How to Finance a Car with Poor Credit

Read on to find out how to get car finance with poor credit rating in three easy steps:

Step 1: Find your credit score

Your credit score plays an important role in determining how much you can borrow, as well as the terms and conditions of your loan. It offers lenders an overview of your borrowing habits and helps establish the level of risk associated with your loan. Credit scores are calculated using a range of factors, including credit card payments, outstanding loans, previous finance applications and direct debits currently in your name. We recommend Experian to find your credit score. 

The latest data from Money Supermarket is a good place to start when looking for a benchmark. The platform uses TransUnion as a credit reference agency, with scores ranging between 0 to 710. Scores of between 566 and 627 are considered ‘good’ while scores of 628 or more get you into the ‘excellent’ category. The average Brit has a credit score of 573, according to a survey conducted in December 2021. This is slightly higher than the 569 average recorded in December 2020, which suggests credit scores are on the rise.

Of course, not all Brits enjoy an ‘excellent’ or even ‘good’ credit rating. If you’re hovering around the 550 or lower range, you could fall into the ‘poor’ category. Don’t worry, this isn’t game over and you’re definitely not alone. Thousands of Brits have poor credit ratings, with the North West and North East of England recording some of the lowest averages.

While poor credit history is often considered taboo, there are all kinds of reasons why you may have a less-than-perfect score. Things like minor mortgage defaults and outstanding bills can bring down your credit rating. You might also be given a flat score if you haven’t built up a credit history yet or you’re self-employed and have difficulty proving your income. Whatever your unique situation, don’t let your ‘poor’ rating drag you down just yet. 

Step 2: Crunch your numbers

After establishing your credit score, it’s time to crunch your numbers. Our car finance poor credit rating calculator is a quick and easy way to do the maths and get an idea of what types of numbers you’re looking at. It’s quick, easy, and most importantly, stress-free. The last thing you want when you’re researching how to get car finance with poor credit rating is a headache. That’s why we’ve created this calculator to streamline the process and give you results in a matter of clicks.

All you need to do is enter your preferred loan amount, repayment terms and finally, your credit rating. There’s no impact on your credit score, so don’t worry about pushing your rating even lower. After you’ve punched in the numbers we’ll generate your expected monthly payments, as well as what typical APR rate to expect.

Our goal is to make your experience as easy and transparent as possible, which is why we also include the loan amount and total payable figure. No blurred lines here. Just simple, easy to interpret numbers. If you want to know more about how to finance a car with poor credit, simply hit the ‘apply now’ button and follow the next steps.

Step 3: Secure a lender

You’ve established your credit score and crunched the numbers. Now it’s time to secure a lender. There are loads of options out there and it pays to shop around and find a lender that suits your unique needs.

Here’s some tips on how to secure the best car loans from top lenders in the UK:

Look for brokers with good connections

One of the best ways to improve your chances of securing car finance with poor credit is to enlist the help of a broker. Working with an established financial services platform is an easy way to browse the market and track down the best deals, without having to do a huge amount of groundwork.

Brokers can be a godsend but it’s worth noting that not all offer the same customer-focused, results-driven services. When you choose My Car Credit, you’re unlocking access to one of the largest panels of lenders in the UK. We’re part of Evolution Funding, the UK’s biggest and most trusted motor finance broker.

In addition to a wide panel of trusted lenders, we use purpose-built technology to track down the best deals. This means we’re often able to secure approval for car finance where other brokers have failed. If you’re researching how to finance a car with poor credit, it’s hard to find a better solution.

Remember, all circumstances are considered

Ruling yourself out too early is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when researching how to finance a car with poor credit. A good car finance platform should consider all circumstances, regardless of how low your credit score is. Often, there’s more to the story than meets the eye.

At My Car Credit, our passionate team of auto finance advisors are here to dig deep into your finances and secure you the best possible loans and interest rates from our panel of lenders, no matter what your credit score. Every case is assessed individually, with zero judgement. Our goal is always to find the best car loan for your unique circumstances. With access to a large panel of trusted lenders with options for all kinds of applicants, we’re well-equipped to do just this.

Want to know more about how to finance a car with poor credit? Get in touch via email or give us a call on 01246 458 810 to discuss your car finance options and learn more about how to get car finance with poor credit rating.