If you have a poor credit history, you might feel worried about applying for car finance, especially when you hear the words “credit check.”
At Go Car Credit, our mission is to make car finance accessible and stress-free, even for those with bad credit. On this page, we’ll explain how our no credit check car finance process works (hint: it starts with no impact on your credit score) and how we could help you get behind the wheel with flexible, affordable terms and a friendly, supportive service.
Step 1: Calculate your monthly repayments
Step 2: Apply and track your application online, in real time (No login or app needed!)
Representative example – Total amount of credit £10,000, annual interest rate 18.25% (fixed), charge for credit £9,430 (£9,125 interest, £295 admin fee and £10 option to purchase fee), total amount payable £19,430. Loan term of 60 monthly instalments, 59 payments of £323.67 and 1 final instalment of £333.47. 36.1% Representative APR – Subject to status and affordability
“No credit check car finance” might sound like your credit history doesn’t matter. But in the UK, all trusted car finance companies must check your credit before giving you a loan. It’s a regulatory rule to make sure you can afford the payments.
So, what does “no credit check” actually mean in practice? At Go Car Credit, it means we offer an initial quote and eligibility check without performing a hard credit search. Instead, we begin with a soft credit search. A soft search gives us a snapshot of your financial background without leaving any mark on your credit file. This way, you could find out if you’re likely to be approved for finance without any negative impact on your credit score. It’s a risk-free first step.
If you decide to proceed and take out a finance agreement with us, only then do we conduct a full hard credit check as part of the final approval. A hard check will be recorded on your credit report (visible to other lenders), but by that stage you’ll already have a good indication that your application is on track. In short, “no credit check” in our process means no hard credit check upfront. You get peace of mind that exploring your car finance options won’t dent your credit score.
Just as important as your credit history is what you can actually afford. Even if you have bad credit, we focus on what you can realistically manage. Our goal is to help more people drive a reliable used car, no matter their credit background.
Let’s dive a bit deeper into how credit checks and approvals work when you apply with Go Car Credit, so you can get a clearer picture of what to expect. If you have CCJs, defaults or missed payments, you might wonder if a bad credit car finance with no credit check deal is possible.
While some form of credit check is always mandatory, it shouldn’t be a cause for concern. We understand that it isn’t always easy to maintain a perfect credit history. That’s precisely why we founded Go Car Credit – because we recognise the challenges many people face when seeking credit.
We believe in fair, responsible lending and focus on helping people with bad or limited credit. As a direct lender—not a broker, we handle your application ourselves from start to finish. Real people review it, so we can often give you a quick decision.
Perhaps you’ve been refused finance by a mainstream lender in the past, or you’ve been worried about even applying. That’s where we come in. We look beyond the numbers on your credit report. Do you have a few missed payments on record? Have you had trouble keeping up with bills during a tough period (for example, while self-employed or between jobs)? That doesn’t automatically disqualify you with us. We assess your situation case by case, and we may still be able to offer a car finance plan that suits your needs.
In fact, since we launched in 2017, we’ve already helped tens of thousands of people secure car finance despite poor credit. You’re not alone – and getting a car loan with a troubled credit history could be easier than you think with our support.
Everyone who applies for car finance goes through a series of checks to determine their eligibility. Knowing what these checks are in advance could help put your mind at ease. When you apply with Go Car Credit, we will typically ask for or verify:
These checks are a normal part of responsible lending and help make sure you don’t borrow more than you can afford. At Go Car Credit, we review most applications by hand instead of using a computer to make quick decisions. So, you won’t be automatically turned down just because of your credit score or a few boxes not being ticked.
We take a closer look at anything unusual in your file and consider your personal circumstances. We pride ourselves on doing more thorough affordability checks than most lenders.
While that might sound strict, it actually works in your favour – it gives you every possible chance to get the car you want. You won’t get an unfair “computer says no” outcome with us; we double-check to see if there’s a way we could make it work.
Let’s talk more about affordability, since it’s such a key part of our decision process. Affordability simply means how comfortably you could pay back the loan alongside your other commitments.
For some drivers with bad credit, hearing about an affordability check might cause concern – but it needn’t. It’s not meant to catch you out; it’s there to ensure the finance agreement is the right fit for you.
