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Car Finance with CCJ

Can I get car finance with a CCJ?
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What is a CCJ?

The courts can issue a  County Court Judgement (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) against someone for non-payment of a debt. The equivalent in Scotland is a Money Judgment decree.

A CCJ may be registered against you if your creditor believes you won’t repay the money you owe them. Assuming the courts agree with your creditor, you’ll receive a judgement requesting you pay up.

Failure to settle the debt and your CCJ will be added to the Judgements, Orders, and Fines register, a public list.

The CCJ will remain on your credit file for six years even if you have repaid the debt.

If you have a CCJ and want to buy a car, you’ll likely need to apply for bad credit car finance. Your credit history may improve over time if you settle the debt.

 
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Can I get Car Finance with a CCJ?

Although getting car finance with a chequered financial past can be problematic, it’s not impossible, and there could be a deal for you!

Many of us have gone through a cash crisis at some time in our lives. However,  credit penalties such as a CCJ, default or an IVA do not need to rule you out of getting car finance.

Drivers still need to finance a car, and some lenders specialise in offering deals, including bad credit car finance, for those with a CCJ on their credit file. These lenders look past your credit score and consider things like affordability and other criteria in deciding if you are eligible for car finance.

So, can you get car finance with bad credit history and a CCJ? Read on to see how best to do so.

Can I get Car Finance with a CCJ?

Lenders seeing an unpaid CCJ on your credit report will not offer you car finance. However, paying back the total amount to the claimant at any time will earn you a Satisfied mark on your credit file, significantly improving your chances of getting car finance.

These are the potential circumstances you might be experiencing with a CCJ:

  • A CCJ will not go on record if you pay the total amount within one calendar month of the issue date— however, remember you probably incurred defaults in connection with the CCJ, which remains on your file for six years.
  • Suppose you pay the whole amount of the CCJ but more than a calendar month after the judgment date. You can limit the damage. Applying to have the CCJ marked as ‘Satisfied’ on your credit file will look better than remaining unpaid.
  • Partially Satisfied! Although the claimant may accept a lower settlement than the original judgment amount, the court will keep the CCJ marked as Active. You’ll have to pay the total amount to change it to Satisfied.
  • When the CCJ reaches six years, it will no longer appear on your credit report even if you haven’t paid.

Summary

Having bad credit because of a CCJ will make getting car finance more difficult. You’ll likely get refused car finance by most car lenders. Hopefully, we can find you a car finance deal to suit your situation.

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How can I avoid a CCJ?

The sooner you act, the more likely you are to avoid receiving a CCJ:

  • First, you’ll speak with your creditors to be calm and sincere. Your goal is to get their agreement to allow you to continue making payments and avoid court proceedings via a CCJ.
  • Second. You must make payments as agreed. If possible, paying your debts earlier than agreed will demonstrate to lenders that you’re serious about clearing the debt and can only help improve your credit. When using savings to reduce your debts, be careful and ensure you retain sufficient funds for a rainy day.

Once you receive a CCJ, you have two options to avoid this going on your credit file. Either pay before the court date or pay off the total amount within one month of the CCJ issue date.

If you struggle to repay debts, you can always talk to a free debt manager such as Money Helper. Speaking to an experienced debt advisor can help you understand your options and make the best decision.

Apart from a CCJ what other default penalties can impact your credit report?

These are the most common default penalties that affect your credit score.

IVA

Default Notice

Bankrupt

DMP

Managing your budget with a CCJ

Ensuring a consistent income is essential when you have credit problems and likely need a decent car to travel to work. However, with a CCJ, you may struggle to get approval for car finance.

We understand affordability is crucial, and keeping to a monthly budget you can afford is a necessity. We’d ensure any car finance we offer suits your circumstances and that the repayment period fits your budget.

How to apply for car finance with a CCJ

Using our car finance calculator, enter the amount you’d like to borrow over a period that suits you. The calculator displays an idea of the monthly repayments and helps you see how it might work in your budget. Alternatively, apply for a quote for CCJ car finance now with No effect on your credit score.

Will I get car finance with CCJ?

The problem might not be whether you can get car finance with a CCJ but can you afford the repayments. CCJ car finance offers have a significantly higher APR than drivers with a better credit history.

With higher interest rates and fewer lenders providing CCJ car finance, you might think finding a deal to suit your circumstances will be difficult. However, with several lenders specialising in CCJ car finance, we can hopefully find a deal that matches your affordability.

Before accepting a quote for CCJ car finance, ensure you can provide all the documentation and details the lender request and don’t get a decline through lack of preparation. Lenders carry out an affordability check to determine the risk and how likely you are to make the repayments.

Applications for CCJ car finance do get approval; however, adding a guarantor or a joint application (someone to make the payments if you cannot) will significantly increase your chances of getting a car loan.

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