Fresh Start
Life happens. We make it easy to get back on track.
Damaged credit, a no from another dealership or a loan you'd like out of: how the program works at Bud Clary Hyundai.
Fresh Start Finance Program
No Credit Isn't Bad Credit. It's a Starting Point.
Starting out with no credit history? At Bud Clary Hyundai in Longview, a first application leans on what you can show a lender, and sometimes on someone willing to co-sign.
Empty file, clean slate
Bad credit means a lender can see trouble. No credit means it can't see much of anything. Maybe you're a new hire at the port or one of the mills along the river, with steady pay and no borrowing history, or you've simply always paid cash. Neither counts against you the way missed payments would.
So a lender fills the gap with the rest of the CFPB's list: your income and the debts you carry, the loan amount, how your down payment compares with the vehicle's value, and new versus used.
Six steps to a first car, new or used
- Check your reportsRequest them free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Even a near-empty file can hold an account that isn't yours.
- Get insurance pricingWashington requires liability insurance of anyone who drives (RCW 46.30.020). A lender can also require added coverage on a financed car. Put the quote in your budget.
- Decide about a co-signerIf someone with established credit offers to co-sign, read the FTC's co-signing guide together before you apply.
- Tell us it's your first timeUse the quiz or call, and our finance team will explain what lenders generally look for from a new borrower.
- ApplyWith your OK, your application, plus your co-signer's if you have one, heads to lenders outside the dealership that accept first-time borrowers. Each decides on its own.
- Choose a car that fitsIf a lender approves, pick within its budget. Our used vehicles under $20,000 make a sensible starting list.
The lender decides on credit, and approval isn't guaranteed.
When a co-signer makes sense, and what they agree to
- A co-signer's credit and income can reassure a lender when yours aren't enough on their own (CFPB).
- A lender can't insist on one if you qualify by yourself (Regulation B).
- Your co-signer may owe the full balance plus late fees if you don't pay, and missed payments can show on their credit report (FTC).
- They may have no right to the car, even though they owe on it (CFPB).
- Before signing, they should receive a Notice to Cosigner from the lender, and they can ask for copies of the statements so a missed payment never surprises them.
Terms you'll hear as a first-time buyer
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Co-signer | A second person who promises to repay if you don't. Their credit is checked too. |
| Co-applicant | The step in our online application where someone applying with you adds their details. |
| Loan-to-value | What you borrow compared with what the vehicle is worth (CFPB). More money down lowers it. |
| Hard inquiry | A lender's credit check once you apply. Multiple auto loan checks within a 14 to 45 day period are generally scored as one (CFPB). |
| Credit report | Your borrowing and payment record at the credit bureaus, free at AnnualCreditReport.com. |
First cars, in buyers' own words
★★★★★500+ five-star Google reviewsRead our Google reviews for Bud Clary Hyundai
“Kayla Bruno went above and beyond to help me get my first car!!! She was soo nice, super helpful and informative.”
Jade W., Google review, March 2024
“As a first time car buyer I feel that every step of the process was explained fully and any questions answered in a way that I could understand.”
ashlee z., Bud Clary Ford, Longview, Google review, August 2024
“I just bought my first car ever, and Jesse was such a help. Super nice, understanding, and knowledgeable about what he does.”
Brayden B., Bud Clary Chevrolet, Longview, Google review, December 2019
Excerpts from 5-star Google reviews, quoted as written. Every buyer's credit is different, and lenders make every credit decision.
Your first loan and your credit report
A loan shows up on your credit reports when the lender reports it to the bureaus, and from then on so does each payment, on time or not. Ask about reporting before you sign. If someone co-signed, the same payment history can appear on their report too.
Costs beyond the payment
Insurance, registration, fuel and maintenance all come with a first car. Our used vehicles include two oil changes and two tire rotations at no charge (for an electric vehicle, the tire rotations only), and each has cleared a 137-point inspection. You also get the vehicle's CARFAX report at no cost, 3 days or 300 miles to exchange it, and limited warranty coverage of 3 months or 3,000 miles.
Recently finished a degree and leaning toward a new Hyundai? Check whether Hyundai's college graduate program applies to you.
Other Fresh Start guides
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy doesn't have to mean no car.
Discharged, or partway through a Chapter 13? Which court papers lenders request, and the Western District of Washington's steps.
Bring these on your first visit
Requirements vary by lender. Call before you come, and our finance team will narrow the list.
- Driver's license or other government photo ID
- Social Security number or ITIN
- Recent pay stubs (or a signed job offer), benefits letters, or your tax returns if self-employed
- Proof of address, like a lease or utility bill
- Insurance information
- Your co-signer, or their ID and income details, if one is applying
Ready to start?
Take the quiz above, fill out the application (your co-signer goes in the co-applicant step), 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 get financing with no credit history?
Yes, you can apply. With little history, lenders focus on income, existing debts, money down and, sometimes, a co-signer. Each lender sets its own standards, and approval isn't guaranteed.
Is it worse to have no credit than bad credit?
Not worse, just different. A bad file shows problems; an empty one shows very little. Lenders read the two differently.
Do I need a co-signer for my first car?
Not necessarily. Under Regulation B, a lender can't require one if you qualify on your own. If it decides you need more support, it may ask for one.
What does a co-signer risk?
Paying the debt if you don't, late payments on their own credit report (FTC), and the loan counting as their debt when they borrow later (CFPB). Talk it through before they sign.
What paperwork goes with a first car purchase?
Photo ID, income records, a document with your address, and insurance. If someone is co-signing, they'll need their ID and income details too.
Will a credit check for my first loan lower my score?
If you have a score, a lender's check can move it slightly. Auto loan checks within 14 to 45 days generally count once (CFPB).
Does Bud Clary Hyundai have a first-time buyer program?
First-time buyers apply through our Fresh Start Finance Program, which sends applications to outside lenders that consider buyers with a short history. Recent graduates can also look at Hyundai's college graduate program for a new Hyundai.
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. A negotiable documentary service fee of up to $200 may be added to the sale price.