People are both interested and doubtful about “buy here pay here.” You might be thinking, “Is this really a good way to get a car when my credit score is bad?” Well, sit down, see here and get a cup of coffee because we’re going deep.

Picture yourself walking into the lot, freaked out, remembering that credit check from last year, the late payment, and how hard it is to be an adult. The salesman smiles and talks about buy here pay here finance instead of banks. It’s hard to resist. They don’t seem to care that you’re having trouble with your money. A lot of these places don’t even check your credit at all. Does it sound too wonderful to be true? It is sometimes. Not always, though.

Let’s take it apart even more. Banks and credit unions work together with traditional car dealerships. They send your application into the digital void, and if your credit is good, you might get approved. Buy here, pay here Many people don’t bother with lenders who aren’t their own. They are both the seller and the lender. You can buy the car there. You pay there. Some dealers want you to come in every week and pay them in person. That could seem a little old-fashioned, like paying rent in the landlord’s kitchen.

These places can be a significant help right away if you don’t have any other options. Your FICO score could be about to go down. You may have already been turned down somewhere else. You can still drive away in anything that has four wheels, a steering wheel, and a praying air freshener. The most important thing is to be flexible. People who can’t acquire regular loans can still get them with shorter terms, lower down payments, and even creative payment schemes.

But there is an issue. If you meet the requirements, the interest rates could be very high, almost twice as high as what you would pay at a credit union. Cars may be older, have more miles on them, and the warranties are usually not very good. Your automobile could be taken back very fast if you don’t make a payment. Some lots even put GPS trackers on automobiles in case you thought about leaving at night.

Let’s be real. You shouldn’t use buy here pay here finance to get money. It’s a last resort. Read everything if you do get in. Learn about the car’s history. Is it as reliable as the coffee at your favorite diner? Give it a try, listen for clicks and groans, and go with your instinct.

Here’s a tip: bring along someone who knows what they’re doing. Someone who can smell a lemon from twenty feet away. Don’t forget that you’re signing a contract. Don’t let the shiny hubcaps deceive you. If the terms make your wallet sweat, that means something is incorrect.

Buy here, pay here can be the answer to your troubles, but be careful. Sometimes the easy method isn’t the best way. But if you keep your eyes open and are willing to ask questions, you might be able to discover a car that gets you where you need to go without costing too much.