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What are High-Risk Auto Loans?

By Felicia Dye
Updated May 17, 2024
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High-risk auto loans refer to financing that is provided to people with bad credit who are purchasing vehicles. It is common for more requirements to be imposed on those who apply for these types of loans. This may include requests for more documentation and higher down payments. To obtain a high-risk auto loan, it is sometimes necessary to find a creditor who specializes in this type of financing.

Any time a creditor lends money, there is a risk that he will not be repaid or that he will be only partially repaid. People get bad credit when they do not adhere to the terms that they agreed to with their creditors. As a result, new creditors are likely to consider them high-risk clients because the chances that they will default on their obligations is elevated. This is why high-risk auto loans are often called bad credit car loans.

High-risk auto loans can differ from other types of vehicle loans in several ways. In many cases, this type of financing is more difficult to obtain. Many creditors do not offer high-risk auto loans, which may require a person to seek funds from a creditor who specializes in financing people who have bad credit.

Even if a person finds a potential creditor, she may have to do more to have her application approved than a person with good credit. She may, for example, be required to provide documents to support most, if not all, of the details on her application. She may need evidence that shows that she is currently employed by the company listed on her application and indeed earning the disclosed amount of money. It may also be necessary for her to provide bank statements that are obtained within days of submitting the application to prove that she has funds in the bank at the present time.

High-risk auto loans can result in individuals paying more for a vehicle than may otherwise be necessary. This is because such financing is usually subject to higher interest rates than financing for people with good credit. People who are approved for bad credit car loans are often required to pay a hefty down payment. Creditors who grant high-risk auto loans may impose even more stipulations on the deal, such as requiring that a device be placed on the vehicle that will allow it to be easily located if payments are not made.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

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