into this category -also referred to as bar none auto financing-- you need to be more careful than the average borrower. Unfortunately, some of the less ethical elements of the lending world take advantage of the limited financing options this group of consumers has.

Today, banks, credit unions and finance companies are all making auto loans to people with flawed credit. Many people who wouldn't qualify for an auto loan five years ago can get one now. However, it is not that simple, though credit score may not be such an issue, certain delinquencies (i.e. bankruptcy) still are and your income will be a variable to take into account.

Online Bad Credit Auto Loan

The main reason why online auto loan companies can give you better terms and rates on an auto loan is that they work with a large selection of independent lenders. They will shop your application around until they find the lowest interest rate for which you are qualified. You won't get that kind of deals with dealer financing.

If for some reason you are unable to secure financing from an online lender and decide to apply for an auto loan with your car dealer, do yourself a favor and find out ahead of time exactly what your credit rating is. That way you will be prepared to negotiate a fair deal for yourself. Remember: just because you have less than perfect credit doesn't mean you deserve to be taken advantage of by the lender.

Low Credit Score

What you will get from the credit bureau is a credit score. This score is like a snapshot. It is a number that represents what your financial situation is at one point in time. This information comes handy for analyzing your future credit performance. Even if you get a low credit score, it is still possible to get auto loans with bad credit. There are specialized lenders who will deal with credit risks in exchange for high interest rates or upfront fees.