Though they may have some flaws that show up on their credit reports, even these consumers, in most cases, owe it to themselves to check out their local bank or credit union before going the indirect lending route.

Car buyers with problem credit are sometimes offered the auto loan option of financing a new car and, therefore, should know how to read the new car sticker affixed to the vehicle's window.

Finance managers have been known to present the product to problem credit buyers as protecting an auto loan which is actually a fairly accurate description. But the fact remains that credit-challenged borrowers, in particular, should have a basic understanding of how credit life insurance works.

Consumers with questionable credit should know that there is something in addition to an auto loan that could improve their FICO scores.

It has been our experience that consumers with bruised credit often don't understand why it can be difficult finding the right kinds of lenders when it comes time to apply for an auto loan.

The fact is that in some cases a few tweaks can make a big difference in the terms offered by lenders even for individuals with credit challenges that plan on applying for high risk car loans.

For car buyers applying for high risk car loans understanding the kinds of information that can be found in credit reports is almost as important as knowing the actual information that is in their credit reports – notice we said almost.”

A program offered for the past two years by Mazda dealers could help car buyers with questionable credit who receive a loan approval through one of them save money on routine car maintenance.

A good rule for borrowers with problem credit to follow is that they should place the most dependable cars they're considering at the top of their shopping lists.

For car buyers with questionable credit there are a number of situations in which the protection provided by car gap insurance for an auto loan makes sense.