If you have bad credit and need a car loan, there's hope. There are many options for those who have damaged credit ratings. One of these is to apply for a bad credit car loan in Illinois. These loans are available to consumers with a FICO score of 500 or less.

Every American citizen has a credit score. In fact, the average credit score in America is 695. This number is calculated by dividing the sum of all of your positive credit scores (debts paid) by the sum of all of your negative credits (debts not paid). The higher your credit score, the better it is for you.

Credit score ranges

300-499: Poor

500-599: Fair

600-699: Good

700+: Excellent

Whether it is a being laid off, a business going under, or an injury that prevents you from working; the end result is the same. Your income will suffer and your credit score will follow suit.

So what can be done to maintain your credit score while your income is down?

-Keep current on monthly bills

-Keep older credit accounts open

-Apply for an installment loan

-Apply for credit cards with low interest rates or 0% APR

-Apply for a secured card

How much debt you have can affect your credit score in an enormous way. You may be wondering how much debt you should have. An answer to that question depends on a few things. In general, the less debt you have, the better your credit score will be. The higher your debt-to-income ratio, the lower your score will be.

This is because people with a high debt-to-income ratio are considered very risky and likely to default on their loans.

Let's say you have $10,000 of credit card debt. This means that the bank would consider you to be a higher-risk borrower, and charge you with a higher interest rate on your loans. Additionally, if you're using your savings to help pay off your debts, the bank will consider this to be a sign of reliability.

What is the weight of a past delinquent or defaulted payment? A past delinquent or defaulted payment on a car loan can be one of many factors that lenders take into consideration when determining your eligibility for a new car loan. A delinquent or defaulted payment can be seen as a negative factor by the lender, but it can also be seen as an opportunity to rehabilitate your credit. Lenders may ask for a reasonable period of time to show you have been able to repay past loans.

In order to protect the consumer and the seller, it is important for the buyer to have the vehicle inspected by a competent mechanic.

A Vehicle Inspection is an examination of the vehicle by a qualified mechanic that includes checking for current safety recalls, ensuring all safety equipment is in good working order, and looking for defects or wear.

It typically costs $75-$150 to have a qualified mechanic conduct a vehicle inspection. There are many risks when buying a used car, but getting a qualified mechanic to do an inspection before you buy can reduce those risks.