How To Buy a Harley with Bad Credit

Concerned that your bad credit score could stop you from bringing home a new bike? You’ve probably heard that a low score can dash your hopes of being approved for a loan or break your budget with high interest payments. At Appleton Harley-Davidson, we don’t believe that past financial troubles should prevent you from feeling the thrill of the open road right here and now. Whether it’s unexpected medical bills, a long-term loan, or an emergency that drained your savings, we understand that life doesn’t always go as planned. 

Low Credit Score? You Can Still Get Harley-Davidson Financing with Bad Credit in Oshkosh! 

If you’re wondering how to get a motorcycle loan with bad credit, start with Appleton Harley-Davidson! When it comes to Harley-Davidson financing, bad credit doesn’t have to stand in your way. We’re proud to offer bad credit motorcycle loans to Green Bay and Neenah-area buyers who can show that they currently have the means to pay off a motorcycle loan. Below, we’ve compiled our top tips for how to get a motorcycle loan with bad credit.

Understanding Your Credit Score

Whether you’ve opened a credit account or not, you have a credit score from the time you’re 18 years old. This 3-digit number is determined by a range of factors, and indicates to lenders how much they can trust you to repay a loan. Your credit score is based on whether or not you:

• Pay by the due date on your credit cards, mortgage, and other loans.
• Have accounts in collections, delinquent accounts, or past due items.
• Have too many or too few open and active accounts.
• Have a balanced mix of credit types. To lenders, a variety of credit types indicates that you have experience with managing money.
• Have a high number of credit inquiries. If you have applied for credit—and had your credit report run by lenders—more than is typical, it will negatively impact your score. If you apply for one of our bad credit motorcycle loans, we won’t run your credit until you authorize us to do so.
• Have used more than 30% of your available credit. Lenders like to see a debt-to-credit ratio under 30%.

Getting Approved for Bad Credit Motorcycle Loans

So, what do you need to do to access bad credit motorcycle loans? In essence, learning how to get a motorcycle loan with bad credit is similar to doing so with good credit—you’ll just have to take a few extra steps. Here’s what you need to know: 

• Set a realistic budget. When determining how much you can afford to pay, consider expenses beyond the cost of the bike itself—including registration fees, insurance, maintenance, and fuel.
• Save up and offer to make a bigger down payment. Doing so may give a lender confidence that you can pay back your loan on time, despite your credit score. You’ll also owe less in interest overall.
• Do what you can to clean up your credit report. Close old accounts and pay off any debts that are in collections, if possible. You should also check your report for errors that could be dragging down your score.
• Even if bad credit motorcycle loans are your only option, don’t assume that you won’t be approved! Apply with a handful of Appleton-area lenders and select the best offer.

Explore Bad Credit Motorcycle Loan Options at Appleton Harley-Davidson 

If you’ve had credit trouble in the past, don’t give up on getting a new ride today! The team at Appleton Harley-Davidson is ready to work with you no matter your score. Contact us for expert advice on getting Harley-Davidson financing with bad credit—and be sure to browse our current new bike specials and pre-owned inventory online! Contact us to start moving forward today.