Fresh Start
Life happens. We make it easy to get back on track.
Turned down somewhere else, or carrying bad credit? How the program works at our Union Gap store.
Fresh Start Finance Program
No Credit Isn't Bad Credit. It's a Starting Point.
A first time car buyer in Yakima, Selah or the lower Valley often has a thin credit file. When there's little history to read, lenders look at what you can show them, and our finance team helps you put it in front of them.
Thin file, not a bad one
A thin or empty credit file only means few accounts have been reported in your name. That's typical if you've never borrowed, always paid cash or recently moved to the Valley. There are no late payments in it to explain; there's simply less for a lender to measure.
So the lender relies on the rest of the application. The CFPB lists what else goes into the decision: your earnings and other obligations, the size of the loan, the share of the price you cover up front, and new versus used.
First car, six steps
- Look up your reportsFree at AnnualCreditReport.com. Even a short file can carry somebody else's account by mistake.
- Shop insurance earlyState law (RCW 46.30.020) says you need liability coverage before you drive, and a lender may also require coverage on the car. Collect quotes before you pick one.
- Tell us it's your firstTake the quiz or call (509) 575-4868. Our finance team will explain what lenders generally need from someone financing for the first time.
- Pull your papers togetherIncome, address and ID. The full list is close to the end of this page.
- We send it outOnce you agree, we submit your application to outside lenders that take first-time buyers. Each makes its own call on approval and terms.
- Shop inside the budgetWith a lender's approval, look at cars that stay within its budget. The used cars under $10,000 page and our full used inventory are both worth a look.
The lender makes every credit decision; approval isn't guaranteed.
What lenders want to see from a first-time buyer
- Proof of income: pay stubs, benefit letters, last year's W-2s for seasonal work, or a tax return with 1099s for self-employment. Regulation B says part-time or pension earnings can't be shortchanged because of what kind of income they are; the lender settles how much counts.
- A track record at your job and your address
- Money down or a trade, which lowers what you borrow (CFPB)
- A co-signer with an established history. Per the FTC, a co-signer is on the hook if payments stop, so have that conversation first.
- A car whose price leaves room for insurance, fuel and upkeep
First-loan vocabulary
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Credit report | The bureaus' record of your loans, cards and bill payments. Check yours for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. |
| Thin file | A credit report with only a few accounts, often too few to produce a score. |
| Hard inquiry | The pull a lender runs once you apply. Pulls by auto lenders inside one 14 to 45 day stretch are generally scored as a single inquiry (CFPB). |
| Co-signer | Someone who signs the loan alongside you and becomes responsible for it if you stop paying (FTC). |
| Down payment | What you pay toward the car at the start, in cash, trade-in value or both. More down means less to borrow (CFPB). |
First-time buyers at Bud Clary Toyota of Yakima
★★★★★4.6 stars from 2,223 Google reviewsRead our Google reviews for Bud Clary Toyota of Yakima
“I had a great first time buyer experience working with Joe today. He was very helpful and explained in detail about the cost and what my options...”
Samantha S., Google review, August 2023
“...answered all the questions and thoroughly explained any concerns I had as a first time buyer...”
Lucero M., Google review, January 2020
“As a first time buyer Jesse was very low pressure and made my first experience a great one!...”
Vanesa M., Google review, November 2024
Excerpts from 5-star Google reviews, quoted as written. Every buyer's credit is different, and lenders make every credit decision.
Your first loan and your credit report
When a lender reports to the credit bureaus, your new loan shows on your reports along with each payment, on time or not. Find out whether yours reports before signing, and think about automatic payments so a busy harvest week doesn't turn into a late one.
The costs that come with a first car
Plan for insurance, registration, fuel and maintenance on top of the loan. With every used car from our Union Gap lot, your first two oil changes and tire rotations cost nothing (only the tire rotations on an electric car). Each one has also passed a 137-point inspection and is covered by a 3-month / 3,000-mile limited warranty, and you get its CARFAX report free and a 3-day / 300-mile exchange.
Have a car to trade? Get a number from Value Your Trade; its value can go toward your down payment.
More Fresh Start help
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy doesn't have to mean no car.
A Yakima County Chapter 7 or Chapter 13: the court papers to have ready, and how the Eastern District treats new debt.
Bring this to Longfibre Road
Our finance team may need a little more or less depending on the lender. Phone us first and we'll name the exact papers your application calls for.
- Your driver's license
- Your Social Security number or ITIN
- Pay stubs, benefit letters, W-2s or a tax return
- A lease or utility bill showing where you live
- Proof of insurance or your agent's details
- Your co-signer's phone and email, if you have one
First car on your mind?
Start the quiz up top, send the credit application, or call (509) 575-4868 and ask for the finance team.
Visit Bud Clary Toyota of Yakima
Bud Clary Toyota of Yakima2230 Longfibre Rd
Union Gap, WA 98903
Sales
- Mon - Fri
- 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
- Saturday
- 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
- Sunday
- 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Service
- Mon - Sat
- 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Frequently asked questions
Can a first time car buyer in Yakima get a loan with no credit?
You can apply. Lenders that see a short file look harder at your income, how long you've held your job and address, your down payment and any co-signer. Each lender makes its own call, and approval isn't guaranteed.
What's worse, bad credit or no credit?
Neither is automatically worse. Bad credit means problems are on file; no credit means the file has barely started. Lenders read them differently, each by its own rules.
Do first time buyers in Yakima need a co-signer?
Many apply alone. A co-signer is optional, though one with an established history may help when your own is short; the FTC notes the co-signer can be made to pay if you don't.
What should a first-time buyer bring?
A license, recent proof of income, proof of where you live, and insurance lined up before you drive away. Your lender may add to that; call (509) 575-4868 and we'll tell you.
Will a first car loan application hurt my score?
The lender's check can trim a score slightly. When the checks come from auto lenders inside a 14 to 45 day window, they're usually scored as a single inquiry (CFPB), so wait to apply until you're ready to buy.
What credit score does a first time buyer need?
There's no magic number, and with a thin file you may not have a score yet. Lenders each draw their own lines, looking at income, other debts, how much you borrow and which car (CFPB).
Is there a first time car buyer program at Bud Clary Toyota of Yakima?
First-time buyers fall under our Fresh Start Finance Program. The finance team sends a first-timer's application to outside lenders comfortable with little or no credit history, and those lenders decide.
Related pages
The Fresh Start Finance Program is Bud Clary Toyota of Yakima's name for how our finance team handles applications from buyers with bad credit, no credit or a past bankruptcy. Financing comes from outside lenders, which decide approval and terms, and approval isn't guaranteed. A negotiable documentary service fee of up to $200 may be added to the sale price.