Husband was in Car Accident

[ozzymama]

You can get GAP through most finance companies, insurance companies have it too. Everyone wants to eliminate a negative equity situation.
Go see an F&I manager at a dealership, be careful though, shopping credit hurts you too. You should get copies of Equifax and Trans Union, I think Americans get one free per year? Then take total monthly income, annual divided by 12. Add up all loans, credit cards, mortgage (remember for calculations, only half the monthly payment figures into the equation) - borrowed money. Divide that by the total before tax (gross) monthly income. If that number is 20-25% and the bureau shows no more than 2-3 R2's and none current and the credit score is 700 or above, you should qualify for prime financing, if not you should qualify for sub-prime. If your score is in the 600's, your TDSR is over 30% and the bureau is littered with R2 or worse, proceed to the closest buy-here, pay-here who reports to the bureau, they will charge you a lot. But they will get you into a car, go for the cheapest, crappiest thing you can find if your credit is that poor, pay well for a year and re-evaluate the situation.
Credit Unions typically lend better, Ford Credit lends well, leasing is oft a better option and easier approved because you never own the car until you pay the residual.
Take all your own papers, bureau etc., calculations for TDSR, do not let anyone pull a bureau until they have evaluated your situation.

[ksotto333]

Personally we have not bought a new or nearly new car in years. All 3 of our vehicles were very clean and well maintained. Prices were 5500 for a 92 Saab with 60,000 miles, 92 Dodge Ram Diesel for 10,000 with 70,000 miles and 2400 for a 94 Izusu Trooper with 130,000 miles..Just listing this to show a small sample of clean affordable options available without going into debt again for something that will immediately lose value. It's just something to think about...look at ebay or autotrader..just be careful have a mechanic check it out first.

[wolfstraum]

Used Cars Lexington KY Used Cars Dealer Georgetown Keene - Blue Sky Auto Sales

they will find financing as well.....lots of cars with their stickers around here.....have a good reputation

Lee

[Liesje]

Originally Posted by ksotto333

Personally we have not bought a new or nearly new car in years. All 3 of our vehicles were very clean and well maintained. Prices were 5500 for a 92 Saab with 60,000 miles, 92 Dodge Ram Diesel for 10,000 with 70,000 miles and 2400 for a 94 Izusu Trooper with 130,000 miles..Just listing this to show a small sample of clean affordable options available without going into debt again for something that will immediately lose value. It's just something to think about...look at ebay or autotrader..just be careful have a mechanic check it out first.

Ditto. We got a 1994 Dodge Minivan in 2008 (it was "given" to us by DH's grandma but we put $300 into her bank account for DH's uncle - her power of attorney - to use for her hair appointments at her nursing home). We sold it in August 2012 for $500. All we did while we owned it was replace the front brake pads and put oil in it b/c it had a leak. It drove us around rain or snow for those four years, never broke down, never overheated, even hauled some heavy loads and drove on longer trips.

If you're really in a pinch I would buy something cheap (like under $1000 cash) to get you by for now than take on a loan with a high interest rate or something that could be bad for your credit. We always buy second hand and have gone through several vehicles but only *one* vehicle loan (and of course it's for what's supposed to be our nicer/newer vehicle that has had so many problems I think I've now paid more in repairs than the original purchase price!).

[Mrs.K]

That is what we are doing right now. We have a budget and will buy second hand. I told my neighbors friend that it needs to have room and to be reliable. I don't care about looks, when it was build or milage. As long as we get a couple of years out of it, it is okay. Right now I don't even care if it is a gas guzzler or not.

[jang]

Mrs K , I am sorry you are going through all this crap--but glad to hear your husband is ok...Just keep your chin up and all will work out..maybe not the way you would like but it will be ok..Best of luck to you...jan

[Liesje]

Check around some local mechanics (like people that own their own shop, not car sales lots or chain places). The ones we used have bought vehicles from us and do some refurbishing and then sell them. Then you're not hassled by salespeople or have to deal with the wackos on Craigslist.

[wolfstraum]

duh...... error - the dealer I was looking at was not the one above...

Blue Knob Auto Sales is a Used Cars dealer selling new and used cars in Duncansville, PA.

this is in PA - maybe 3 - 4 hours from you

But look on Craigs list - or ask your mechanic if he knows of anything....

Lee

[ozzymama]

I second asking around at mechanics, they always know who is selling, ours is fantastic, I'm going to really miss him, he services the local police and OPP as well as the town vehicles, which says something because while he has a dealer license - anybody who buys or sells more then 3 vehicles per year has to have one here, he's not a franchise dealer, although he can do warranty work.
When we were looking when my car had it's issue recently, he had 3 options just off the top of his head, he had his wife's new edge, which he was willing to do with us for a difference of $9,000, taking my car in, a mini-van he was doing a pre-safety on for an estate situation or a Jimmy type thing he had on the lot, owned by his shop, but he straight up said, it's garbage on gas. He also told me I should have kept the Tahoe - but he's fantastic, we've used him for 2 years, never felt we were over charged or ripped off, he once helped me diagnose a problem in a parking lot over the phone LOL. He wanted to determine if I could drive the car to him or if he needed to tow me in.
Local small shops are great - it's like when you move somewhere new, you ask pet stores who a good vet is, you ask vets for dog walker/sitter recommendations. You ask around for a good mechanic, then you love them forever and make them your first call!

[Nikitta]

Glad hubby is ok Not having a car is inconvenient. Not having your husband would be devastating.