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I would like to borrow
£60
To pay back over
3.5 years

Zuto is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 9.4% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances. Representative Example: Borrowing £8,000 over 60 months with a representative APR of 19.9% the amount payable would be £204 a month, with a total cost of credit of £4,264 and a total amount payable of £12,264.

Zuto Limited. Registered in England under number 05722976. Registered office: Winterton House, Winterton Way, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 0LP. Zuto Limited is acting as a broker and not as a lender. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 452589. Zuto can introduce you to a limited number of finance providers, based on your credit rating, Zuto won't charge you anything for this service, but do get a fee from the lender which varies based on the product or amount borrowed.

Can I get car finance with poor credit history?

If you currently don’t have a good credit score and are looking for lending options to purchase a car, you might be asking the question ‘can I get car finance with poor credit history?’

Obviously, it is easier to secure an agreement for finance if your credit rating is good, but it’s by no means impossible for you to get car finance with a history of poor credit.

A select group of lenders

Car.co.uk can offer car buyers access to lenders who are prepared to offer finance to those with a history of poor credit. Whether you have filed for bankruptcy, have incurred county court judgements, or missed payments, we can assist you in getting finance to suit your individual circumstances.

Saving a deposit

If your credit score could be better or you’ve had problems obtaining credit before, there are some measures you can consider to improve your chances of securing a finance deal.

Prior to applying for lending from a finance company, try if at all possible to put money aside for a deposit. A sum as small as £500 could make a notable difference in your application for finance being rejected or accepted. By offering a deposit, you can increase your affordability by reducing the size of the installments you pay back monthly. Increasing your affordability from the lender’s point of view makes you a less risky investment and one they’re more likely to offer a deal to. A deposit can also aid you in securing a better rate of interest.

Poor credit rating due to bankruptcy

Buyers who have managed to satisfy an order of bankruptcy inside of six months can still get car finance access. It’s our recommendation that prior to application, you work on rebuilding your credit profile.

This can be achieved in many ways. Setting up direct debits for your utility bills is an ideal way to ensure you don’t miss any of your ongoing monthly payments. Prepaid credit cards can also bolster your profile when you preload funds onto the credit card before paying for goods and services with it.

Poor credit rating due to County Court Judgements (CCJs)

A CCJ, when registered, remains for a total of six years on the Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines, but it doesn’t have to stop you from getting a finance agreement.

A CCJ paid in full inside of a month can be removed entirely from the register of Judgements Orders and Fines. If you pay the CCJ in this time, it is still possible to get the record stamped as “satisfied” within the register. To do this, the court must be contacted in order to provide proof the CCJ has been paid. A fee charged for administration will be applicable – this is normally £15.

Poor credit ratings due to defaulting on payments and missed or late payments

It’s understandable that occasionally a payment might slip by your attention and that cash flow problems can lead to payments being missed. If you’ve struggled with such issues as missed payments, car finance is still a possibility open to you.

To enhance your chances of being accepted for finance, you can create a “notice of correction” and add it your personal credit file. In your own words you can provide a 200-word statement explaining why you missed your payment. In offering an explanation you give lenders the possibility to read your file and understand the circumstances of your late repayment, increasing the chance that they will accept your application for finance.

To find out more about this topic, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.

Other related FAQs

Looking for more related content to this? We’ve picked a selection of related topics that you may find helpful

If you’re refused car finance, find out why. You may need to correct inaccuracies in your credit report or take steps to improve your credit score. You might also want to consider using a guarantor.

Find out more

If you make numerous applications for car finance, repeated credit checks can impact your score negatively. Your approach to paying back the loan will decide longer-term credit score effects – but if you pay on time, it could well go up.

Find out more

It may be possible to get car finance if you have an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) currently in place. To do so, you’ll need to seek the permission of the Insolvency Practitioner dealing with your case.

Find out more

It is not possible to get car finance in the 12 months after being declared bankrupt or until your bankruptcy is discharged through the courts. Getting finance without declaring that your bankrupt is against the law – and could lead to an extension of your bankruptcy.

Find out more

The best way to get car finance with a poor credit rating is to take steps to rebuild your credit history, such as ensuring you’re on the electoral register, making payments on time and using ‘rebuilder’ credit cards.

Find out more

In order to get car finance with a CCJ, you will need to change the status of your judgement on the record or have it removed.

Find out more

There is no specific minimum credit score needed to finance a car. While your credit score is one factor – lenders will consider a number of different pieces of information; including affordability and the type of vehicle you’re buying.

Find out more

Both Equifax and Experian are credit referencing agencies. They use slightly different scales to present your credit rating – but both can provide lenders with some of the information they need to decide whether they’re willing to provide you with car finance.

Find out more

If you apply for car finance shortly before applying for a mortgage, this can affect your mortgage price. However, if you have a mortgage in place already, it will have no impact.

Find out more

In the short term, applying for a car loan can lower your credit score. However, over time if you make your repayments ontime, it can help you to build your score.

Find out more
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