As a self-employed, you can have the freedom to work on your own terms and conditions. Does this liberty come at the cost of other opportunities? Do you think that getting car finance would be hard because of your self-employment?
Having these types of apprehensions is usual, as you might lag in the income criteria. However, getting a car is crucial now since you need to travel frequently from one place to another. Saving time is very critical, or else you might have to let go of your work.
Amidst all the confusion, the only respite is that guaranteed car finance for self-employed is still possible. It does not mean that you will straightaway get access to such financing options. However, you will get an opportunity to approach a finance provider for car purchase assistance.
The rest will depend on how well you can fulfil the criteria of the lenders. Therefore, getting this opportunity might be slightly difficult but not impossible for sure. Some finance providers will accept your request, while some will not.
Do not despair if you face rejection! Finding an apt offer matching your budget and requirement is vital, and getting the right lender is vital. You can take a tour of this blog to understand the various nuances of getting car finance.
A Preface on self-employed car financing option
Self-employment does not make you less eligible to get a car on finance. It is just that you have opted for some alternate way of income. This, if consistent, can take you a long way in getting a fair chance. Of course, you will have to fulfil a few conditions without which the lender will not be able to confirm your financial condition.
A few things that should grab your attention are:
Can bad credit make things more difficult for self-employed?
Anyone who has low credit scores would seem vulnerable to any lender. As self-employed, you will not get a separate treatment. The reason for rejection could be the low chances of repayment because of poor credit scores.
Despite this, you can still get a 10000-pound loan with bad credit tags. The option Hire Purchase will fit best for a self-employed person who does not have stellar credit scores. This way, they do not have to meet the full value of the car outright. The cost will portion out over months to match your financial capability.
Besides, there are ways you can enhance the chances of getting car financing regardless of all the obligations by taking care of the following aspects.
Take the initiative to upgrade your scores
Bad credit will make getting loans difficult for you in the future also. For this reason, you should not allow it to stay in your credit records for too long. Otherwise, you will have to bear the brunt of this.
Rectifying credit scores is not at all a hard nut to crack. Put some effort and work into your financial planning system to strive through this difficult time. Start with attending to the pending payments.
Eventually, you will be glad to see the desired improvement in your credit scores. Check for errors or mistakes, skip moving from one address to another frequently, complete the electoral registration etc., to help your scores improve.
Arrange for a big deposit
You will need to gather a deposit ahead of purchasing the car. The bigger the deposit will be, the smaller will be the amount which you will have to borrow. Therefore, this idea will work on this simple logic.
Besides, the biggest benefit of having a substantial amount as the deposit is to keep away too much interest coming along with loans.
The lender will not see any risk in lending you a small amount of money even when your credit scores are not favourable. Besides, you can draw the attention of more lenders by agreeing to deposit a big sum.
Make sure that your application has no errors
At times, people make mistakes unknowingly while completing the application form. They even fail to realise it later and look for reasons for rejection. Therefore, incorrect information in the form can cause delays or denial of approval.
You must be extra careful while entering details in the application form. Allow some time to yourself to re-check and correct in case there is any error. It will neither be at all a tough task nor will it take much of your time.
Get a guarantor to convince the lender
Suppose you cannot arrange a convincing amount for a deposit and have poor credit scores. In this scenario, getting a guarantor can save you. It will also enhance the likelihood of being accepted.
Ensure that your guarantor has the best credit scores and earns well. Otherwise, you will not be able to convince the lender. That person will act like your supporter by taking charge of your repayment.
You can step forward in the loan approval process by providing this assurance to the lender. It is because they know that someone else will repay if you will fail to pay back.
That person could be anyone you know and believe. Most importantly, that person should agree to help you out in this tricky situation.
Establish your income before the lender
It does not matter if you are self-employed. The lender will need confirmation about your earning. Stable and consistent income means will never disappoint the lender.
You can produce your bank statements, trading accounts and tax returns to establish that you are earning. Besides, it will ascertain to the lender that you have the sources to match their repayment requirements.
If you are running a small business, you can show your returns as means of income. It will have the same impact on lenders.
Apply for an amount that compliments your affordability
Lenders nowadays focus more on determining the affordability of the borrower. It gives the actual interpretation of how people can manage repaying loans. Refrain from picking up any amount without validating how you will repay.
Make sure the amount you take out will not create any problems at the time of repayment. Keep your future responsibilities and priorities in mind when deciding the borrowing amount.
Do not forget that you might have no financial obligation presently but can have it in future! It would be better to choose a compatible amount, easily repayable.
Will repayment be tougher for self-employed borrowers?
You might wonder if the lender will have stricter terms when it comes to repayment. However, you must know that loan payments do not work this way. In most cases, flexible terms are obtainable with good credit scores and large deposits.
This ideology does not apply to many lenders. They base their decision on your affordability. You can easily persuade them if you are paying your bills on time. They will consider it a sign of financial stability and will overlook your past credit scores.
The bottom line
The road to borrowing is not bumpy, even if you live on a self-employed income. Opportunities are accessible to a person who is not earning a salary through direct employment.
If you are one of them, do not feel reluctant to approach loan providers to explore car financing opportunities. Now, you know how you can amplify the chances of convincing the lender. Be careful about the essential facets before you apply for loans.
