Fresh Start
Life happens. We make it easy to get back on track.
Damaged credit, a no elsewhere or a high-interest loan: co-signers, down payments and how the program works here.
Fresh Start Finance Program
Bankruptcy Doesn't Have to Mean No Car.
A bankruptcy on your record changes the paperwork, not whether you can shop. At Bud Clary Hyundai in Longview, we start by asking where your case stands and build the plan from there.
Buyers who came through a bankruptcy
★★★★★500+ five-star Google reviewsRead our Google reviews for Bud Clary Hyundai
“Super friendly atmosphere. Jake really care I was comfortable and worked with my anxiety about getting a new car.”
Zhanna R., Google review, March 2024
“We were introduced to Kaylee. We found her to be responsive and respectful. ... When we got to the finance department, we were also impressed with their professionalism...”
Vitek D., Google review, January 2022
“...He was friendly, patient, knowledgeable, and never made me feel pressured. He took the time to answer all of my questions and made sure I felt comfortable and confident with my purchase.”
Katie B., Google review, September 2026
Excerpts from 5-star Google reviews, quoted as written. Every buyer's situation is different, and lenders make every credit decision.
What each stage of a case calls for
| Stage | What lenders tend to ask for | Who to check with |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7, discharge entered | The discharge order. In most cases, U.S. Courts says, it follows within 60 to 90 days of the first scheduled meeting of creditors. | Our finance team |
| Chapter 7, case still open | Usually the discharge. Talk to your attorney before applying for anything new. | Your bankruptcy attorney |
| Chapter 13, paying into the plan | The trustee's or the court's written OK for the new debt. U.S. Courts tells Chapter 13 debtors to consult the trustee before incurring new debt. | Your attorney and trustee |
| Chapter 13, discharge entered | Your Chapter 13 discharge order | Our finance team |
Not legal advice, just general information. Questions about your own case belong with your bankruptcy attorney or trustee.
A Chapter 13 vehicle loan in the Western District
Longview and the rest of Cowlitz County sit in the Western District of Washington under 28 U.S.C. 128. The district's Local Bankruptcy Rule 3015-2 gives Chapter 13 debtors, once their plan is confirmed, a way to request the trustee's permission, in writing, to finance a vehicle.
With the trustee's approval, a separate court order isn't required. Without it, your attorney may still bring a motion. Lenders generally want that approval before funding, so start on it before choosing a car, and keep the price modest, since the trustee is judging whether the new payment and the plan can coexist.
Five steps before you apply
These sit alongside your attorney's advice, never in place of it.
- Find the right court papersA discharge order for a finished case; written approval for new debt if your Chapter 13 is open. Your attorney's office keeps copies.
- Look over your credit reportsAll three are free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681c, a bankruptcy may stay on them up to 10 years from the order for relief, so make sure your case's accounts are reported accurately.
- Gather proof of incomeWages, benefits, a pension, part-time or self-employment income. Regulation B says pension and part-time earnings can't be discounted for that reason alone; each lender still decides how much to count.
- Plan your down paymentCash or trade equity lowers the loan-to-value ratio (CFPB). Still owe more on a car than it's worth? The CFPB warns that rolling the difference into a new loan raises its cost.
- Shop lenders in a short windowPer the CFPB, if your auto loan credit checks all happen in one 14 to 45 day stretch, they generally score as one.
How lenders weigh a bankruptcy
It's one item among many. According to the CFPB, lenders also look at income and debts, the loan amount, your down payment relative to the vehicle's value, and whether it's new or used.
Lenders set their own waiting periods after a discharge. Our finance team checks the status of your case first, then sends your application to lenders that accept bankruptcy files. Approval isn't guaranteed.
Bankruptcy terms, briefly
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Discharge | The court's order wiping out your personal liability on most debts in the case. |
| Trustee | The court-appointed administrator of your case; in Chapter 13, the person to consult before any new debt. |
| Order for relief | The legal start of the case. The 10-year limit on reporting a bankruptcy runs from this date (15 U.S.C. 1681c). |
| Loan-to-value | How much you borrow compared with the vehicle's value. A lower number means less risk for a lender (CFPB). |
| Reaffirmation agreement | A choice to stay liable for a debt the Chapter 7 discharge would otherwise cover, typically the loan on a car you're keeping. Make it with your attorney. |
Choose a vehicle the plan can carry
Buying used keeps what you borrow lower. Every used vehicle here has cleared our 137-point inspection. It comes with no-cost extras: its CARFAX report, three days or 300 miles to exchange it, a limited warranty that runs 3 months or 3,000 miles, plus two oil changes and two tire rotations (tire rotations alone on an electric vehicle).
Start with used vehicles under $20,000, then widen to all used inventory. If the right one is at another Bud Clary store, it can be moved to 7th Avenue at no charge, sometimes as early as the same day.
More Fresh Start reading
First-time buyers
No credit isn't bad credit. It's a starting point.
Post-bankruptcy files can be short on open accounts, a lot like a first-time buyer's. How lenders read a thin file.
Bring these to 700 7th Ave.
- The discharge order, or written approval for new debt from your trustee or the court
- Case number and your attorney's phone number
- Photo ID
- Pay stubs, benefits letters or recent tax returns
- Proof of your current address
- Insurance details
Ready when your paperwork is
Take the quiz above, apply online, or reach our finance team at (360) 423-4321.
Visit Bud Clary Hyundai
Bud Clary Hyundai700 7th 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
- 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Saturday
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Frequently asked questions
Can I finance a car right after a Chapter 7 discharge?
Once the discharge is entered, you can apply; bring a copy of the order. Each lender sets its own waiting period, if it has one.
Can I apply before my Chapter 7 discharge?
Ask your bankruptcy attorney first. Most lenders want to see the discharge anyway.
Can I get a car while in Chapter 13?
It's possible with the trustee involved. U.S. Courts says Chapter 13 debtors should consult the trustee before new debt, and Washington's Western District offers a written request process under LBR 3015-2 once the plan is confirmed.
Does a bigger down payment matter after bankruptcy?
It lowers what you borrow compared with the vehicle's value, which the CFPB says makes a loan less risky for a lender. The lender still decides.
How many years will lenders see my bankruptcy?
Federal law allows it on credit reports for up to 10 years from the order for relief, so expect questions about it. How much it matters is each lender's call.
Will a Hyundai dealer work with me after bankruptcy?
Bud Clary Hyundai takes applications after a discharge and during an open Chapter 13. We send them to lenders that consider bankruptcy filers; each lender decides, and approval isn't guaranteed.
Is Fresh Start financing part of my bankruptcy case?
No. People often call bankruptcy a fresh start; our program simply borrows the phrase as Bud Clary Hyundai's name for its process for applications with credit challenges. It has nothing to do with your case and isn't legal advice.
Related pages
The Fresh Start Finance Program is Bud Clary Hyundai'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.