Not buy here, pay here: how car financing works at our lot
Some buyers with bad credit or no credit go straight to a buy-here-pay-here lot. We're not one. At Family Automotive in Port Jefferson Station, your credit application goes to outside lenders, including lenders that work with bad credit, no credit and past repossessions.
If one approves you, your loan is with that lender, and you make your payments to them, not to us.
Approval, rate and terms depend on the lender and your credit.
What buy here, pay here means
At a buy-here-pay-here lot, the dealer is also the lender. You buy the car there, sign the loan there and make your payments there, often every week or two, sometimes in person.
Some of these dealers don't report your payments to the credit bureaus, so paying on time may do little for your credit. Some also put a device on the car that can locate it or keep it from starting if a payment is late.
How financing works here
One application, and the lenders decide:
- You apply once, online or at the sales desk.
- We send your application to the lenders that fit your situation.
- A lender decides whether to approve you and sets the rate and terms. We tell you plainly what comes back.
- If you're approved and you buy, your loan is with that lender, and you pay the lender.
Your payments and your credit
Most auto lenders report your payments to the credit bureaus, so paying on time can help rebuild your credit. Ask the lender whether it reports before you sign.
You don't have to finance through us. You can pay cash, or bring a loan from your own bank or credit union.
Before you sign
- Read the contract, and take a signed copy home.
- Look at the APR, the finance charge and the total of payments, not just the monthly payment.
- Extras like GAP coverage or a service contract are optional. Ask what each one costs and decide on each one by itself.
- Ask which warranty comes with the car. It's printed on the Buyers Guide in the window.
Frequently asked questions
Still not sure? Call sales at 631-400-5334.
Are you a buy-here-pay-here dealer?
No. We send your application to outside lenders. If one approves you, your loan is with that lender and you make your payments to them.
Can I get a car loan with bad credit or no credit?
Often, yes. Some of the lenders we work with have programs for bad credit, no credit and past repossessions. The lender decides, and we tell you plainly where you stand.
Who do I make my payments to?
To the lender that approved your loan, in the ways it offers. Your contract names the lender.
Is approval guaranteed?
No. No honest dealer can promise approval: the lender decides, not us.
See where you stand
One application, sent to the lenders that fit your situation. We tell you plainly what comes back.
Approval, rate and terms depend on the lender and your credit.