Bad Credit Car Loans in Edmonton
A low credit score does not stop you from applying. At Just Auto in north-east Edmonton, we work with lenders that review applications from people who are rebuilding their credit, and we explain every step in plain language. A lender reviews each application, and all financing is subject to lender approval.
Subject to lender approval.
Who it's for
- Your score dropped after missed payments, collections or a stretch out of work
- A bank or credit union declined your car loan application
- You had a vehicle repossessed and need reliable transportation again
- You are finishing a consumer proposal or have been discharged from bankruptcy
- You want a loan you can use to rebuild your credit while you drive
What to bring
- A valid driver's licence
- Proof of income — your two most recent pay stubs, plus 90 days of bank statements showing your deposits
- Proof of address, such as a utility bill or a lease
- A void cheque, which the lender uses to set up your loan payments
- Your down payment, if you have one
- Details of any trade-in, including the payout amount if it still has a loan
How it works
- Apply online. It takes a few minutes and tells our finance team about your income, your budget and your situation.
- We look over your application and talk with you about a payment that fits your budget before anything goes to a lender.
- We send your application to the lender most likely to fit your situation. The lender checks your credit and makes the decision.
- If the lender approves the loan, we go through the rate, the term, the payment and the total cost of borrowing with you before you sign anything.
- You choose a vehicle that fits the approval and your budget, and you drive it home once the paperwork is done.
What lenders look at besides your score
Your credit score is one part of the decision, not all of it. Lenders that work with credit-rebuilding customers also weigh:
- Your income and how long you have had it. Steady income from the same job or source often matters more than the score itself.
- Your other debts. Lenders compare your monthly debt payments to your income to see whether a new payment fits.
- The vehicle. Its age, kilometres and price affect how much a lender will finance and for how long.
- Your down payment. Money down lowers the amount you borrow and shows the lender you are committed.
- Your recent history. Several months of on-time payments on anything you owe now can count for more than a mistake from a few years ago.
How a car loan can help rebuild your credit
Your payment history is one of the biggest parts of your credit score. The lenders we place these loans with report your payments to Canada's credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion, every month. Each on-time payment adds a positive entry to your credit file, and over a year or two a steady record of instalment payments can help lift your score.
It works the other way too. A late or missed payment is reported as well, so set your payment date to match your payday and use automatic payments if you can. Keep your other accounts current while you pay the loan, because the bureaus see all of them.
You can check your own credit reports for free from both Equifax and TransUnion. Looking at your own report does not lower your score, and it lets you spot errors before you apply.
Your 12-month review
After 12 months of on-time payments, get in touch and we will review your loan with you. We will look at how your credit has changed and talk about whether refinancing, or trading into a different vehicle and loan, makes sense for you. Nothing changes automatically, and any new rate or term is the lender's decision.
A word about approval promises
Some ads promise approval before anyone has looked at your application. No dealership can honestly do that, because approval is always the lender's decision about one person. What we can do is send your application to lenders that work with your situation, and tell you plainly what they decide.
If you want the longer version first, read our guide on how bad credit car loans work.
Questions
Will applying hurt my credit score?
When a lender checks your credit for a loan, it records a "hard inquiry", which can lower your score by a few points for a short time. We send your application to the lender we think fits your situation best rather than to many lenders at once, which keeps the number of inquiries down.
What interest rate will I get?
The lender sets the rate based on your credit, your income, the vehicle and the term. Rates for credit-rebuilding loans are usually higher than bank rates. Before you sign, we show you the rate, the term, the payment and the total cost of borrowing so you can decide with the full picture.
Do I need a down payment?
No. The lenders we work with do consider applications with no money down, so not having a down payment should not stop you from applying. A down payment is still worth having where you can: it lowers the amount you finance, which lowers your payment and the interest you pay, and it can strengthen an application that is close. Approval either way is the lender's decision.
Can I trade in a vehicle I still owe money on?
Yes. We appraise your trade-in and look at your payout. If you owe more than the vehicle is worth, the difference may be added to the new loan, which raises your payment. We will show you the numbers so you can decide.
I was declined somewhere else. Should I still apply?
Yes. Each lender has its own rules, and an application one lender declines may suit another. Tell us what happened, and we will be honest about your options.
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Last reviewed October 25, 2026