When you go to a dealer or subprime lender for bad credit auto financing, you'll almost always be required to put money down. The only time you'll typically be able to put zero down on a loan is if you have excellent credit. If you're considering a dealer that doesn't run your credit or require money down, you're looking for a buy here pay here (BHPH) dealership. BHPH dealers are in-house financers, and aren't associated with banks or other third-party lenders. When you go to a BHPH dealer, you'll purchase the car, sign the papers to the loan, and drive off the lot all in one sitting. For bad credit car buyers, this is as close to getting an instant decision on a car loan as it gets. Before you head to one of these dealers, there are a few things to be aware of. The cars that these dealers have on their lots are typically older, high-mileage vehicles. This doesn't mean they're in bad shape, it just means you won't find a brand new vehicle. Instead of running your credit, they'll use your income as the main source for financing qualifications. And, depending on the BHPH dealer, they may still require a down payment. Finally, you'll usually need to make payments in person on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule. If you miss these payments, they can report them to the credit bureaus and be quick to repossess the vehicle. While the process of buying a car at a BHPH dealer is quick and convenient, they should be viewed as a last resort option. Most of these dealers don't report monthly payments, and if they do, it's only your missed payments. This means a loan from a BHPH dealer can't help you improve your credit score.