Despite whether your credit score is good or bad, putting a down payment increases your chance for a car loan.  A down payment decreases interest rate, lowers monthly payment, and reduces the risk on affecting credit score negatively. Most credit vendors expect you to have a down payment of 10-20% on the value of the car. There are a few factors that affect the amount of down payment required such as the overall condition of the purchasing vehicle, trade in value of existing vehicle, and the amount savings in your bank account. If you are unable to provide enough down payment, there are other ways getting a loan such as purchasing additional features on auto insurance, buying a less expensive vehicle, or getting a co-signer to help you qualify for a loan.