Fresh Start
Life happens. We make it easy to get back on track.
Late payments, a turn-down or a loan from an in-house lot: how Bud Clary Honda's program works.
Fresh Start Finance Program
Bankruptcy Doesn't Have to Mean No Car.
Financing after bankruptcy in Moses Lake is something you can apply for: after a Chapter 7 discharge, and in some cases partway through a Chapter 13. The stack of documents is what shifts, and our finance office will go through it with you.
Your case, and the papers that go with it
| Your case | What a lender will want | Who to ask first |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7, discharged | Bring the discharge order (a copy works) and your case number. That order usually lands two to three months after the meeting of creditors was first scheduled, per U.S. Courts. | Our finance office |
| Chapter 7, not yet discharged | Most lenders wait for the discharge. Check before you sign for anything new. | Your bankruptcy attorney |
| Chapter 13, plan payments ongoing | On paper: the trustee's or the court's approval for this particular debt. U.S. Courts says to talk with the trustee before you borrow anything new. | Your attorney and trustee |
| Chapter 13, every payment made | The discharge order that closes out your Chapter 13 | Our finance office |
This is general information, not legal advice. Questions about your own case belong with your bankruptcy attorney or trustee.
Chapter 13 in Grant County: filing a notice first
Moses Lake cases are heard by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington, since federal law assigns Grant County to that district (28 U.S.C. 128). Its Local Bankruptcy Rule 2083-1 asks a Chapter 13 debtor who wants a car loan to file a Notice of Intent to Incur Post Petition Debt, along with an amended statement of income and expenses. A judge rules on it when an objection is filed.
Your attorney handles that notice. Lenders have their own reason to want it done: 11 U.S.C. 1305(c) lets a claim for consumer debt taken on during Chapter 13 be disallowed when the lender should have known trustee approval was practicable and it wasn't obtained. File before you settle on a car, and if the paperwork needs vehicle details, our finance office can put the car and its price in writing.
Getting ready, in five steps
Your attorney's advice comes ahead of anything here. These steps just help a lender see the full picture.
- Pull together the court papersClosed case: the discharge order. Open Chapter 13: whatever approval of the new debt you received in writing. Lost something? Your attorney's office can usually send a copy.
- Check all three credit reportsOrder them free at AnnualCreditReport.com and confirm the accounts from your case show the right status. A bankruptcy may be reported for as long as 10 years from the start of the case (15 U.S.C. 1681c).
- List each income sourceSocial Security, SSI, a pension, part-time hours and self-employment all belong on the application. Regulation B (12 CFR 1002.6) keeps a lender from writing off public assistance, part-time or pension income for its source; the dollar amount still gets weighed.
- Aim for a smaller loanA lower price, money down or a trade-in all reduce what you finance. In a Chapter 13, expect the trustee to ask whether the new payment squares with your plan.
- Shop in a tight windowPer the CFPB, auto loan inquiries made during a single 14 to 45 day shopping period are generally scored as one, so apply when you're ready to buy and finish within a few weeks.
What a lender sees in a bankruptcy file
A bankruptcy is a single entry among many. A lender also looks at your pay and other debts, how much you're borrowing, your cash down measured against the car's value, and new or used (CFPB).
No rule fixes one waiting period after a discharge; each lender picks its own. Our finance office asks about your case up front so the application reaches lenders that accept a bankruptcy on file. Approval isn't guaranteed.
Bankruptcy terms in plain words
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Discharge | The court order releasing you from personal liability on most debts in the case (U.S. Courts). Lenders tend to ask for a copy. |
| Trustee | Appointed to oversee the case. A Chapter 13 trustee collects what you pay under the plan and expects to hear from you before you borrow. |
| Chapter 7 | A case where most debts are wiped out, typically within a few months of filing. |
| Chapter 13 | A court-confirmed plan to pay creditors over three to five years while you keep your property (U.S. Courts). |
| Notice of Intent to Incur Post Petition Debt | The Eastern District filing, sent in with an amended income and expense statement, that asks to take on new debt such as a car loan during a Chapter 13. |
From buyers who have been there
★★★★★4.6 stars from 710 Google reviewsRead our Google reviews for Bud Clary Honda of Moses Lake
“Enjoying my experience at Bud Clary. First purchase 2 years into bankruptcy and they really came through for me.”
Rustel K., Bud Clary Subaru, Longview, Google review, January 2023
“I was uneasy because I had a small budget and had a bankruptcy a few years ago, Travis was very optimistic and calmed my nerves! And he treated me like VIP.”
Charisse W., Bud Clary Ford, Longview, Google review, May 2025
“...I have bad credit, so I’m thankful for the team at Bud Clary, they’re transparent, and open to questions...”
Isaiah M., Bud Clary Auburn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Google review, December 2020
Excerpts from 5-star Google reviews, quoted as written. Every buyer's situation is different, and lenders make every credit decision.
A car the plan can carry
Going used keeps the borrowed amount down. Ours have cleared a 137-point inspection and carry a 3-month / 3,000-mile limited warranty. The CARFAX report is free, the 3-day / 300-mile exchange applies, and the first pair of oil changes and tire rotations is on us (rotations only, if it's electric).
Browse our used inventory or the used Civic listings. When the right car is parked at another Bud Clary store, we can move it to Moses Lake at no charge, as soon as the same day.
More from the Fresh Start Finance Program
First-time buyers
No credit isn't bad credit. It's a starting point.
After a bankruptcy, a credit file can look nearly bare again. Here's how lenders treat a short file.
Papers to bring to Pioneer Way
- Your discharge order, or written approval of the new debt in an open Chapter 13
- Your case number, plus your attorney's name and phone number
- A valid driver's license
- Pay stubs, a Social Security benefit verification letter, or 1099s and last year's tax return
- Proof of where you live now, like a power bill or lease
- Your insurance card or your agent's contact details
Have your case papers?
Try the quiz at the top, open the credit application, or phone (509) 765-3467 and ask for our finance office.
Visit Bud Clary Honda of Moses Lake
Bud Clary Honda of Moses Lake1200 S Pioneer Way
Moses Lake, WA 98837
Sales
- Mon - Sat
- 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Sunday
- 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Service
- Mon - Fri
- 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Sat - Sun
- Closed
Frequently asked questions
When can I finance a car after my Chapter 7 is discharged?
The day your discharge is entered, you're free to apply. Have the order with you. Lenders set their own waiting periods, if they use one at all.
Is it possible to get financing while my Chapter 7 is still open?
Talk to your bankruptcy attorney before signing anything. Taking on credit mid-case is a legal question, and lenders generally want the discharge first.
Can a Chapter 13 filer in Grant County buy a car?
It's possible with the trustee involved. U.S. Courts tells Chapter 13 filers to consult the trustee before new debt, and in the Eastern District, Local Bankruptcy Rule 2083-1 uses a Notice of Intent to Incur Post Petition Debt, which the court decides if someone objects.
How long after bankruptcy before I can get a car loan?
Each lender answers that differently. Because credit reports may carry a bankruptcy for a decade, a lender will likely ask about yours whether it was last year or years back.
Does a franchise dealer like Bud Clary Honda work with bankruptcy buyers?
Yes. Our finance office accepts applications after a discharge and during an open Chapter 13, and routes them to lenders that consider a bankruptcy on file. The lender decides, and approval isn't guaranteed.
Should I sign a reaffirmation agreement on my car?
That's a legal choice with lasting effects, so make it with your bankruptcy attorney. Reaffirming means you promise to keep paying a debt, like the loan on a car you want to keep, even though the Chapter 7 discharge could have wiped it out.
Does the Fresh Start Finance Program have any role in my bankruptcy?
No. Federal bankruptcy law uses the words 'fresh start' too, but our program is just Bud Clary Honda of Moses Lake's label for the way our finance office handles credit-challenged applications. Your case is separate, and nothing here is legal advice.
Related pages
The Fresh Start Finance Program is Bud Clary Honda of Moses Lake'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. This page is general information, not legal advice. A negotiable documentary service fee of up to $200 may be added to the sale price.