Looking for a car requires making a lot of decisions. There are many factors to consider, such as price and payment. You have taken all the test drives you need. You have selected the manufacturer, model and color. Now you need to decide how to pay for the vehicle. If you have bad credit, this can seem to be a big problem.It was not that long ago when it was relatively easy to get a loan. Today it is not easy to get money when you need it. This is true for auto loans also. The choice often seems to be to take out two auto loans to finance the car. This choice results in further damage to your credit history. You should consider your payment options before you even start to look for the vehicle so that you are ready when you find the right car.Auto Loan BasicsAuto loans are generally considered secured loans. This is because the vehicle itself is collateral for the loan. If you have bad credit, this factor alone will help you obtain the loan you need to pay for the vehicle.Secured loans generally will have lower interest rates than do loans for the same amount for the same person. This is because the collateral can be repossessed to pay off the loan balance. For auto loans, the car can be repossessed to pay off the auto loan balance.As you determine the type of loan which will work for you, you need to next consider the down payment on the vehicle. The down payment will also affect your interest rate and the size of your monthly payments. The more you put down, the smaller the loan will be. The less you have to borrow from the lender, the smaller the monthly payment will be. The more you borrow from the lender, the higher your interest rate will be and the longer you will be paying off the loan.Shopping for an Auto LoanIf you have bad credit, almost every type of loan you might need is best found online. There will be many places you can get the loan. The auto dealership could offer you credit. Your bank could offer you a loan. If you belong to a credit union, you could get a loan through them. All of these sources can be more difficult to work with if you have bad credit. Chances are, if the lender has a physical, bricks and mortar presence, they will also have stricter qualifications for granting loans to people with bad credit.Looking online is your best option. Like most loans, you will need to demonstrate a steady job with a reasonable length of employment. The paycheck must be reliable. This will make it harder to qualify if you are self-employed or have irregular paychecks. You will need to have proof of citizenship when applying for an online loan.The Loan is Out ThereIt is possible to get an auto loan if you have bad credit. As with the actual purchase of the car, you will need to balance between what you want and what you can afford.Once you know the answer to that question, you can research a variety of lending sources open to you. Compare their rates and repayment requirements. Shop for the loan like you will shop for the vehicle. Just as you will look for the best price for the make and model you want, so you should look for the best auto loan available. By comparison shopping, you will be able to not only find the car you desire but you will also be able to get the loan you need to buy it. Bad credit does not need to stop you at all.