Fresh Start
Life happens. We make it easy to get back on track.
Damaged credit, a turn-down or an in-house loan you'd like to leave behind: how the program works at Bud Clary Honda.
Fresh Start Finance Program
No Credit Isn't Bad Credit. It's a Starting Point.
Lining up your first car loan in Moses Lake with a short credit history, or none at all? A lender with little to read turns to what you can prove instead, and this page shows you what that means.
A blank file is not a bad file
Think of bad credit as a report card with low marks on it: late payments, collections, a charge-off. No credit is a report card nobody has filled in yet, common for anyone who has never borrowed, recently settled in the Columbia Basin or always paid in cash. A blank card holds nothing against you; it only gives a lender fewer clues.
With few clues in the file, the rest of the application carries the load. Besides a score, the CFPB lists what you make and already owe, the loan amount, the cash you put down set against what the car is worth, and new versus used.
From an empty file to your first set of keys
- Look at your credit reportsOrder them at no cost from AnnualCreditReport.com. Thin files can carry mistakes too, so look for any account you don't recognize.
- Get an insurance quoteWashington won't let you drive without liability insurance (RCW 46.30.020), and a lender may want coverage on the car itself too. Price it before you fall for a car.
- Say it's your first carMention it in the quiz or when you call (509) 765-3467. Our finance office will explain what lenders typically ask of a first-time buyer.
- Gather your papersIncome, address and ID. You'll find the full list a few sections down.
- We forward your applicationWhen you give the word, we send it to lenders that work with first-time buyers. Yes or no, and the terms, come from the lender.
- Pick within the budgetIf a lender approves, choose a car that fits the budget it sets. Our used Civic and used CR-V listings are a good place to begin.
Approval isn't guaranteed. Lenders decide.
What gives a thin file more to stand on
- Paperwork for your income, whatever its form: a paycheck stub, a benefits letter, or a 1099 and tax return for gig or contract work. Federal Regulation B says part-time wages and pension checks can't be marked down for what they are; the lender still judges the amount and how steady it looks.
- Some staying power at your job and your address
- Money down or a trade-in, which trims what you borrow (CFPB)
- A co-signer with a long credit record. The FTC warns that a co-signer may have to pay the full debt if you don't, so have that talk first.
- A price that still leaves room for insurance and fuel
Terms that come up at the finance desk
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Credit file | Everything the credit bureaus hold about your borrowing and bill paying. Read yours at no cost at AnnualCreditReport.com. |
| Credit score | A number worked out from your credit file. If the file is very short, you may not have one yet. |
| Hard inquiry | The check a lender makes when you apply. Auto loan checks clustered within 14 to 45 days are generally treated as one (CFPB). |
| Co-signer | A second person who signs the contract with you and can be made to pay if you fall behind (FTC). |
| Down payment | Cash or trade-in value paid up front, which lowers the amount you finance (CFPB). |
First cars from Pioneer Way
★★★★★4.6 stars from 710 Google reviewsRead our Google reviews for Bud Clary Honda of Moses Lake
“...Thank you for answering all my questions and explaining everything to me!!”
Crystal G., Google review, September 2022
“Martin was super helpful in helping buy my first car”
Nevaeh P., Google review, March 2025
“...The process was mostly smooth sailing for us as we were first time buyers! Thank you so much Bud Clary Honda & Christian!”
Lili C., Google review, July 2024
Excerpts from 5-star Google reviews, quoted as written. Every buyer's credit is different, and lenders make every credit decision.
Does a first car loan go on your credit report?
Yes, as long as your lender reports to the bureaus. Each month's payment then lands on your reports, the on-time ones and any late ones. Ask about reporting before you sign, and automate payments if your bank allows it.
Budget for the whole car, not just the loan
Insurance, tabs, gas and upkeep all arrive with a first car. Two oil changes and two tire rotations come free with each used car from Bud Clary Honda of Moses Lake (only the rotations on an electric car). It has also passed our 137-point inspection, and it carries a 3-month / 3,000-mile limited warranty, a 3-day / 300-mile exchange and a free CARFAX report.
Hoping for a late-model used Honda? Browse the Honda Certified Pre-Owned page as well.
Other Fresh Start guides
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy doesn't have to mean no car.
A Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 filed in Grant County: what lenders ask for, and the steps in the Eastern District.
Your first-car checklist
Lenders don't all want the same stack, so our finance office may need more or fewer pages. Call before you come and we'll tell you what yours calls for.
- A valid driver's license
- Your Social Security number or ITIN
- Proof of pay: stubs, a benefits letter, or 1099s with last year's tax return
- Your address on a power bill, phone bill or rental agreement
- Your insurance card, or the name and number of your agent
- Contact details for your co-signer, if someone is applying with you
Ready to talk about your first car?
Answer the quiz at the top, fill in the full credit application, or call (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
Can I finance a car in Moses Lake with no credit history?
You can apply. When there's little history, lenders focus on your income, your time on the job and at home, your cash down and any co-signer. The lender decides, and approval isn't guaranteed.
Which is harder to finance with, no credit or bad credit?
It depends on the lender. Bad credit shows past problems, no credit shows hardly anything, and every lender has its own way of reading each.
Does a first-time buyer have to have a co-signer?
No, you can apply on your own. If you do bring a co-signer, know that the FTC warns they may have to pay the full debt if you don't.
What paperwork does a first car purchase take?
Bring your license, something showing your income, something showing where you live, and have insurance in place before you leave the lot. Some lenders want more, so call ahead and our finance office will say what.
Will applying for my first car loan affect my credit?
A lender's check can move a score slightly. Auto loan inquiries grouped within 14 to 45 days generally register as one (CFPB). Wait to apply until you've found the right car.
What credit score does a first car loan take?
No one number applies, and with a very short history you might not have a score at all. Each lender writes its own standards and also weighs pay, existing debts, loan size and the car (CFPB).
Does Bud Clary Honda have a first-time buyer program?
Yes. The Fresh Start Finance Program covers buyers with no credit history as well as damaged credit. We send first-time applications to outside lenders open to short files, and they decide.
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. A negotiable documentary service fee of up to $200 may be added to the sale price.