At one time, buying a car with credit problems meant you had to jump through all sorts of hoops before you finally appease the lender. Our team here at Auto Credit Express wants to let you know that is in the past.

There are many out there that probably wish that credit and financing would just go away for good. I'll tell you what…you would see far less cars on the road, that's for sure.

With companies like ZipCar, GetAround and Hertz on Demand, it's becoming much easier to get away with just renting a car. So should you rent or should you buy?

According to Experian Automotive, 27.6% of new car loans in the first half of 2014 ranged from 73 to 84 months. With these longer payment plans becoming a trend, people might begin to think that extended loans are a good idea since it reduces the monthly payment. But is a long loan term the best approach to getting a new car? Not really, and I'll tell you why.

You need a vehicle to get the kids to and from school, soccer practice and dance recitals. But can you afford an SUV with a challenged financial situation?

Car buyers with damaged credit should be wary of too good to be true car deals. There's a chance that the vehicle that looks perfect could be flood damaged.

A dealership is willing to double your tax refund for your down payment on a new car? That almost sounds too good to be true. And with deals like these, it pays to get all of the details before committing to anything, so you'll know what kind of a deal you're really getting. Also, no matter how great the promotion is, make sure that you really can afford the purchase.

Just yesterday Mazda announced that its certified used car program has been upgraded. The changes that were made could further help consumers with problem credit during an auto loan as this move increases the warranty coverage for Mazda used cars.

It's been about a year since Americans dealt with high ($4+ a gallon) gas prices. Since then, prices of regular gas at the pump have declined and are now averaging around $2.70 per gallon in the U.S. Because of the downward trend, car buyers have started to steer their eyes and wallets towards large trucks and SUV's again. But is it really time to do that? Realistically, it comes down to a couple of boring yet practical questions: How badly do you need a bigger vehicle, and can you handle the expense if fuel prices rise again?

Even if you don't have a teenager, it pays to buy the safest car you can afford – whether your credit is great or less than perfect. Tin this instance, the new report from the IIHS can go a long way to steering you towards the right vehicle.