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Used under $20,000
Our under-$20,000 search gathers the used cars, trucks and SUVs priced in that range, and it updates as they sell.
Financing | Longview, WA
Bad Credit Car Loans for Longview, Kelso and Oregon Buyers
Rebuilding credit after a job loss, medical bills, a divorce or a repossession? Bud Clary Chevrolet in Longview works with buyers across Cowlitz County, from Kelso and Castle Rock to Kalama and Woodland, and with Oregon neighbors who cross the Lewis and Clark Bridge from Rainier, Clatskanie and St. Helens. Dealer financing runs through lenders, and the lender makes the credit decision, not the dealership. Here is what lenders look at, what to bring, and how to start.
- All credit typesWelcome to apply at our Longview store
- Lender's callBanks, credit unions or finance companies decide
- 5 stepsContact, residence, details, income, co-applicant
- Sundays tooSales hours 11 AM to 5 PM
Rebuilding credit in Cowlitz County or across the river
Longview draws car shoppers from two states. Kelso and Longview run together along the Cowlitz River, Castle Rock and Kalama are a short trip on I-5, and Rainier sits at the Oregon end of the Lewis and Clark Bridge, with Clatskanie and St. Helens strung along Highway 30. Whichever side of the Columbia you call home, a lender weighs the same things: your credit history, your income and the debts you already carry.
Living in Oregon? Put your Oregon address on the credit application. Our Oregon buyers guide covers the paperwork for Oregon residents and why that address matters. Shopping from Kelso? Our Kelso page covers the short drive over.
How dealer financing works on Commerce Avenue
Dealer financing is sometimes called indirect financing, because the dealership sits between you and the lender. This is the path from application to signing.
- Apply online or in personOur online credit application moves through five short steps: contact, residence, details, income and co-applicant. Enter your full legal name the way it appears on your driver's license.
- Your application goes to lendersAs the CFPB describes it, a dealer's finance office forwards your information to one or more lenders, which can be banks, credit unions or nonbank auto finance companies. Credit union direct lending is part of what we offer too.
- A lender makes the decisionThe lender studies your file and chooses whether to extend credit and on what terms. The dealership does not make that call. When a lender comes back with terms, our finance office goes over them with you, and you are free to compare them with an offer from your own bank or credit union.
- You sign, then pay the lenderYou sign a retail installment contract with us. The FTC explains that the dealer typically sells that contract to a bank, finance company or credit union, and from then on your payments go to that lender.
What lenders weigh, and what can count as income
Credit history and scores lead the CFPB's list of what lenders weigh, followed by income and existing debts, the loan amount and term, the size of your down payment next to the vehicle's value, and whether the vehicle is new or used (CFPB). A low score is one input, not the whole picture.
Under federal Regulation B, a lender may not discount income because it comes from part-time work, a pension, an annuity or another retirement benefit, though it can weigh the amount and how likely that income is to keep coming (12 CFR 1002.6). Income from Social Security, disability, part-time work or self-employment may count; the lender decides.
Worried that applying will pull your score down? Yes, a full application means lenders will look at your credit report. Rate shopping is treated gently, though: the CFPB says auto loan inquiries spaced no more than 14 to 45 days apart generally count as one, and comparison shopping generally has little to no impact on your scores.
Old trouble fades with time. The CFPB puts the usual limit for most negative information at seven years; bankruptcies can stay up to ten. Pull your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com before you apply; the FTC recommends it, and an error you get corrected now is one a lender never reads.
What to bring to Commerce Avenue
Lenders set their own document lists, so ours is a starting point. Bring what fits your situation.
Planning a down payment? Cash and the value of a trade-in can both go toward it, and lenders decide how much they want to see.
- A valid driver's license, whether it was issued by Washington, Oregon or another state
- Proof of income: recent pay stubs; for self-employment, your latest tax returns and a few months of bank statements; for Social Security or disability, your benefit award letter
- A recent bill or lease in your name that shows where you live now (Oregon residents: your Oregon address)
- Proof of insurance, or the name of the agent who will write your policy
- Trading in? The vehicle's title, or the account details for the loan still on it, plus every key and remote
- Applying with someone? Their income and address details for the co-applicant step
- Been through bankruptcy? The discharge order or the court papers from your case
Used cars, trades and what comes with them
Every used vehicle
Included when you buy used
From Bud Clary, on any used vehicle:
- 3-month / 3,000-mile limited warranty
- Exchange it within 3 days or 300 miles
- Inspected on 117 points before it is offered for sale
- CARFAX history report at no charge
- 2 oil changes and 2 tire rotations
Trade or sell
Find out what yours is worth
You don't have to buy from us for us to buy your car. If you still owe on it, we pay off the loan with your lender directly, and we handle the title paperwork, even when a title or a key has gone missing.
Before you sign, and before you drive away
Washington has a firm rule for deals that depend on financing. When a contract is conditioned on financing that isn't final, the dealer has four days, not counting Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, to accept or reject it, and on a rejection it must offer back your down payment and your trade-in (RCW 46.70.180).
The Washington Attorney General advises against taking a vehicle home on a contract marked subject to financing until the financing is complete. If your paperwork says that, ask us whether to wait.
A negotiable documentary service fee of up to $200 may be added to the sale price.
Start your application
Fill out the application from home at any hour, then call us or bring your documents to 1030 Commerce Ave. Sales is open seven days a week.
Visit Bud Clary Chevrolet
Bud Clary Chevrolet1030 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
- 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
- Saturday
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a car loan with a 550 credit score?
You can apply with any score. Each lender sets its own standards and weighs the score alongside your income, debts, down payment and the vehicle, so applying is the way to find out what a lender will offer.
Can I buy a car after a repossession?
Yes, you can apply. A repossession can generally stay on your credit report for seven years, so lenders will see it, along with everything else in your file, including how you have paid since.
Can I finance a car during or after bankruptcy?
If you're still in a Chapter 13 plan, the trustee has to be consulted before you take on new debt, according to U.S. Courts. After a discharge, bring your court paperwork, since lenders may ask for it. We can't give legal advice, so check with your attorney.
Can I use a co-signer on a car loan?
Yes. Our online application has a co-applicant step. Make sure the person understands the commitment: the FTC notes a co-signer takes on equal responsibility for the contract and is on the hook if payments are missed.
Does Social Security or disability income count toward a car loan?
It may count; the lender decides. Federal Regulation B generally keeps a lender from counting it against you that your income comes from a public assistance program. Bring your benefit award letter.
How much do I need to put down?
The lender sets that, based on your credit, the vehicle and how much you borrow. Cash and trade-in value can both go toward it, and our finance office can tell you what a lender is asking for once your application is in.