Fresh Start
Life happens. We make it easy to get back on track.
Bad credit, a denial at another dealership or a buy here pay here loan you'd like to leave behind: the main program page.
Fresh Start Finance Program
Bankruptcy Doesn't Have to Mean No Car.
Discharged from a Chapter 7, or partway through a Chapter 13? You can still shop at Bud Clary Chevrolet. Your court paperwork decides the next step, and we'll help you work out which pieces you need.
Your case, your paperwork
| Case status | Usually requested | Ask first |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7, discharged | The discharge order (a photocopy works). According to U.S. Courts, it typically arrives 60 to 90 days from the first scheduled creditors' meeting date. | Our finance office |
| Chapter 7, not discharged yet | Generally the discharge, first. Hold off on new credit until you've talked it through with your attorney. | Your bankruptcy attorney |
| Chapter 13, plan in progress | Approval in writing from your trustee or the court. Per U.S. Courts, a Chapter 13 debtor shouldn't incur new debt without consulting the trustee. | Your attorney and trustee |
| Chapter 13, discharged | The discharge order from your Chapter 13 | Our finance office |
General information only, not legal advice. Run anything about your own case past your bankruptcy attorney or trustee.
Washington case or Oregon case? It matters in Chapter 13
Cowlitz County falls in the Western District of Washington (28 U.S.C. 128). That district's Local Bankruptcy Rule 3015-2 lets a debtor with a confirmed Chapter 13 plan ask the trustee in writing to approve a vehicle loan. A yes from the trustee means no separate court order; a no still leaves the option of a motion to the court.
Shopping from Rainier, Clatskanie or St. Helens? A case filed in Oregon stays with Oregon's federal bankruptcy court, so the Western District rule above doesn't govern it, and your attorney knows the steps there. Wherever you filed, a lender will want the approval in hand before it funds the loan.
Before you shop: five things to line up
Your attorney's guidance comes before any of this. These only help a lender read your file.
- Collect your paperworkThe discharge order if your case is closed, or the written approval for new debt if you're mid-plan. Your attorney can supply a missing copy.
- Review your credit reportsGet all three at no cost from AnnualCreditReport.com then check that each account tied to your case reads correctly. Federal law caps bankruptcy reporting at 10 years from the order for relief (15 U.S.C. 1681c).
- Document all incomePaychecks, part-time work, self-employment, Social Security, disability or a pension. Under Regulation B, a lender can't discount income for being part-time or a pension, though it chooses how much weight to give it.
- Aim for a smaller balanceChoosing a modest price, adding cash or trading in lowers the balance. A Chapter 13 trustee will look at whether the new payment fits alongside the plan.
- Keep your loan shopping shortThe CFPB says auto loan inquiries clustered inside a 14 to 45 day window are generally counted together, as one.
The bankruptcy is one part of the file
Lenders weigh it alongside everything else on the CFPB's list: what you bring home, what you already owe, the amount you borrow, how your cash down compares with the car's value, and the new-or-used question.
Waiting periods after a discharge vary, because lenders set their own. Our finance office learns where your case stands before anything is sent, so your application lands with lenders that accept a bankruptcy in the history. Approval isn't guaranteed.
Bankruptcy words, translated
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Discharge | The court order that wipes out your personal obligation on most debts the case covers (U.S. Courts). |
| Trustee | The official who oversees your case. In Chapter 13, plan payments go through the trustee, who needs to hear about any new debt first. |
| Meeting of creditors | An early meeting in the case with the trustee. The usual Chapter 7 discharge timing is counted from the first date set for it. |
| Chapter 13 | A plan to repay creditors over time, generally three to five years, that lets you keep property while you pay (U.S. Courts). |
| Reaffirmation agreement | A deal to keep paying a debt you'd otherwise shed in Chapter 7, often the note on a vehicle you'd like to hold on to. Talk it over with your attorney before you sign one. |
Buyers on getting a fresh start
★★★★★1,100+ five-star Google reviewsRead our Google reviews for Bud Clary Chevrolet
“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!”
Charisse W., Bud Clary Ford, Longview, Google review, May 2025
“...didn’t judge me based on my credit,I will buy from them from now on!!”
Lucas C., Bud Clary Auburn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Google review, April 2020
Excerpts from 5-star Google reviews, quoted as written. Every buyer's situation is different, and lenders make every credit decision.
Pick a vehicle that fits the plan
Used keeps the loan smaller. Ours arrive with a 137-point inspection behind them, a limited warranty running 3 months or 3,000 miles, a CARFAX report at no cost, the option to exchange within 3 days or 300 miles, and free oil changes and tire rotations, two of each (only the rotations for an electric vehicle).
See used vehicles under $20,000 or browse all used vehicles. If the one you want is sitting at another Bud Clary store, we'll bring it to Commerce Avenue at no cost, and it can arrive as early as the same day.
Keep going with the program
First-time buyers
No credit isn't bad credit. It's a starting point.
A discharge can leave few open accounts, which reads a lot like a brand-new file. See how lenders handle that.
What to bring to Commerce Avenue
- Discharge order (closed case) or written sign-off from the trustee or court (open Chapter 13)
- Your case number and attorney's contact information
- Driver's license (Washington, Oregon or another state)
- Proof of income: pay stubs, a benefits letter, or returns and bank statements
- A recent bill or lease showing where you live
- Your insurance company or agent
Got your paperwork together?
Start the quiz above, apply online in five steps, or call (360) 423-1700 and ask for finance.
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 right after my Chapter 7 discharge?
You can apply as soon as the discharge is entered; bring a copy. Lenders each set their own waiting rules, so there's no single answer.
Can I finance a car while my Chapter 7 is still open?
Check with the attorney handling your case first. Most lenders will also want to see the discharge.
Is buying a car possible mid-Chapter 13?
Possibly, with your trustee on board. U.S. Courts tells Chapter 13 debtors not to incur new debt without consulting the trustee. In Washington's Western District, a confirmed plan lets you make a written request to the trustee under LBR 3015-2.
I filed bankruptcy in Oregon. Can I still buy here?
Yes, you can apply. Your case stays with Oregon's bankruptcy court, so the Western District's LBR 3015-2 doesn't apply to it. Ask your attorney what that court requires before you take on new debt in an open case.
How long does a bankruptcy affect getting a car loan?
Each lender decides how much weight to give it. Federal law permits a bankruptcy to appear on credit reports for as long as 10 years, so lenders may ask about it long after the case ends.
Will a Chevy dealer finance me after bankruptcy?
Bud Clary Chevrolet works with buyers whose case is discharged and with buyers still making Chapter 13 plan payments. Our finance office sends the application on to lenders that accept applicants with a bankruptcy in their history, and each lender decides. Approval isn't guaranteed.
Is your Fresh Start program part of the bankruptcy process?
No. Bankruptcy law uses the idea of a fresh start for debtors, but our program is just a name Bud Clary Chevrolet uses for its approach to bruised, thin and post-bankruptcy credit files. It plays no part in your case or your attorney's advice.
Related pages
The Fresh Start Finance Program is Bud Clary Chevrolet'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.