As the United States continues to recover from the recent economic recession, millions of people who once had good credit are now finding it challenging to purchase an automobile with less than perfect credit. Banks today are a bit more restrictive than they once were when it comes to lending money. This is especially true in the housing market, where banks were hit the hardest as foreclosure swept across the country. What does one do whenever their credit is preventing them from obtaining a car? There are a couple of options to choose from which include buying from a used car lot that offers financing or by purchasing a used car from a private seller. Fortunately for you, many car lots that provide financing do not run a credit check. They will usually ask for between $1000 and $1500 down. One disadvantage of buying a car using this method is that you are going to pay a high interest rate for your vehicle. If you are okay with this then buying a used car should not be an issue in your case.

For all others that would like to avoid paying the high interest rates associated with on lot financing, consider purchasing a used car from a private seller in your area. There are several different methods that you can use to find a for sale by owner car. One way is to take a look in your local newspaper for cars that are being sold. As the years go by, fewer vehicles are being listed in the newspaper and more are appearing online. Websites such as Autotrader enable car shoppers to find exactly what they're looking for in their area by narrowing down search results according to their criteria. Another good website for finding used cars is Craigslist cars. On Craigslist, you can find just about anything you are looking for with a ton of listings to browse through. While the search feature may not be the most sophisticated, it is in fact effective.

Coming up with financing can be accomplished by asking a close friend or family member for a loan. If this is not an option then consider taking a cash advance with a low introductory rate. Paying an 8% or 10% introductory rate is much better than paying 25% to 30% to a loan shark at a mom and pop car lot. Before you decide to buy any car you should always determine a fair market value for the vehicle. By doing this you'll be sure that you are paying the price that the vehicle is worth and not overpaying.

Deciding who to purchase from is not always the easiest task. Be sure to ask the seller plenty of questions before making your decision.