Even with bad credit, you can find some lenders who do offer bad credit auto loans. Because an auto loan is secured with the car, lenders are a little more likely to take a chance than for unsecured loans. When the loan is “secured”, that means the lender has a lien on the title to the car, until you pay it off in full. They can take the car back at any time if you do not pay according to the loan terms.

Still, lenders don’t want to be in the car business, they are in the money business. So for some borrowers who have really bad credit, it’s possible they won’t be able to find a loan even though it’s secured.

Here are some things you can do to increase your ability to get a bad credit car loan:

1. Make sure your credit report is accurate, and check your credit score. If you find errors on your credit report, get them fixed before you apply for a bad credit auto loan, so that your score is as good as possible.

2. Save some money for a down payment. The more you can put down on your car, the better. If you have to sell some household items, or pick up some side jobs, it might be worth it, so you can borrow less, and make the lender feel more secure about your loan.

3. Wait until you have steady employment. If you do not have a job, it will be hard to get a loan without a co-signer. And if you recently switched jobs, some lenders will require you to be at your current position for three months to a year. Be ready to prove stable, current employment, with an income that covers all of your current debt plus the new loan.

4. Find a co-signer if necessary. If you have very bad credit, you might see if a friend or relative will co-sign the loan for you. This isn’t recommended, but only as a last resort.

5. Compare loan offers from several bad credit lenders. If you apply online, some online services will submit your application to several lenders. Be sure to compare fees, costs and interest rates to get the best deal.

Finding bad credit auto loans is not impossible, but by following the steps above, you can make it more likely that you can get approved for a loan.