If you’re thinking about buying a used car, you might be wondering what you can do to improve your chances of getting approved for financing. And if you’re worried that the answer is simply “get a better credit score,” we’ve got some good news.

Your credit score is important, but it’s not the only thing that matters. At Cincinnati Auto Credit, we look at the bigger picture. Your income, employment, expenses and overall financial situation all help us understand whether a vehicle and payment make sense for you.

So, what can you actually do to put yourself in a better position?

Here are five things you can do this week.

1. Keep Showing Up to Work

Steady employment matters.

If you’re currently working, keep working. If you recently started a new job, keep building that employment history. Having a consistent source of income helps show that you have the ability to make your monthly payment.

We know things happen. People get laid off, hours get cut and jobs change. That’s life. But if you’re working now, keeping that income steady is one of the best things you can do before applying for a vehicle.

2. Get Your Paperwork Together

Don’t wait until you’re sitting at the dealership to start looking for your pay stubs.

Grab a recent pay stub, your driver’s license and proof of your current residence and have them ready to go.

It might seem like a small thing, but being prepared can save you time and make the entire process easier.

3. Try Not to Overdraft Your Bank Account

If your bank account is constantly going negative, it can make your financial situation look a lot different than it actually is.

We’re not saying an occasional overdraft means you can’t get a car. We’re saying that if you know you’re going to be applying for financing, it’s a good time to take a close look at where your money is going.

For the next week, pay attention to your balance. Avoid unnecessary overdraft fees. Make sure your bills are covered. Know how much money is coming in and how much is going out.

4. Save What You Can for a Down Payment

Even if you don’t have thousands of dollars sitting around, putting some money aside can help.

A down payment can reduce the amount you need to finance and can make it easier to find a payment that fits your budget.

And we’re not talking about skipping rent or your electric bill to come up with a down payment. Please don’t do that.

If you can put $500 aside, put $500 aside. If you can put $1,000 aside, even better.

5. Be Honest With Us

This might be the most important one.

If you’ve had a repossession, tell us. If your credit isn’t great, tell us. If you’ve changed jobs recently, tell us. If you have other bills or financial obligations, tell us.

We’re not here to judge you.

We’ve been doing this for more than 30 years, and we’ve seen just about every financial situation you can imagine. A credit problem doesn’t tell us everything we need to know about a person. That’s why we look at the individual situation instead of making a decision based on one three-digit number.

And being honest works both ways. We’re not going to promise you “guaranteed approval” just to get you through the door. We’ve written about that before because we think customers deserve straight answers, not gimmicks.

You Don't Have to Have Perfect Credit

The biggest thing we want people to understand is that you don’t have to have perfect credit to buy a car. What you do need is a realistic picture of your current situation and a vehicle that makes sense for your budget.

That’s where we come in.

At Cincinnati Auto Credit, we work with people who have good credit, bad credit and no credit. We’ve worked with people who have been turned down by other dealerships and traditional lenders. We’ve worked with people rebuilding after a financial setback.

We don’t promise that everyone will get approved. But we will give you a straight answer and treat you with respect.

So if buying a car is on your to-do list, start today. Keep your income steady. Gather your paperwork. Watch your bank account. Save what you can. And most importantly, be honest about your situation.

Give us a chance to give you a chance!