Bad Credit RV Loans: Get Approved

Bad credit can be an obstacle to getting the things you want in life, but not necessarily an insurmountable one. For example, if you have always wanted a recreational vehicle (RV), you know that it is the type of big-ticket item that can be hard to secure financing for if you have bad credit. This guide to bad credit RV loans will give you some tips on improving your chances of getting financing, as well as making sure this is the best long-term decision to you.

Bad Credit RV Loans: Improving Your Chances

Have no illusions about this – having bad credit will make it tougher to get an RV loan. However, there are a variety of steps you can take to improve your chances:

1. Make progress in your credit history. Identify the reasons your credit is bad, and start addressing those problems. This can entail catching up with overdue bills, paying down credit balances, or correcting errors in your record. Even if these steps don’t immediately restore your credit ratin to the low-risk range, being able to show a lender progress will demonstrate a change in the right direction.

2. Show improved earnings power. Your credit rating is based on the past, but a significant raise in pay could make a meaningful difference in how risky lenders consider you to be. If your household has recently added an income, this might be another way of making lenders more confident in your ability to repay an RV loan.

3. Demonstrate a reduction in other payments. Income is one thing, but your ability to repay a loan also depends on how many other financial obligations you have. If this burden has recently become easier, for example if you have recently retired an old debt, it should improve the way that lenders view you.

4. Build up a strong down payment. In general, the higher the down payment, the more forgiving lenders tend to be about credit standing. So, if you want to overcome credit problems, building a down payment of 20 percent or greater should improve your chances.

5. Know the value of what you are buying. The RV you choose would be the collateral for the loan, so a bad deal for you would also be a bad deal for a lender. Don’t make it news. Make sure you know the market well enough to spot a good deal because this will increase your chances of finding a lender who feels the collateral is sufficient for the loan.

6. Take advantage of the dealer’s financing relationships. If you are buying from a dealer, use the fact that the dealer is motivated to complete a sale. Some dealers offer their own financing, while others have relationships that might get you a more welcome reception from a lender.

7. Shop around for financing. Even if a dealer can finance a loan or introduce you to a lender, don’t settle for loan terms until you’ve done some shopping around on your own. It’s not just interest rates that vary from one lender to another – their tolerance for weaker credit also varies, so shopping around can help you find a lender willing to offer reasonable terms to someone with less-than-perfect credit.

Making the Right Choice

Getting approved for bad credit RV loans is part of the challenge, but what may be even more important in these situations is making sure the purchase is the right choice for you. Going through the following steps will help you determine whether or not you are fully comfortable with this commitment:

1. Recognize the cost of bad credit. It’s almost certain that your bad credit rating is going to require you to pay a higher interest rate. Run a couple amortization schedules comparing the total interest costs of the loan terms you’ve been offered with what those terms would be if you had good credit. This will show you what the cost of your bad credit will be over the life of the loan. You can decide whether it might be worthwhile waiting until you can repair your credit before you make this purchase.

2. Make a budget you can live with. Look at the monthly payment you have taken on, and figure out in detail whether it is something your budget can live with. Remember, this purchase is supposed to bring you joy, not cause you stress. RV loan calculator can help you estimate loan payment amounts.

3. Be sure of your commitment to this vehicle. An expensive vehicle like a RV can depreciate in value by a great amount after you buy it, so if you have to re-sell it, you could take quite a loss. The point is, make sure that this is something you are sure you are buying for the long-term. If you’ve never been behind the wheel of an RV before, consider renting one before buying to make sure you know the ins and outs of operating one.

The most important part of pursuing your dreams is making sure you are clear on what those dreams are. If you have thought through the nature of this choice and the financial consequences, the above tips could help you pursue the dream of owning an RV.

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The RV Loan Approval Process

Motorhome and  RV loans are considered to be "Recreational Financing". This basically means that they are for "Luxury" items. Things you could live without if best, for some unexpected reason or event, came to worst.

Most people have applied for various types of loans in their lifetime. Student loans when you were younger. Auto loans may also be among the first types of loans that you have become familiar with.

Later in life, you may have encountered home loans, or even business financing, equipment, inventory and other types of credit lines. This list is seemingly endless, all with different criteria in qualifying and underwriting guidelines.

RV Loans vs. Other Types of Financing

Most of these types of loans are considered necessary expenses, such as your home and auto loan. If times become tough, or if you have unexpected medical bills or become unemployed, these "necessary" expenses are usually bills you would find a way to pay.

After all, everyone needs a roof over their head, as well as a means of transportation to get to work, the doctor - or even the unemployment office. You also have other fundamental expenses such as utilities and food. All of these things are considered necessary expenses.

Now, you may be considering purchasing an RV, and are possibly finding it much more difficult to qualify for this type of financing. It doesn't seem to make sense, since in many cases, your home, or even your car cost more than the RV or boat you are trying to finance, yet you easily qualified for these loans.

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Why is it Harder to Buy an RV Than a House?

Once again, lenders have to look at the difference between loans for necessary items and "Recreational Financing". The first being things like home and auto loans. The latter, being recreational items like motorhomes, boats or even other power sport related items such as motorcycles or personal watercraft.

Before the financial crisis and banking system "Bailout", recreational financing was much easier to obtain, just like the sub-prime home loans that led to the financial meltdown in the first place. Loans with zero down payment and "No Doc" loans were readily available - even in the field of recreational lending. Those days are long gone. And, if the banks are giving any indications, likely to never return.

Now, RV lenders are much more critical of things like:

1. Credit Score. (Above 700 normally required.)
2. Debt-to-Income Ratio. (Usually no greater than 42% - 45%.)
3. Liquid Assets. (How much money you have in accounts or investments.)
4. Employment & Residence History. (Over 2-years each is preferred.)

Lenders are even looking at a factor called "Payment to Income Ratio". This means that the payment for your new RV cannot exceed roughly 15% of your total monthly income. This is usually not a problem for individuals with higher incomes, but more likely to affect retirees or those on fixed incomes.

So, even though recreational financing is more difficult to obtain, it is not impossible by any means. An RV loan pre-approval can be helpful in determining if you qualify, and what price of RV you can afford - or - at least what the bank says you can afford.

To obtain pre-approval, you will first need to select a particular year, make and model, and establish an approximate selling price. This information is necessary, since part of the approval is based on the "NADA Loan Value" of that particular year, make and model of RV.

Once you have been pre-approved, you can switch to another similar unit and be relatively sure you will qualify, if it is relatively similar to the unit on which you were approved.

If you choose an RV Loan Pre-Approval, just enter the information for your "Subject Unit". We can normally receive a decision from the lender in as little as one day, so you're ready to close your loan as soon as you find the RV that's just right for you.