If you are in the market to purchase a new or used car, there’s a good chance that you don’t have the cash on hand to pay for it. This means that you are going to have to take out a loan, which will involve pulling your Credit and getting approved. If you don’t have a good credit score, you might be afraid that you won’t be able to buy a car at all. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to improve your changes.

1. Improve Your Credit Score

If you do not have to buy a vehicle right away, it can be a smart idea to try to improve your credit score before you buy. Check your credit reports for errors, and make an effort to correct these errors. Pay off old debts and pay your bills on time in the months leading up to your car purchase. Even though negative entries won’t fall off for seven years, having an improved credit history in the recent past can help you get approved.

2. Save Up a Bigger Down Payment

For those who have Bad Credit, it can be smart to bring in as much as you can for your down payment. If you have bad credit, you may be more likely to get approved if you have a significant down payment versus if you had a very small one. Plus, you’ll be financing less, so if you get a higher interest rate because of your credit score, you won’t have to pay as much in interest. Some lenders will also offer a lower interest rate if you have a bigger down payment.

3. Run All of Your Credit Inquiries at Once

Credit inquiries aren’t necessarily a bad thing, but having a lot of them can affect your credit score. Wait until you are ready to buy a car, and do all of your applications within a couple of weeks to reduce the effects on your credit score.

As you can see, there are a few things that you can do to improve your chances of getting a loan for a car. You might have to settle for a higher interest rate, but at least you will be purchasing the car that you want and need, regardless of your credit score. Then, your new loan can actually help you boost your credit score in the future if you pay all of your loan payments on time.