The answer is yes. You can buy a vehicle, with poor or non-existent credit.
If you want to work you need a vehicle. There are some exceptions of course. You work from home. You can live within walking distance of your place of employment. You can use public transport.
The Australian government supports No Interest Loans (NILS), but they aren’t enough to cover the cost of most used cars, let alone a new one.
What can you do?
Rent to Own
There are several dealers who specialize in this type of transaction. If you lease to buy your car, there are some things you need to know. The dealer is acting as the bank and is financing the loan with their own money.
With this program, you might need to do a credit check, but it will have less to do with the loan decision. If your current financial situation is okay, and you have some credit discrepancies, late payments, or a bad credit history, you are more likely to get approved.
You will own the vehicle at the end of the rental period.
You might not have as many cars to choose from, and you’re payments will be higher than with traditional credit.
Sub-Prime Auto Loan
You can apply for a subprime car loan. With almost 20% of Australians struggling with debt, some banks are still willing to make loans to those borrowers.
If you qualify for a subprime loan you will pay a higher interest rate. The plus is that if you qualify, it opens up many more vehicle choices for you.
Rather than just what’s in the dealer’s inventory, you can go to any dealer, and find a suitable car.
Get a Co-Signer
A co-signer is a family member or friend who agrees to pay your loan if you don’t. Many people buy their first car, with the help of their parents acting as a co-signer.
This strategy also works if you have bad credit.
Pay Cash
If you have savings or can borrow from a friend or family, you can pay cash for a car.
You might also be able to find a private party who will accept payments over time. It will be harder to find a vehicle this way, but if you keep looking, you might find someone.
Your credit score is a valuable resource. If you have gotten in trouble with your credit, you can still buy a car, but it will limit your options.