Fresh Start
Life happens. We make it easy to get back on track.
Bad credit, a decline at another dealer, or replacing a buy here pay here loan: how the program works at Bud Clary Auburn CDJR, starting from home.
Fresh Start Finance Program
No Credit Isn't Bad Credit. It's a Starting Point.
Shopping for your first vehicle with little or no credit history? An empty file isn't a black mark. Lenders just look for other proof, and you can start gathering it from home in Kent, Covington or Auburn.
No credit and bad credit are two different things
A bad credit file has trouble in it, like missed payments or a collection. A file with no credit barely has anything in it yet, which is normal if you've never borrowed, have always paid cash or recently moved to the South Sound. There's nothing negative on it; the lender simply has less to work with.
So an Auburn lender, or any lender, looks at what you can prove instead. The CFPB says lenders weigh your earnings and other debts, how much you're borrowing, what you put down compared with what the vehicle is worth, and new versus used.
Your first car loan in six steps
- Read your free credit reportsCheck them at AnnualCreditReport.com. A thin file can still list an account that isn't yours.
- Line up insurance before you shopTo drive in Washington you need liability insurance (RCW 46.30.020); the lender may also want the vehicle itself covered. Getting a quote first keeps surprises out of your budget.
- Start the quiz or call AuburnMention it's your first vehicle. Our finance team explains what lenders usually want from a buyer without a credit history.
- Fill out the credit applicationOur online form walks through contact details, where you live, personal details and income, plus a co-applicant section if someone is applying with you.
- Lenders review itOnce you say go, we send it on to outside lenders open to first-time applicants. Approval, and the terms, are up to each of them.
- Pick a vehicle that fitsIf a lender approves, choose within the budget it sets. A good first look on our site: used vehicles under $20,000.
Lenders decide on every application, and approval isn't guaranteed.
What gives a lender something to go on
- Proof of what you earn, from pay stubs to benefit award letters to 1099s and returns if you work for yourself. A lender can't discount part-time or benefit income because of where it comes from (Regulation B), though it decides how much to count.
- Months or years at the same job and the same address
- Cash down or a trade-in. The more you put toward the vehicle up front, the less you borrow (CFPB).
- A co-signer with established credit, if one is willing. Under FTC guidance, a co-signer has to cover the debt if you fall behind, so settle that conversation before anyone signs.
- A price that still leaves room in the budget for insurance
A few terms, explained
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Credit history | Your track record of borrowing and paying bills, as the credit bureaus record it. See yours free at AnnualCreditReport.com. |
| Credit score | A number worked out from your credit report. With little history behind you, there may not be one yet. |
| Co-applicant | A second person on the credit application, such as a co-signer. Our online form has a section for one. |
| Hard inquiry | The credit pull when you apply. Several auto lenders checking you inside one 14 to 45 day period generally add up to one inquiry (CFPB). |
| Liability insurance | Coverage for injuries and damage you cause other people. Washington requires it before you drive (RCW 46.30.020). |
First vehicles bought on Auburn Way N
★★★★★1,900+ five-star Google reviewsRead our Google reviews for Bud Clary CDJR of Auburn
“...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., Google review, March 2021
“...Very helpful with walking me through my first car buying experience. ... She was very patient with me as I was asking a lot of questions.”
Charity I., Google review, December 2020
“...Emily was awesome she wasn't pushing at all and was super friendly and didn't once make us feel like we were being pressured into buying a car.”
Joby M., Google review, February 2016
Excerpts from 5-star Google reviews, quoted as written. Every buyer's credit is different, and lenders make every credit decision.
Will your first loan appear on your credit report?
Yes, as long as the lender passes your payment record to the credit bureaus. Each payment, on time or late, then becomes part of your credit history. Before you sign in Auburn, ask whether the lender reports, and think about automatic payments so a due date never slips by.
Count every cost of a first vehicle
The loan payment isn't the only bill. Insurance, registration and tabs, gas and maintenance all come out of the same budget. When you buy a used Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram or any other make from us, oil changes and tire rotations come free, your first two of each (just the two rotations on an electric vehicle). That vehicle has cleared our 137-point inspection, too, and comes with a free CARFAX report, limited warranty coverage for 3 months or 3,000 miles, plus a 3-day / 300-mile exchange.
More Fresh Start reading
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy doesn't have to mean no car.
Filed Chapter 7 or Chapter 13? The documents lenders want, plus the Western District of Washington's process for a vehicle during a plan.
What to bring to 2925 Auburn Way N
Lenders ask for different things, so treat this as a starting list. A phone call first gets you the exact list for your application.
- Driver's license
- Social Security number or ITIN
- Recent pay stubs or benefit award letters (your own boss? 1099s and tax returns)
- A utility bill, lease or rental agreement in your name at your current address
- Insurance card, or the agency you're getting a quote from
- Contact details for a co-applicant, if someone is applying alongside you
Ready to shop for your first vehicle?
Start the quiz above, fill in the credit application from your couch, or phone (253) 833-2485 and ask for the Auburn finance team.
Visit Bud Clary Auburn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Bud Clary Auburn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram2925 Auburn Wy N
Auburn, WA 98002
Sales
- Mon - Sat
- 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
- Sunday
- 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Service
- Mon - Fri
- 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
- Saturday
- 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to finance a car with no credit history?
Yes, you can apply. Without a file to judge, lenders lean harder on your income, your time with an employer and at an address, and any money down or co-signer. Each lender makes the call, and approval isn't guaranteed.
Which is worse, no credit or bad credit?
They aren't the same problem. Bad credit is a record with trouble in it, while no credit is a record that hasn't started, and every lender reads the two by its own rules.
Can I apply for my first car loan without a co-signer?
You can. A co-signer with established credit may help a thin file, but the lender decides whether it needs one, and anyone who co-signs is on the hook for the debt (FTC).
What documents do first-time buyers bring?
Plan on your license, something showing income, something showing where you live, and insurance lined up before you drive off. Some lenders want more, so call (253) 833-2485 and our finance team will tell you.
Will lenders' credit checks lower my score?
A credit pull can nudge a score, if you have one yet. Auto loan checks that fall within 14 to 45 days of each other are generally treated as a single inquiry (CFPB), so apply when you're ready to buy.
How much should I spend on my first vehicle?
Start from your monthly budget, not the sticker: the payment plus insurance, gas, tabs and upkeep. The lender also sets how much it will finance. Our used vehicles under $20,000 page is a practical place to begin.
Does Bud Clary Auburn CDJR have a first-time buyer program?
Our Fresh Start Finance Program is open to first-time buyers: the Auburn finance team routes the application to outside lenders that work with people who don't have much credit history yet.
Related pages
The Fresh Start Finance Program is Bud Clary Auburn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram'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.
