Fresh Start
Life happens. We make it easy to get back on track.
Missed payments, a decline or a high-cost in-house loan you'd like to escape: how the program works at Bud Clary Toyota.
Fresh Start Finance Program
Bankruptcy Doesn't Have to Mean No Car.
Want to buy a car after bankruptcy in Moses Lake? You can apply once a Chapter 7 is discharged, and sometimes while a Chapter 13 plan is under way. Mostly what changes is the paperwork, and our finance team will help you line it up.
Match your case to the paperwork
| Your situation | What lenders typically ask to see | First conversation |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7 with a discharge | Case number, plus the discharge order. U.S. Courts puts the discharge at roughly 60 to 90 days past the first date set for the creditors' meeting. | Our finance team |
| Chapter 7, case still open | In most cases, the discharge comes first. Ask before you take on new credit. | Your bankruptcy attorney |
| Chapter 13, plan in progress | Written permission for the new debt from the trustee or the court. U.S. Courts advises against fresh borrowing until you've spoken with the trustee. | Your attorney and the trustee |
| Chapter 13, plan completed | Your Chapter 13 discharge order | Our finance team |
General information only, not legal advice. Your bankruptcy attorney or trustee should answer questions about your own case.
The Eastern District's rule for new debt in Chapter 13
A Moses Lake filing belongs to the Eastern District of Washington, the federal district that takes in Grant County (28 U.S.C. 128). For a car partway through a Chapter 13 plan, that court's Local Bankruptcy Rule 2083-1 calls for a Notice of Intent to Incur Post Petition Debt, filed with an amended income and expense statement. The court weighs in only if an objection is filed.
Your attorney prepares and files it. Expect a lender to want proof the new debt was cleared before it funds anything, so get the notice moving before you fall for a particular car. If the filing calls for the vehicle and price, our finance team can supply them in writing.
Five things to do before you apply
Your attorney's guidance comes first. These steps simply help a lender see your full situation.
- Locate your paperworkFinished case: the discharge order. Chapter 13 still running: the written okay for new debt. Missing a page? Ask your attorney's office.
- Review your reportsPull all three without charge at AnnualCreditReport.com and make sure accounts from your case are marked correctly. Federal law allows a bankruptcy to be reported for up to 10 years, counted from when the case was filed (15 U.S.C. 1681c).
- Count every dollar of incomeWages, benefits, a pension and side work can all be listed. Regulation B (12 CFR 1002.6) won't let a lender set aside money for being part-time pay, pension income or public assistance, though the amount still matters.
- Shrink the loanA lower-priced car, cash down or a trade-in all trim what you borrow. A Chapter 13 trustee will want to see that the new payment leaves your plan intact.
- Keep your shopping shortInquiries from auto lenders spaced no more than 14 to 45 days apart are generally counted as one (CFPB), so apply once you're ready.
How lenders weigh a past bankruptcy
To a lender, a bankruptcy is one line on a longer page. The CFPB lists the rest: pay and existing debts, the amount financed, the down payment set against the vehicle's value, and whether you choose new or used.
Lenders each pick their own waiting period after a discharge, if they use one. Our finance team starts by asking about your case, which lets us aim the application at lenders open to a past bankruptcy. Approval isn't guaranteed.
Bankruptcy words, explained
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Discharge | When the court frees you from personal responsibility for most debts in the case (U.S. Courts). Expect a lender to request the order. |
| Trustee | Named by the court to oversee your case. In Chapter 13, you send plan payments to the trustee and check in before borrowing. |
| Chapter 7 | Usually a few months long, ending with most debts discharged. |
| Chapter 13 | A court-approved repayment plan lasting three to five years, during which you keep your property (U.S. