Car Finance Eligibility Archives

Can I Get Car Finance with Poor Credit History?

With the latest data from YouGov revealing 41% of British adults have missed debt repayments at some point in their lives, poor credit history is more common than you might think. There’s a shared belief that poor credit history can have a negative impact on your ability to secure finance. While there is some element of truth to this, it doesn’t mean you’re out of the running.

So, can you get car finance with poor credit history? Absolutely. Buying a car with poor credit is not always as straightforward as applying for a loan with a big deposit, a steady job and perfect credit history. However, don’t lose heart – with the right approach it can be done.

Worried your credit score may be a little tarnished? We’re here to help. Read on for our guide to securing car finance with poor credit history.

Car loans explained

Before applying for a car loan with bad or poor credit history, it’s important to understand exactly what you’re committing to. Like property mortgages, car loans offer you the freedom to secure a vehicle you may not be able to pay for upfront.

Car loans are not designed to help you purchase a vehicle you can’t afford in the long-term. Instead, they do allow you to spread out payments over a period of months or years. This means you don’t have to present a large sum of cash up front, which drastically increases the options available to you.

Get a roadmap of your credit history

Suspect you have poor credit history? The first step to securing a car loan is to arm yourself with a clear overview of your credit history and score. A credit report will lay out the raw data and is the best place to start when assessing your financial situation. It should cover any active credit you have, as well as previously missed payments.

Hard vs soft credit checks

All reputable lenders will want to know about your borrowing history before offering you a loan, which is where credit checks come in. There are two main types of searches you’ll encounter when checking your credit history – hard and soft. ‘Hard’ checks can leave a mark on your credit score. What’s more, they give lenders insight into how many loans you’ve applied for in the past. If abandoned, hard credit checks can reflect badly on your borrowing status and damage your credit score even further.

In comparison, ‘soft’ searches aren’t visible to lenders and won’t affect your credit score. Instead, they offer lenders a good overview of your loans and finances, without leaving a visible footprint.

Overcoming poor credit history

Struggling with poor credit? You’re not alone. There are all kinds of reasons people may be struggling with poor credit history. Here’s a few helpful ways to overcome poor credit history and secure a car loan.

Commit to regular repayments

One of the best ways to improve your status as a borrower is to commit to regular repayments on your existing debts. Even paying off the minimum amount shows lenders you have the capacity and commitment to repay loans. Over time this will help to improve your credit score.

Register on the electoral roll

Registering on the electoral roll makes it easy for lenders to check your name and address, as well as minimise the risk of fraud. It helps to present yourself as an active member of the local community and offers reassurance you’re a real person.

Save a good deposit

Putting together a healthy deposit can be a good way to show lenders you’re serious about saving. It also proves you have the ability to make future repayments. It improves lender confidence and can ultimately help to secure bigger loans at lower interest rates.

Seek help from a specialist lender

Seeking help from a specialist lender is one of the best ways to rise above poor credit history. At My Car Credit, we aim to help all applicants secure the car finance they need with quick and easy online applications.

Let us help with your car finance

As part of leading motor finance broker, Evolution Funding, My Car Credit has access to one of the largest ranges of car finance lenders in the country. We use specially developed technology to match your unique profile with the best loan products for your circumstances. And yes, this includes customers with poor credit history.

We pride ourselves on helping Brits with all financial backgrounds get behind the wheel. Why not get an application started today to jumpstart your journey to a new car loan?

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 12.4%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

I am self employed, can I still get car finance?

Self-employed lady wants to know if she can get car finance

Well, if you're self employed and looking for car finance, the short and positive answer is ‘yes’! The key thing will be proving your income, along with the usual checks on your credit score. We take you through the ins and outs of getting car finance as a self employed person. What's more, you'll get all the information you need to make your car buying journey as easy as possible.

Proof of income when self employed

The first thing that finance lenders will be looking for is proof of steady and regular income. Dependent on your credit score, the lender will probably want to see proof of income on paper. The reason for this is to assess your credit criteria and your ability to keep up with monthly repayments.

To work out your average income, lenders will usually total your income in the last three month’s bank statements and divide it by three. This then allows them to get a credit limit based on your proof of income. This can vary slightly if you have a lower credit score. In this case, you may be required to produce in excess of three months’ worth of bank statements or payslips to prove your income.

Monies that are authorised by lenders must be from a UK bank account in yours, or your spouse or partner’s name. Cash-in-hand cannot be used as proof of income. If the bank account is in your spouse or partner’s name, they will also need to be added to the finance application. Most finance companies will also not accept tax returns as proof of income.

Employment and address history

The lender will need to see a minimum of three year’s employment history, three year’s address history, and you’ll need to have been a UK resident for a minimum of five years.

Lenders are looking for evidence of stability in employment and address history – the longer you have been at your current job and address, the better.

Applying as a business

If you’re applying on behalf of your business, there are many things you need to take into account. Firstly, your business will need to have been registered and trading for a minimum of two years. Usually, lenders will take your net profit as financial reassurance. In addition, most will require it to be at least double the amount of the money you are looking to borrow.

When applying as a business, you’ll also need to decide whether the car being financed will be for business use. Where the business use of the car would be deemed excessive or abnormal, your application may be rejected by lenders.

As an example, some finance lenders won’t finance a car for self employed taxi drivers. This is because taxi drivers will be using the car much more frequently and adding more mileage than normal. This affects the car’s value more than if they were just using it for everyday driving.

What should I do if I’m struggling to show proof of income?

Focus on making sure that your credit profile is as strong as possible. We recommend ensuring you’re on the Electoral Roll. This improves your credit profile and proves your identity through a government-run system. In turn, this reassures lenders that they are not at risk from fraud or identity theft. There are also many other ways to improve your credit score.

If your credit rating is good and you can afford to, putting down a deposit is a good idea. Where possible, try to put as much money towards the car as possible for your circumstances. This helps to share the risk of the loan with the lender and give them further reassurance to approve your application.

Finally, consider using a guarantor or submitting a joint application. This lowers the risk for the lender and can increase your chances of getting accepted. However, please be sure you have a full understanding of your responsibilities when taking this route.

Additional information

Essentially, the more information the lender has on you, the more security they have. This can greatly improve the chances of them approving your car finance application. However, make sure that you are as honest as possible. You shouldn’t attempt to overstate your income. You may hope to increase your chances of being approved or get you a better rate. The downside is that finance lenders may see this as fraud, which could have serious implications.

Going self employed is many people’s dream – working for yourself means being responsible for your own success and directly reaping the rewards of your hard work. Driven by changes in the economic climate and helped along by the digital revolution, figures show that self-employment in the UK has increased in popularity. By the end of 2019, there were £5 million self employed people in the UK, up from £3.2 million in 2000. We want to help anybody that’s self employed to get car finance.

So, don’t lose heart if you’re self employed and want a car loan. Be assured that there are many different ways to obtain car finance. We hope our advice has been useful but if you need any more information about self employed car finance, we’re here to help!

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 12.4%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

Is there such a thing as guaranteed car finance?

Man signs agreement for buying car on finance

Put simply – no. Just as there are no guarantees in life, there are no guarantees in car finance. As such, we would advise you to be very wary of any company that suggests they can guarantee car finance to you. At My Car Credit, we don't offer any guarantees. However, we always do our absolute best to get you accepted for car finance, so you can buy the car that you want.

The truth about Car Finance & ‘guaranteed car finance’

The reality is that the ‘guaranteed car finance’ claim is often a marketing ploy. The goal is to make you think that you’ll definitely be able to get a loan regardless of your circumstances. If companies offer guaranteed car finance, they think they’ll attract more customers. And they usually do – often people with a poor credit rating.

In truth, guaranteed car finance simply doesn’t exist. In fact, there have been laws in place since 2010 which state that making a false or misleading claim around finance guarantees for consumer credit is an offence. Additionally, advertisements that contain just the phrase ‘loan guaranteed’ are also banned. The advert would need to include terms and conditions regarding the individual’s credit status to be allowed.

‘Guaranteed car finance’ schemes

Found a few companies that offer guaranteed car finance? Despite what we’ve said above, there are some providers offering what they call guaranteed car finance. Some finance companies will offer guaranteed car loans to reel in vulnerable customers, without any actual guarantee. Other lenders will create some sort of false guarantee and claim that it amounts to guaranteed car finance.

Whatever the case, watch out for ‘guaranteed car finance’ schemes which are designed to catch you out. A common scheme is to ask for a ‘guaranteed car finance enquiry’ fee. Usually this fee and the offer it is meant to guarantee are closely attached to complex small print (i.e. legal jargon). In order to decipher it, you’d need to be a qualified lawyer!

Any finance lender suspected of dealing with customers in this way can end up with a full Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) investigation into their conduct. If upheld, this could lead to them being fined or forced to close.

They’ll carry on for as long as they can get away with it. But when they get caught out, there’s rarely any compensation for customers with a bad credit history, who have been irresponsibly sold car finance – usually with sky-high monthly repayments. You’ll find that your personal circumstances are even worse, giving you less chance of improving a bad credit score.

In summary – almost every guaranteed car finance claim is a scam.

How car finance agreements really work

Car finance agreements are purely based on your individual circumstances and your credit profile. This means that there will inevitably be some individuals who aren’t eligible for car finance – hence why guaranteed car finance doesn’t make sense.

We’ll go out of our way to help you get approved for car finance, including bad credit car finance. However, it’s our lenders that have the final say on your car finance application after fully assessing your current financial situation, affordability and credit profile.

A credit profile is a document that contains information regarding your creditworthiness and credit history. Your credit profile includes: what types of credit you hold, the length of time your credit accounts have been open for, if you made your repayments on time, and any applications for new credit.

Lenders are far less likely to lend you money if they are not convinced you can repay them. This would naturally be bad business for them. In addition, it is not ethical for them to lend money that could push you into financial difficulties. So, it’s paramount they only offer car loans if they believe you can afford the monthly payments.

How to get accepted for car finance

Whilst we cannot offer guaranteed car finance, there are ways you can improve your chances of getting accepted for car finance for a new car, whatever your credit history.

Improve and maintain your credit score
Your credit score is the main factor that is assessed when you apply for a car loan. It reflects your ability to keep up with monthly repayments. This means it’s important you keep your score as high as possible. There are many things you can do to improve your credit score. Not only will a good credit score improve your chance of an acceptance but you will also get a better rate. However, don’t lose heart if you have a low credit sore as there are still plenty of options.
Put down a deposit on your car loan
Paying an upfront deposit on your car loan makes you less of a risk to the lender. For bad credit car finance, there may be a larger deposit required. Not only is the amount owed on the vehicle reduced but your monthly payments will also come down. Once again, don’t despair if you can’t pay a deposit. There are plenty of no deposit car finance options available!
Opt for a Guarantor Loan
A Guarantor Loan is where a third party (usually a family member or close friend) agrees to pay your loan if you are unable to. This lowers the risk for the lender, as it’s essentially guaranteed car finance on their end, improving your chances of acceptance. It can also lower the interest rates you are offered. Guarantor Loans are a big responsibility for both parties and shouldn’t be entered into lightly. Make sure you are clear on how a Guarantor Loan works before proceeding.

What we can offer

My Car Credit has access to a large panel of lenders. These have all been vetted and approved by the FCA for their trustworthy operations and the quality of their service.

Our large network of lenders increases the chances of you getting accepted, across all credit profiles (from poor to excellent). Our unique underwriting policy prioritises the best outcome for you, the customer. This ensures we give you the best available deal on car finance for your circumstances.

You can trust My Car Credit because we are part of Evolution Funding, the UK’s largest vehicle finance broker. We are proud to be award-winning market leaders in the industry. We have helped thousands of customers get the car they want; at the price they can afford. We are also regulated and monitored by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In conclusion, you can borrow for your next car safe in the knowledge that we are professional and reputable.

What about bad credit car loans?

At My Car Credit, we understand that some applicants have a poor credit history. That’s why we don’t just turn down drivers because of a poor credit score. As a leading UK car finance company, we aim to offer car finance packages to as many people as we can.

Unlike traditional lenders, we have a network of over 30 companies. Our team will work tirelessly to compare your car finance options and find the right deal despite a bad credit score. Whatever your credit rating, our goal is to offer you a car finance agreement with monthly payments you can afford.

If you have any questions, our Car Credit specialists are here to help. Finally, you can get an instant decision, that won’t affect your credit file, by applying today.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 12.4%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

Loan amount

£

Repayment term

My credit rating

X monthly repayments of
^£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 12.4%, annual interest rate (fixed) 12.36%, 47 monthly payments of £196.44 followed by 1 payment of £206.44 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,939.12, total amount payable is £9,439.12.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

or call 01246 458 810

car finance agreement car finance eligibility credit score guaranteed car finance Jan24

Am I eligible for car finance?

Young people checking on ipad to see if they are eligible for car finance

Car finance is a great way of affording the car you want, allowing you to spread the cost of the purchase over a period of time. However, it can be difficult to know if this is the best option for you. We’re going to take you through everything that can impact your eligibility for finance so that you know where you stand.

Age

We know that ‘age is just a number’ but there are some restrictions on when you are eligible for car finance. The minimum age is 18, and the maximum age is 75. You must fit the age criteria from the beginning date of the agreement – i.e. you can be 17 and organise car finance with us as long as you’re 18 when your agreement starts.

Residency

You need to be a UK resident of more than three years. We do not usually accept temporary residents in the UK, but if you’re living in the UK and have an EU driving license, we may still be able to help. Also: To clear up a question we’re often asked – we do accept residents of Northern Ireland.

Credit score

Your credit score makes a big difference to your chances of being accepted and the terms of your agreement. The better your credit score, the more likely you are to have your car finance application approved and receive lower annual percentage rates (APR). An APR is the amount of interest you pay back for borrowing money from your lender.

If you have a poor credit score, you can still be accepted for finance but you may find that providing a deposit will help you to secure an agreement. There are also a number of ways to improve your credit score.

The vehicle

The vehicle you’re looking to finance must be less than eight years old at the start of your agreement, and less than twelve years old at the end. However, a poor credit history could mean that the age of the car is limited to a maximum of ten years old at the end of the agreement.

There are no limits to monthly mileage unless you’re on a leasing agreement, such as a Hire Purchase agreement. In this case, the usual mileage limit is 100,000, although lenders do have different criteria.

Click to learn more about the different car finance options.

Employment

You must be in stable employment and able to provide your previous three months’ bank statements and payslips. Stable employment history will be viewed favourably and may also help to reduce the interest rate that you pay on your loan.

If you’ve been in your job for less than three months, we may be able to help if you have been consistently employed in the past.

If you are self-employed, it can be more difficult to obtain car finance, but it is possible. You can read more about getting car finance when you’re self-employed.

If you work part-time, you will still have options. You will need to earn the lender’s minimum income criteria and be able to provide three months’ payslips.

Benefits

If you claim benefits you will need to prove that at least half of your income is from employment.

Accepted benefits as forms of income include Carer’s Allowance, Local Council Tax Support, Disability Living Allowance, Tax Credits, Incapacity Benefit (long term incapacity), Pension Credit, and State Retirement Pension.

If you claim disability benefit, lenders try to be more flexible due to the nature of the benefit and will accept government-funded mobility allowance.

Retirement

If you are retired, we’re happy to help – despite being out of employment, usually retired applicants are in a good financial position having had the time to build up a good credit history.

All you will need to do is have proof of income. This would need to come from a pension, investment or property rental income.

Due to the usual age group of retired applicants, lenders may want to minimise the term of the loan to help share any associated risks.

If you’ve found the perfect car and you’re itching to get behind the wheel but you’re not sure how you’re going to pay for it, finance is a great option. We hope this has given you a good overview of the factors which affect your eligibility for car finance, but if you have any questions, give the My Car Credit team a shout – we’re always here to help!

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 12.4%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

Can I Get Car Finance with Poor Credit History?

I am self employed, can I still get car finance?

Is there such a thing as guaranteed car finance?

Loan amount

£

Repayment term

My credit rating

X monthly repayments of
^£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 12.4%, annual interest rate (fixed) 12.36%, 47 monthly payments of £196.44 followed by 1 payment of £206.44 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,939.12, total amount payable is £9,439.12.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

or call 01246 458 810

car finance eligibility eligibility Jan24

Can I finance a car for my daughter/son?

Young person holding bag waiting for parent to arrive in new car

Financing a car for your child is a proud moment for many parents. Often you are looking to finance a car as your son or daughter are at a point in life where a car is simply too expensive. We are often asked whether it’s possible to finance a car for a son or daughter, so here’s a run-through of both the available routes with My Car Credit.

Guarantor Loans

A guarantor loan is one way of financing a car for your son or daughter. This type of car finance agreement works similarly to a normal loan, in the sense that your child will be responsible for making the agreed repayments. However, it also allows for a third party (i.e. you) to guarantee the repayments in the case that your son or daughter is unable to make them. By being a guarantor on the agreement, you are reducing the risk to the car finance lender. This can increase the likelihood of securing car finance on behalf of your son or daughter.

Guarantor Loans are a big responsibility for both of you. Should your son or daughter fail to make the monthly repayments, you would be liable for the debt. If you fail to make the payments on behalf of your child, both of you could be issued with a County Court Judgement (CCJ) and you would both have damaged credit profiles, which would affect your ability to secure finance in the future.

A guarantor loan can create an opportunity for your son or daughter to improve upon their credit score for the future. An improved credit score will increase their chances of being approved for any future financial agreements they should wish to take.

Joint Application

A stronger option for financing your son or daughter’s car is with a joint application – an agreement in which both of your circumstances are taken into account. This is especially useful when your child has a good income but a slightly poorer credit score.

In this case, both parties are responsible for upholding the repayments, and if one is no longer able to meet their financial commitments, the other must pick up the full amount. The risk with this kind of agreement is that any missed repayment (from either party) will be recorded on both parties’ credit files. However, if you are supporting a child with a good income but a less than perfect credit score, this is an option to consider.

Financing your child’s car is a matter of pride for lots of parents, but you must consider all your options before signing onto a car finance agreement.

Guarantor loans and joint finance are two ways to get your child up and running with My Car Credit – whilst our online application form doesn’t allow for adding in an additional person, our experienced Car Credit Specialists can help you with this over the phone. Simply give us a call on 01246 458 810.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 12.4%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

Can I Get Car Finance with Poor Credit History?

I am self employed, can I still get car finance?

Is there such a thing as guaranteed car finance?

Loan amount

£

Repayment term

My credit rating

X monthly repayments of
^£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 12.4%, annual interest rate (fixed) 12.36%, 47 monthly payments of £196.44 followed by 1 payment of £206.44 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,939.12, total amount payable is £9,439.12.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

or call 01246 458 810

car finance options joint application

Car loans explained

Get a roadmap of your credit history

Hard vs soft credit checks

Overcoming poor credit history

Let us help with your car finance

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 12.4%

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