In most cities, a car is a necessity. You need to get to work. You need to take your kids to school. You need to buy groceries. But if your credit is bad, loan providers may not see your need for a car as a necessity. If you are in need of an auto loan, but have bad credit, here are three helpful hints that may get you into a new set of wheels sooner than you think.

Review Your Credit Report. Your bad credit may not be all your fault. Experts agree you should review your credit report annually. You can get a free copy of your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for any suspicious activity and unfamiliar debts. If you see a problem, call the suspicious or unknown company right away.

Figure Out What You Can Realistically Afford. Use a free tool like this auto loan calculator. Put in the amount you would be able to put down on the car, the total cost of the car and the interest rate could get. Select a loan term frm 12 to 84 months and you’ll see what your monthly payment would be. Adjusting the numbers will give you a clearer understanding of what you could actually fit into your budget.

Talk to a Real Person. Avoid lenders that are only online or are so huge you just become a number. Try a local lender with real people that will listen to your situation and assist you the best they can. They work well with people dealing with bad credit because they understand your needs.