Fresh Start
Life happens. We make it easy to get back on track.
Self-employed, paid in cash or dealing with bad credit? See how our finance team handles a Fresh Start application.
Fresh Start Finance Program
Bankruptcy Doesn't Have to Mean No Car.
Need a Chapter 7 car loan in Moses Lake, or a vehicle while a Chapter 13 plan is still open? You can still shop. Different paperwork applies, and our finance team will help you sort it out.
Your chapter, your paperwork
| Your status | Papers a lender tends to request | Your first call |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7, discharge granted | The discharge order and the case number. According to U.S. Courts, discharge typically comes about 60 to 90 days after the creditors' meeting was first set to happen. | Our finance team |
| Chapter 7, case still open | Most lenders wait for the discharge. Before signing for credit of any kind, check in with counsel. | Your bankruptcy attorney |
| Chapter 13, mid-plan | Confirmation from your attorney that the court's notice process for the new debt has run its course. U.S. Courts says new debt during a plan needs the trustee consulted first. | Your attorney and trustee |
| Chapter 13, plan complete | Your Chapter 13 discharge order | Our finance team |
Treat this table as a general guide only; it isn't legal advice. Questions about your own case go to your bankruptcy attorney or trustee.
The Eastern District's rule for new debt during Chapter 13
Washington is split into two federal bankruptcy districts, and Grant County falls in the Eastern District (28 U.S.C. 128). Whether you live in Moses Lake, Soap Lake or Warden, a Chapter 13 case from here runs under that court's local rules.
Its Local Bankruptcy Rule 2083-1 asks a debtor who plans to borrow mid-plan to file a Notice of Intent to Incur Post Petition Debt, paired with an amended income and expense statement. If no one objects, the process moves ahead; if someone does, the court makes the decision.
For self-employed filers, that amended statement is where uneven business income has to make sense on paper, so keep your Schedule C figures and bank statements handy for your attorney. When they're ready for vehicle details, we can put the vehicle and its price in writing. Sign nothing final until your attorney gives the all clear.
Five ways to prepare
Use these alongside your attorney's advice, never in place of it.
- Gather the court papersA discharge order if your case is closed; for an open Chapter 13, the papers showing the notice process is finished. Your attorney can supply a missing order.
- Read all three credit reportsFree at AnnualCreditReport.com. Look at how the accounts from your case are listed now. By federal law, a bankruptcy can show for no more than 10 years after the order for relief (15 U.S.C. 1681c).
- Put every income stream on the applicationBusiness profit, contract work, part-time pay, benefits and a pension all belong there. Regulation B won't let a lender shrug off a pension, part-time wages or public assistance just because of what they are, though it still decides how much to count.
- Keep the amount financed modestA cheaper vehicle, more cash down or a trade-in each shrink the loan. During Chapter 13, the court and trustee will look at whether the new payment fits the plan's budget.
- Wait to apply until you're ready to buyThe CFPB notes that several auto loan credit checks within 14 to 45 days are generally treated as one, so pick your vehicle first and keep the comparison shopping short.
Where a bankruptcy fits in a lender's decision
It's one item among many. Per the CFPB, a lender also weighs the money you make against the bills you carry, the size and length of the loan, your down payment relative to what the vehicle is worth, and its new or used status.
No law fixes how long after a discharge you must wait; lenders each draw their own line. Our finance team starts by asking about your case, which lets us send your application to lenders willing to consider applicants with a bankruptcy behind them. Approval is not guaranteed.
Bankruptcy words in plain terms
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Discharge | The order that frees you from personal liability for most debts in your case (U.S. Courts). A lender will usually ask for it. |
| Trustee | The person the court names to administer your case; in Chapter 13, the one who collects plan payments and needs to hear about new borrowing. |
| Chapter 7 | Liquidation: most debts are discharged, usually in a matter of months. |
| Chapter 13 | A court-approved repayment plan, usually three to five years, that lets you keep your property (U.S. Courts). |
| Amended income and expense statement | In the Eastern District, an updated budget filed with a notice to take on new debt during Chapter 13 (LBR 2083-1). |
| Reaffirmation agreement | A choice to stay liable for a debt, often a vehicle loan, that Chapter 7 would otherwise discharge. Make that choice with your attorney. |
Customers who came to us with a past
★★★★★600+ five-star Google reviewsRead our Google reviews for Bud Clary Chevrolet of Moses Lake
“Enjoying my experience at Bud Clary. First purchase 2 years into bankruptcy and they really came through for me.”
Rustel K., Bud Clary Subaru, Longview, Google review, January 2023
“...I was uneasy because I had a small budget and had a bankruptcy a few years ago, Travis was very optimistic and calmed my nerves! And he treated me like VIP. The loan processor Marshall. Was awesome, too!”
Charisse W., Bud Clary Ford, Longview, Google review, May 2025
“...They also helped find me financing since my credit is not that great. ... The finance manager Mikah Burnett was extremely accomodating.”
Tosca K., Bud Clary Auburn Volkswagen, Google review, February 2023
Excerpts from 5-star Google reviews, quoted as written. Every buyer's situation is different, and lenders make every credit decision.
Picking a vehicle the budget can carry
Pre-owned usually means a smaller loan. Each one we sell comes with the same package: inspected on 137 points, a CARFAX report on us, an exchange good for 3 days / 300 miles, a limited warranty of 3 months / 3,000 miles, and two oil changes plus two tire rotations at no charge to start (rotations only, if it's electric).
Start with our used vehicles under $20,000 or the whole used lineup. Spot the right one at a different Bud Clary store, and we can move it to Moses Lake for free, often by the same day.
More Fresh Start reading
First-time buyers
No credit isn't bad credit. It's a starting point.
After a discharge, a credit file can look almost new. Here's what lenders weigh when the history is short.
Bankruptcy papers to bring to N Frontage Rd East
- The discharge order, or for a Chapter 13 still underway, your attorney's paperwork on the notice
- Your case number and your attorney's contact details
- A valid driver's license
- Income records: stubs, a benefits letter, or returns with Schedule C and 1099s if you're self-employed
- A recent bill or rental agreement with your address
- Your insurer's name and policy number
Got your case papers?
Take the quiz, open the credit application, or phone (509) 765-4517. If your Chapter 13 isn't finished, start with your attorney.
Visit Bud Clary Chevrolet of Moses Lake
Bud Clary Chevrolet of Moses Lake12056 N Frontage Rd East
Moses Lake, WA 98837
Sales
- Mon - Fri
- 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Saturday
- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Sunday
- 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Service
- Mon - Fri
- 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Sat - Sun
- Closed
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Chapter 7 car loan in Moses Lake?
After the court grants your discharge, yes, you can apply. Bring the order. How soon a lender will finance after a bankruptcy is that lender's own policy.
Is it possible to finance a car before Chapter 7 is discharged?
That's a question for your bankruptcy attorney before you sign anything. Many lenders also prefer to see the discharge first.
Can you buy a car during Chapter 13 in the Eastern District?
It can happen if your attorney and trustee are part of it. U.S. Courts advises Chapter 13 debtors to consult the trustee before new debt, and the Eastern District's Local Bankruptcy Rule 2083-1 sets out the notice your attorney files, with an updated budget attached.
Once my Chapter 7 is discharged, how quickly can I buy?
You can apply as soon as the discharge is entered. Each lender decides how much time it wants to see, and since credit reports may carry a bankruptcy for a decade, lenders will ask about it either way.
Do Chevrolet dealers in Moses Lake work with buyers after bankruptcy?
We do. Bud Clary Chevrolet of Moses Lake takes applications from buyers whose case is closed and from buyers still in a Chapter 13 plan, and routes them to lenders open to a bankruptcy on the report. Lenders decide, and approval is not guaranteed.
Can I keep my current car loan in Chapter 7?
Sometimes, through a reaffirmation agreement, which keeps you liable for that loan after the discharge. It's a significant legal decision, so make it with your attorney.
Does the Fresh Start Finance Program affect my bankruptcy case?
No. The idea of a fresh start comes up in bankruptcy, but our Fresh Start Finance Program is only Bud Clary Chevrolet of Moses Lake's name for how our finance team works with credit-challenged buyers. It has nothing to do with your case and doesn't stand in for your attorney.
Related pages
The Fresh Start Finance Program is Bud Clary Chevrolet of Moses Lake's name for how our finance team handles applications from buyers with bad credit, no credit or a past bankruptcy. Financing comes from outside lenders, which decide approval and terms, and approval isn't guaranteed. This page is general information, not legal advice. A negotiable documentary service fee of up to $200 may be added to the sale price.