Fresh Start
Life happens. We make it easy to get back on track.
A turn-down somewhere else, old collections or a high-interest loan you'd like out of: the main Fresh Start Finance Program page.
Fresh Start Finance Program
No Credit Isn't Bad Credit. It's a Starting Point.
Never borrowed in your own name? When there's little history for a lender to read, it turns to the paycheck, the job and the truck or car you choose. Here's how a first loan works at Bud Clary Ford in Longview.
A thin file isn't a bad file
Bad credit is a record of payments that went wrong. No credit is a short record, or none, which is normal if you've always paid cash, just moved to Cowlitz County or never needed to borrow. Nothing in an empty file counts against you. It just leaves a lender less to weigh.
That shifts the weight onto what you can prove. The CFPB lists what else goes into a lender's decision: what you earn and already owe, the size of the loan, the down payment measured against the vehicle's value, and whether you're buying new or used.
Six steps to a first truck or car loan
- Look over your credit reportsThey're free at AnnualCreditReport.com. A short file can still carry an error, such as an account that belongs to someone else.
- Get an insurance quoteYou can't legally drive in Washington without liability insurance (RCW 46.30.020). Your lender can also insist on physical damage coverage, so price both before you pick a vehicle.
- Tell us it's your first loanUse the quiz or call. Our finance office walks you through what lenders usually ask of a first-time borrower.
- Gather your pay recordsA new job counts: bring the offer letter showing your start date and pay, along with any stubs so far. Self-employed? Tax returns and 1099s.
- Your application goes outWith your go-ahead, our finance office passes it to outside lenders that take on first-time borrowers. Each one decides whether to lend and on what terms.
- Shop inside the budgetIf a lender approves, choose from vehicles that fit the number it sets. The used vehicles under $20,000 page is a quick place to begin.
Approval isn't guaranteed; every credit decision belongs to the lender.
What strengthens a first application
- Steady, documented income. Regulation B says income from part-time work, a pension or public benefits can't be set aside because of its source; how much counts is up to the lender.
- How long you've held the job and the home you're in
- Money or a trade toward the vehicle, which shrinks the amount you borrow
- A co-signer with established credit, if someone is willing. The FTC is plain that a co-signer owes the debt when the borrower doesn't pay, so talk it through first.
- A vehicle priced to fit once insurance, fuel and registration are counted
Loan terms in plain English
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Credit report | The bureaus' record of how you've borrowed and paid. You can see yours at no cost at AnnualCreditReport.com. |
| Credit score | A number worked out from that report. A first-time borrower may not have one at all. |
| Hard inquiry | The check a lender runs when you apply. If several auto lenders check your credit within 14 to 45 days, it generally scores as one inquiry (CFPB). |
| Amount financed | What you borrow once your cash and any trade value come off the price. |
| Co-signer | A second signer with established credit who owes the debt whenever the borrower stops paying (FTC). |
First-time buyers at Bud Clary Ford
★★★★★800+ five-star Google reviewsRead our Google reviews for Bud Clary Ford
“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., Google review, August 2024
“...he was extremely polite and assured me when I was skeptical as I’m a first time buyer and didn’t push for anything even once.”
Jake M., Google review, December 2023
“...This was my first car buying experience and Jennifer, was so very helpful and patient with me throughout the entire process.”
Menesha V., Google review, March 2024
Excerpts from 5-star Google reviews, quoted as written. Every buyer's credit is different, and lenders make every credit decision.
Does a first loan show on your credit report?
That depends on whether the lender reports to the credit bureaus, so ask before you sign. If it does, each payment lands on your reports, late ones as well as on-time ones. Automatic payments keep a hectic month from turning into a missed one.
Budget for the whole truck, not just the loan
Insurance, tabs, fuel and maintenance arrive with the keys. With any used vehicle you buy from us, your first 2 oil changes and 2 tire rotations are on us (on an electric vehicle, just the 2 tire rotations). Each one has also passed a 137-point inspection and includes limited warranty coverage for 3 months or 3,000 miles, its CARFAX report at no charge, and a 3-day / 300-mile window to exchange it.
Starting a job that calls for a truck? Browse our used inventory by price first, then narrow it by bed, cab and towing needs.
Keep reading
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy doesn't have to mean no car.
Chapter 7 or Chapter 13: the court papers lenders ask for, and the Western District's rule for a vehicle loan during a plan.
Your first-visit checklist
Lenders set their own lists. Call ahead, and our finance office will tell you what yours calls for.
- Driver's license
- Social Security number or ITIN
- Pay stubs or an offer letter, benefits letters, or tax returns and 1099s
- Something showing where you live, like a utility bill or rental agreement
- Proof of insurance, or your agent's number
- Your co-signer's contact details, if someone is applying with you
Ready for your first set of keys?
Start with the quiz above, fill out the full application online, or call (360) 423-4321 and ask for finance.
Visit Bud Clary Ford
Bud Clary Ford700 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 a truck loan with no credit history?
You can apply. With nothing on file yet, a lender looks harder at your pay, your time on the job and at your address, and any cash down, and some may ask for a co-signer. Approval isn't guaranteed; each lender decides.
Is no credit better or worse than bad credit?
Neither, exactly. Bad credit shows problems; no credit shows very little at all. Lenders treat the two differently, and each one sets its own rules.
Is a co-signer required for a first truck loan at Bud Clary Ford?
No, you can apply on your own. Someone with established credit who co-signs can strengthen a thin file, but the FTC reminds co-signers that they owe the debt if you don't pay.
What should I bring to buy my first truck?
Plan on a driver's license, pay records and something with your address on it, and have insurance set up before you leave. Some lenders ask for more, so call and our finance office will tell you.
Does applying for a first car loan hurt my credit?
A credit check can move a score a little. Truck and car loan checks bunched inside 14 to 45 days generally score as one inquiry (CFPB), so apply once you're ready to buy.
What credit score does a first-time buyer need?
There's no set number, and you may not have a score yet. Lenders each set their own standards, weighing income, debts, the loan amount and the vehicle (CFPB).
Does Bud Clary Ford have a first-time buyer program?
Buyers with no credit history apply through the Fresh Start Finance Program. We route the application to outside lenders open to thin files, and each lender makes its own decision.
Related pages
The Fresh Start Finance Program is Bud Clary Ford'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.