If you’ve been turned down for a subprime car loan and have a down payment either with a trade-in or in cash, shopping for a vehicle at a buy here pay here car lot can be great for getting the vehicle you need right now. But if you’re looking for a deal, or, in many cases, for a way to improve your credit, financing a car at one of these dealerships may not be the way to go.

While each lender is free to interpret what constitutes bad credit versus good credit, there are some basic guidelines that most follow when evaluating a loan applicant.

If your credit is less than perfect and you’ve been turned down for a car loan with a conventional lender, you may have more of a better choice than a buy here pay here car lot.