Finance Center | Longview, WA
Need AWD on a Tight Budget? Bad Credit Car Loans in Longview
Need an all-wheel-drive car you can count on through a Cowlitz County winter, but your credit is bruised or barely started? Lenders weigh the size of the loan against what the car is worth, not only your score, so a lower-priced used AWD car or more money down changes what you are asking a lender to take on. Here is how that works at Bud Clary Subaru in Longview, and how to apply.
- Nearly every SubaruBuilt with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
- Under $20,000Used cars on a search page of their own
- 4 working daysWashington's window on a deal written subject to financing
- Open SundaysSales 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
What a lender weighs besides your score
Bud Clary Subaru does not lend the money. Once you apply, the application goes from our finance office to one or more lenders, and every lender makes its own call on whether to offer a loan and on what terms. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau lists what goes into that call: credit scores and history, income and debts, the loan amount and term, how big the down payment is next to the car's value, and what kind of vehicle it is, new or used.
Most of that list is already set by the time you apply. The last few items are not. You pick the car, and you pick how much to put toward it.
How a lower price or more money down changes the conversation
These are the levers a buyer with a thin or damaged credit file can actually pull.
- Shop a lower price bandA smaller loan is less for a lender to take on. Start with our used cars under $20,000, then sort the full used inventory by price. An older or higher-mileage AWD car usually costs less than a late-model one.
- Put more downThe CFPB's auto loan glossary counts cash, a trade-in's value or both as a down payment, and it puts the point simply: the more you put down, the less you need to borrow.
- Mind the loan-to-value ratioThe loan-to-value ratio divides what you borrow by the car's actual cash value. The CFPB says the higher it runs, the riskier the loan is to a lender. A lower price and a bigger down payment both pull it down.
- Be careful rolling over an old loanOwe more on your current car than it is worth? The CFPB warns that folding that leftover balance into the next loan makes the next loan more expensive. Get your trade's number first with Value Your Trade so you know where you stand.
- Hear the lender's conditions earlyEach lender sets its own down payment terms based on the car and your file. Our finance team walks you through any lender's conditions before a contract is in front of you.
- Apply once, completelyFill out the credit application one time with your full income and address history. Keep any comparison shopping tight: the CFPB explains that auto loan credit checks bunched within 14 to 45 days of each other are generally treated as a single inquiry.
A thin credit file is not the same as a bad one
Young drivers, people new to the area and anyone who has always paid cash can show up with little or no history. With less to read, a lender leans harder on what you can document: your income, your other debts and the money you bring to the deal.
Under federal Regulation B, a creditor cannot discount part-time pay or pension, annuity and retirement income because of where it comes from, and cannot hold it against you that some of your income is public assistance. Wages from a second job, a Social Security award, other benefits or self-employment earnings may count; the lender decides.
A co-signer with established credit is another route. Read the FTC's co-signing guide together first: the co-signer has to repay if you miss payments, and the creditor can report the loan as their debt.
Buying a used AWD car on a budget: start with the tires
In Subaru's words, its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is the drivetrain setup on nearly every Subaru vehicle, and a full-time system like it powers all four wheels at all times. That is why the tires deserve a close look on any used AWD car. Subaru's own 152-point Certified Pre-Owned inspection form checks that all four tires share the same size, tread and manufacturer, and that each has at least 5/32 inch of tread left.
Use that as your checklist on a budget car, ours or anyone's. A worn or mismatched set is a cost to plan for before you sign, not after. Subaru recommends rotating tires every 6,000 miles to help them wear evenly, and every used vehicle sold by Bud Clary includes two oil changes and two tire rotations.
Each used vehicle also gets a 117-point inspection before it reaches the lot, a free CARFAX report and a 3-month / 3,000-mile limited warranty. Second thoughts? Our 3-day / 300-mile exchange lets you swap it for another vehicle inside that window.
Used AWD searches on this site
Our used search has its own pages for the Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, Impreza and Legacy, and what is on them changes as cars come and go. The search also lists used cars from our sister stores, and its disclaimer says a car shown at another location can be made available to you here.
Looking at new instead? The fine print on Subaru's current lease specials says the special rates are extended to well-qualified buyers, so those ads are a poor yardstick while you rebuild credit. Our new vehicle specials page carries each offer's full terms.
How financing is handled at Bud Clary Subaru
Our finance and insurance office collects your application and forwards it to one or more lenders, which the CFPB notes can include banks, credit unions and nonbank finance companies. A lender that agrees to finance sends its quote back to us, and you decide whether to take it. You are free to bring a loan from your own bank or credit union, and you can ask whether other lenders came back with better terms.
All credit types are welcome to apply, and Bud Clary offers credit union direct lending alongside traditional lenders.
When the paperwork says the sale is subject to financing, the dealer has four working days under Washington law, not counting weekends and holidays, to complete it (RCW 46.70.180). If it falls through, the Attorney General's office says the dealer must offer back your contract documents, down payment and trade-in, and it advises against taking the car home until financing is complete.
A negotiable documentary service fee of up to $200 may be added to the sale price.
What to bring to 961 Commerce Ave.
Lenders differ on paperwork, so our finance team may ask for more or less than this. Having it with you on the first visit keeps a drive in from Kelso, Kalama or Woodland to one trip.
- Your driver's license
- Recent pay stubs, or award letters for Social Security and other benefits
- Tax returns or 1099s if you work for yourself
- A utility bill, lease or other proof of your current address
- Your down payment, plus the title or payoff details and every key for a trade
- Your insurance card, or your agent's phone number
- Contact details for a co-signer, if one is applying with you
Ready to apply?
Start the credit application online at any hour, or call (360) 575-6868. Our sales floor is open 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM on weekdays, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday and 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday.
Visit Bud Clary Subaru
Bud Clary Subaru961 Commerce Ave.
Longview, WA 98632
Sales
- Mon - Fri
- 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
- Saturday
- 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Sunday
- 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Service
- Mon - Fri
- 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Saturday
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get a bad credit car loan in Longview?
You can apply right here, and our finance team sends your application to lenders that look at more than the score. Whether a loan is offered, and on what terms, is the lender's decision. Choosing a lower-priced car or putting more down shrinks what you are asking to borrow.
Can I buy a car with no credit score?
You can apply without one. With no history to read, lenders rely on what you can show them, such as your income, your other debts and your down payment. A co-signer with established credit may also help, as long as both of you understand they owe the loan if you don't pay.
What credit score do I need to buy a used car?
There is no single cutoff. Lenders each draw their own lines, and the score is one input next to your income, your debts, how much you borrow and the car. The CFPB says a loan that is large compared with the car's value is riskier for a lender, so a less expensive car can work in your favor.
With bad credit, how much should I plan to put down?
There is no fixed number; it depends on the lender, the car and your file. Cash, the value of a trade-in or both can count as a down payment, and every dollar down is a dollar you don't borrow.
Do Social Security or disability benefits count as income for a car loan?
They may count; the lender decides. Regulation B bars lenders from holding it against you that income comes from public assistance. Bring your award letters so the lender can verify the amount.
Does a co-signer help with a bad credit car loan?
It can, because a lender then has a second applicant with established credit to consider. The FTC points out that a co-signer must repay if you don't and the loan can appear on their credit report, so talk it through before either of you signs.