When we review affordability, we’re basically asking: “Can this person manage the monthly car payments on top of their regular expenses?”
We look at your income, then subtract everyday living costs and any current debts to understand your full financial situation. This helps us work out a monthly car payment that’s affordable and still leaves you with some money left over each month.
If you’re employed, we may verify your income with payslips or an employer reference. If you’re self-employed or have irregular income, we might review bank statements or tax returns. Our team is experienced with all sorts of financial backgrounds, so we know how to interpret your situation fairly.
The bottom line is that car finance isn’t approved (or declined) solely on credit score. An even more crucial factor is whether the payments are affordable for you. We would never want to put someone in a position where they struggle to make payments – that’s not good for anybody.
So by performing careful affordability checks, we ensure that if we approve you, you’ll be able to comfortably keep up with your car payments. This approach protects you from getting into further financial trouble and gives us confidence that we’re lending responsibly.
The good news? If we determine you could afford the finance, you’re well on your way to approval – even if your credit score isn’t perfect. And by meeting your repayments reliably, you could even start to rebuild your credit rating over time. We love seeing our customers succeed and improve their financial future.
Choosing a car finance provider is a big decision, especially when you have bad credit. Here are some of the top reasons thousands of customers have trusted Go Car Credit to finance their cars:
In short, we’re on your side. We want to see you drive away in a car you love, with a finance agreement you could comfortably afford. If there’s a way to make it happen, we’ll do our best to find it.
In reality, “no credit check” means no hard credit check at the quote stage. Every reputable lender must perform at least a soft credit check. With Go Car Credit, you get a no-obligation quote and an initial eligibility decision without any hard credit inquiry on your record. This gives you a good idea of your chances before proceeding. If you choose to go ahead with the finance, a full credit check will be done as part of final approval. So, while a complete no-check loan isn’t possible (beware of anyone who promises that), you could start the process with no impact on your credit score.
No – not with us. Our initial application uses a soft search only. Soft searches do not affect your credit score at all, and they aren’t visible to other lenders. This means you have the freedom to apply for a quote with Go Car Credit knowing your score will remain unchanged. Only if you decide to accept an offer and move forward will a hard search be done, which then shows up on your credit report. We make sure you reach that stage with confidence, so there are no surprises.
You could. Every lender has different criteria, and being refused before doesn’t mean you’ll be refused by Go Car Credit. We take into account factors like your current income, stability, and what you could afford now – not just your past credit problems. In fact, many of our customers came to us after being turned down by other lenders. Thanks to our manual review process and flexible approach, we were often able to approve them for finance. While no one is 100% guaranteed approval, your chances with us may be higher if your situation fits our criteria. It’s always worth applying for a soft-search quote to find out.
No, “no credit check” doesn’t mean a guarantee. It’s easy to be confused by marketing terms. What we offer is a chance to check your eligibility without hurting your credit. Approval is never guaranteed because we must ensure the finance is affordable and responsible for you. Be cautious of any company claiming “guaranteed car finance” without checks – if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Go Car Credit will work hard to get you approved, but we will only proceed if it’s right for your situation.
There are a few steps you could take to boost your approval odds.
First, make sure all the information on your application is accurate and complete – any errors or missing details could slow things down or raise concerns.
Second, if possible, take a look at your credit report yourself before applying; sometimes there are mistakes on your report that you could fix (like incorrect addresses or debts marked as unpaid when they’ve actually been settled). Registering on the electoral roll at your current address could also help strengthen your profile.
Demonstrating stability in your job and address history will help. And of course, if you could save up even a small deposit, it might improve your affordability profile (though we do offer no deposit car finance separately). Lastly, consider your budget realistically – choose a car within a price range that’s comfortable for you.
Having a stable job and address can help your application. Saving even a small deposit could also improve your chances (though we do offer no deposit options). Most importantly, pick a car that fits your budget and feels affordable for you.
When you feel confident and ready to proceed, just apply online with Go Car Credit – it only takes a few minutes. There’s no obligation, and you’ll get an answer on your screen telling you if you’re eligible and what to do next.
Remember, checking won’t hurt your credit score – and it might just be the start of your journey to driving your new car. We’re here to help you every mile of the way!