Getting a Car Loan After Bankruptcy

When you file for bankruptcy, a lot of people will tell you that re-establishing credit will take years. They'll also warn you that you'll be unable to buy anything on credit for a long time, and that your credit history will be permanently damaged.

This is NOT true.

While filing for bankruptcy definitely hurts your credit, you can overcome most of the harmful effects in as little as one year. If you know how to work the credit system, you can have good credit again soon.

1. Get it together.

You want to create a budget and make a savings plan. It's very important you come up with a savings plan that you're going to follow. You also need to make sure that any creditors who send you collection notices are taken care of right away. You can't ignore these notices just because they're for debt that was included in your bankruptcy. Contact the creditor and make sure they know so they don't file a new collection and stop the re-establishment process. Last, make sure you know why you filed for bankruptcy and how you're going to make sure it doesn't happen again.

2. Start hoarding.

This is the hardest part -- you need to save up a few thousand dollars. Mostly, this money will be your emergency fund that you can use to make payments if you have a problem. But some of this money will be used to get a secured credit card and for a vehicle down payment. You also need to keep all of your important financial documents like pay stubs, bank statements, bills, etc., because a creditor may ask for copies in the future.

3. Apply for a secured credit card.

A secured credit card is an excellent tool for re-establishing bad credit. First of all, as long as you have enough cash for a deposit, you can get a card. Secondly, they're considered credit and they'll help you build some positive credit history. But whatever you do, don't carry a balance on your new secured credit card and don't use it more than once. In fact, you want to use the card one time and then cut it up. That way, you'll still be getting credit and your credit report will show that you're a disciplined credit user.

4. Buy a car.

I know that the idea of buying a cheap used car (2-4 years old, less than $10k) may not get your motor running, but remember the goal here is to re-establish quickly. You want to make a few payments on this car (6 to 12) and then trade it in for something nicer. Just make sure you have a down payment before you go shopping.

5. More credit cards.

Now that you have a secured credit card and a car loan that you've been making payments on, you have enough credit to get some low limit national credit cards (like Discover, Visa, MasterCard). Make certain that the cards you apply for do not have an annual fee, and you should also look into getting a credit card from your local credit union. Whatever you do, remember that if your application is denied you need to call and ask WHY. Often times you can convince a credit card company to approve a declined application with a little persistence.

6. Get the car you like.

The goal — you can now get the car you want after your bankruptcy. If you’ve followed all of the previous steps, you will have a good credit history AND a good credit score. Buying the car, truck, or SUV you want is now firmly in your grasp.

Some things to consider as you re-establish. First, saving money is an important life skill. As long as you have savings you don't have any financial problems. Follow a budget, think before you buy anything, and don't put yourself in a position where you can financially fail if something goes wrong. Finally, remember what caused you to file bankruptcy and make sure you don't repeat it.

Article Source: http://www.articlesfeed.com

About the author: Jason Lancaster has nearly 10 years of experience in the auto industry. He's helped hundreds get a car loan after bankruptcy and knows how the credit system works for bankruptcy car loans.
Feel free to grab a unique version of this article from the Unique Articles Submission Service

Rate This Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated