Fresh Start
Life happens. We make it easy to get back on track.
Self-employed, paid in cash or carrying bad credit: how the Fresh Start Finance Program runs at our store.
Fresh Start Finance Program
No Credit Isn't Bad Credit. It's a Starting Point.
Want to buy a car with no credit in Moses Lake? A lender can't grade a blank page, so it looks hard at the proof you put in front of it.
Blank isn't the same as bad
A bad credit file is full of missed and late payments. A blank one barely exists yet, which is how it looks for plenty of people who have never borrowed, recently moved to the Basin or always paid with cash. There's no damage in a short file, just very few pages for a lender to turn.
With less history to lean on, lenders give more weight to everything else the CFPB names: what you bring home and what you already owe, the amount you're asking for, the money you put down set against the vehicle's value, and whether the vehicle has had an owner before.
Getting a first car loan, in order
- Pull your reports for freeGo to AnnualCreditReport.com. Even a short file can carry an error, such as an account you never opened.
- Price insurance before you shopYou can't legally drive in Washington without liability insurance (RCW 46.30.020). Many lenders also want physical damage coverage on the vehicle. A quote now prevents surprises at signing.
- Let us know it's your firstTake the quiz or ring (509) 765-4517, and our finance team will run through what lenders usually want from someone buying a first car.
- Pull your documents togetherIncome, address and identification. The checklist sits further down.
- Your application heads outOnce you say go, we send it to lenders that take applications from people with little credit history. Each of those lenders rules on approval and terms.
- Shop inside the limitWith a lender's approval, choose a vehicle that fits. Our used vehicles under $20,000 make a good first look.
Only a lender can approve credit, and approval is not guaranteed.
What helps when it's your first loan
- Paperwork for your income: pay stubs, a benefits letter, or a return with Schedule C if you run your own business. Regulation B forbids marking down part-time or benefit income for its source, though the lender still chooses how much to count.
- A track record at your job and at your address
- A down payment or trade-in, which cuts the amount you need to finance (CFPB)
- A co-signer with an established credit record, if one steps forward. The FTC makes clear a co-signer has to cover the debt when you can't, so agree on that first.
- A price that leaves room in your budget for insurance
Terms you'll run into
| Term | In plain words |
|---|---|
| Credit report | The bureaus' running log of what you've borrowed and how you've paid. Yours is free to view at AnnualCreditReport.com. |
| Credit score | A number calculated from that log. With a short history, there may be no number yet. |
| Hard inquiry | A lender's look at your credit after you apply. When auto lenders all check within a 14 to 45 day span, it's normally scored as a single inquiry (CFPB). |
| Co-signer | A second signer with a longer credit record, who has to pay if you don't (FTC). |
| Down payment | Whatever you put toward the vehicle on day one, in cash, trade value or both; the more it is, the less you finance (CFPB). |
First cars, in buyers' own words
★★★★★600+ five-star Google reviewsRead our Google reviews for Bud Clary Chevrolet of Moses Lake
“I worked with Sam as my salesperson. She has sold me two vehicles now! My first car was a serious have to get into something on a very slim budget and she certainly made magic happen!”
Lindsey R., Google review, March 2021
“...I worked with Jake and he guided me through every step, answered all my questions with a positive smile every step of the way!”
Miya K., Bud Clary Chevrolet, Longview, Google review, March 2024
“...He was also very patient as I had a long phone conversation to get insurance squared away. Thank you for your great service and assistance in my first vehicle purchase.”
Ashton G., Bud Clary Auburn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Google review, March 2021
Excerpts from 5-star Google reviews, quoted as written. Every buyer's credit is different, and lenders make every credit decision.
Will the loan be on your credit report?
Only if your lender sends its payment records to the credit bureaus. If it does, both your on-time and your late payments land on your reports. Ask the question before you sign, and automate the payment so a busy month never makes you miss one.
Count the costs beyond the payment
Plan for tabs and registration, insurance, gas and maintenance too. On each pre-owned vehicle we sell, the first two oil changes and the first two tire rotations cost you nothing (rotations only, if it's electric). Every one also gets the same package: inspected on 137 points, a CARFAX report on us, an exchange good for 3 days / 300 miles and a limited warranty of 3 months / 3,000 miles.
Like a car parked at another Bud Clary store? Used vehicles can be brought to Moses Lake for free, often by the same day.
Other Fresh Start Finance Program guides
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy doesn't have to mean no car.
Chapter 7 behind you, or Chapter 13 in progress? What lenders request, and how the Eastern District of Washington treats new debt.
Bring these to N Frontage Rd East
Lenders' lists vary a little; a phone call settles what yours calls for. Several of our staff speak Spanish if that's easier for you.
- Your driver's license
- Your Social Security number or ITIN
- Income proof: stubs, a benefits letter, or returns and 1099s if you're self-employed
- A power or water bill, or a rental agreement, with your address
- Your insurer's name and policy number
- How to reach your co-signer, if one is signing with you
Ready to start?
Begin with the quiz, open the credit application, or call (509) 765-4517 with your questions.
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
Is it possible to finance a car with a blank credit file?
You can apply. When a file is nearly empty, lenders weigh your income, how long you've held your job and your address, your down payment and any co-signer more heavily. Every lender decides for itself, and approval isn't guaranteed.
What's worse, bad credit or no credit?
Neither is a simple yes or no. Bad credit is a history of problems, while no credit is barely a history at all, and each lender has its own way of reading them.
Can I buy my first car without a co-signer?
Yes, you can apply alone. A co-signer may help a short file, but that person would owe the balance if you stopped paying (FTC).
What do I need to get my first car?
Bring ID (your driver's license), something showing your income, something showing your address, and an insurance policy that starts before you leave the lot. A lender may ask for extra, and a call to our finance team beforehand will tell you.
Can I use self-employment income on a first car loan?
Yes, it can go on the application. Bring your returns with Schedule C, any 1099s and recent bank statements, and it's the lender's call how much counts.
Does applying hurt a first-time buyer's credit?
A credit check can dip a score slightly. The CFPB says auto loan checks bunched into a few weeks (14 to 45 days, by its count) are normally scored once, so wait to apply until you're ready to buy.
Does Bud Clary Chevrolet of Moses Lake help first-time buyers?
Yes. First-time buyers are part of our Fresh Start Finance Program, and our finance team sends their applications to lenders that consider short credit histories. The lender makes the decision.
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. A negotiable documentary service fee of up to $200 may be added to the sale price.