Buying a used car with bad credit on Long Island: what to bring

The short list

• Your driver's license
• Proof of income: your most recent pay stubs. Self-employed? Bank statements or your last tax return.
• Proof of where you live: a utility bill or bank statement with your name and current address
• Your down payment, if you have one. Talk to us either way.
• A few references: names and phone numbers of people who know you
• Your trade-in, if you have one, with its title or registration, and the payoff amount if you still owe on it
• Your insurance company's name, or your agent's phone number

Why it matters

Lenders who work with credit challenges look at more than the score. How long you've had your job, what you earn, how long you've lived at your address and what you can put down all count. These papers answer those questions up front.

The application itself also asks for your Social Security number, date of birth, past addresses and employers, and your monthly income before taxes.

Insurance comes before the plates

New York won't register a car without liability insurance, and the name on the insurance card has to match the name on the registration exactly. Call your insurance company or agent before you come in, or bring their number so the new car can be added the same day.

A New York dealer can register the car and issue your plates, so you can drive home legally.

Before you sign

• Check your credit reports first. You can see them free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com. Dispute anything that's wrong before a lender sees it.
• Know what you can afford each month, all in: the car, insurance, gas and upkeep.
• Extras like GAP coverage or a service contract are optional. Ask what each one costs and decide on each one by itself.
• Read the contract, and take a signed copy home.
• Ask which warranty comes with the car. It's printed on the Buyers Guide in the window.

New York's used car warranty, in plain words

New York's Used Car Lemon Law requires a dealer's written warranty on most used cars sold for $1,500 or more. How long it lasts depends on the miles when you buy:

• 18,001 to 36,000 miles: 90 days or 4,000 miles, whichever comes first
• 36,001 to 79,999 miles: 60 days or 3,000 miles
• 80,000 to 100,000 miles: 30 days or 1,000 miles
• Over 100,000 miles: not covered by this law

What no one can promise

No honest dealer can promise you'll be approved: the lender decides, not us. What we can do is send a complete application to lenders who work with credit challenges and tell you plainly where you stand.