Buying your dream car can be an uphill battle, especially if your credit score is less than perfect. However, we want you to afford your dream car, even when your credit is stacked against you. That’s why Wheel City Auto helps our customers rebuild their credit score when they purchase a car from us. Even though you can improve your credit score through financing with us, we like to provide other helpful tips for ways to fix bad credit auto financing.

1. Pay your bills on time

Delinquent and late payments can be very tough on your credit score. Do whatever you can to pay your bills on time. If it means setting up reminders on your phone or keeping a separate calendar, make it a priority to pay bills even a few days before they are due. Also, those late fees eat into your income. Why pay even more on top of your monthly bill? Those late fees might not seem like a big deal at first, but they can seriously add up over time.

2. Explore ways to increase your income

If you’re dealing with tight finances, it’s always helpful to have extra cash. Get creative about ways to bring in extra income. Maybe sell some old furniture you don’t really like anymore. Offer to help a neighbor fix up their lawn for a few dollars. Cleaning out your closet and selling old clothes is always great for a few quick dollars. Whatever your strengths or talents are, try using them to bring in some extra money. This extra money might help you pay down interest, or you can put it towards a large bill. All of this will help improve your credit score by helping you make your full payments on time.

3. Be wary of credit cards

Sometimes, it’s not practical to avoid credit cards entirely. They can be really helpful in affording an unexpected cost. However, always be wary of how much balance you’re carrying over each month. Always aim to pay your balance down to $0 every month. If you can’t do that, be mindful of if you’re really buying what you can afford. Also, try consolidating your credit cards. Instead of having a few hundred dollars on several credit cards with different financing options, consolidate your cards, so you’re focusing on one bill.

You don’t have to be afraid of used car sales or bad credit car financing. When you improve your credit score, your overall financial health improves. With a few simple steps like avoiding late payments and keeping your credit card balance low, you’ll be on your way to a perfect credit score in no time.