Can You Still Qualify for a Loan if You Have Bad Credit?
If you have bad credit, you may think that you can’t get a personal loan. The good news is that it is possible to get a loan with less-than-perfect credit. You will likely pay higher interest rates and have less than ideal loan terms or other features, but many lenders offer bad credit loans.4 5 This guide from Max Cash will show you how to start the process of finding a bad credit loan to give you the fairest chance of getting approved.5 Read on to see our tips and tricks for finding a loan that suits your needs and budget.
Check Both Your Credit Score and Credit Report
If your credit score is lower than you’d like it to be, the first step will be to find out exactly what your score is on your credit report. Many websites and apps can help you find your exact credit score, often for free if you search. It’s important to note that your credit score and credit report do not equate to the same thing. You can view your score without looking at your report and vice versa. But checking both remains very important for your financial well-being. Additionally, you will not incur any penalty for checking your credit score or report, as it is considered a soft credit check. That way, you can check up on your credit as often as you like and don’t have to worry about it impacting your score.
Credit scores range from 300 to 850, with 850 the highest possible score. You will often see words to describe a score going from poor at the low end to excellent at the high end. The following list breaks down the generally accepted ranges for each:
- Poor – 300 to 579
- Fair – 580 to 669
- Good – 670 to 739
- Very Good – 740 to 799
- Excellent – 800 to 850
While your score itself carries a lot of weight, you’ll also need to check your credit report as well. Make sure everything listed in the report remains accurate. If you find any mistakes, reporting them to the credit bureau that lists it can improve your score once they remove any errors. This will also help with any credit applications in the future. You can also check out ways to monitor your credit report!
Find Lenders that Look at More Than Just Your Score
While your credit remains a significant factor in any application for a loan, not all lenders will look solely at your credit score. You should look for lenders that specialize in bad credit loans or those that specifically state that they look at more than just your credit history to determine whether to give you a loan.5
The most common other factor lenders consider for a loan besides your credit will be your income. If you can show that you have the ability to repay the loan, some lenders will see that as more important than a bad credit history. Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio also influences lenders who look at more than your credit. Not only do you need to make enough to repay the loan, but you also need to have the capability to repay it in addition to your other current financial obligations.
Shop Around and Pre-qualify with Multiple Lenders
After finding lenders that consider more than your score, you need to start comparison shopping. Once you have a list of lenders that most likely will approve you, you need to start the process of pre-qualifying for the loan you want. Pre-qualifying usually doesn’t involve a hard credit check, but rather a soft one. Once you have a number of lenders and get pre-qualified for loans, then you just have to examine the different options available. Pick the best loan that suits your needs out of the ones that gave you approval.
Max Cash can help with this process, as we have a variety of partners and loan products that we can help you find.2 4 5 With just one form on our site, you can see results from our partners that can improve your chances of finding a loan or credit that suits your needs.2 4 We also have lenders for title loans in select states, if you have positive equity in a car you own.1 2 4 Get in touch with Max Cash right away to find bad credit loans!5
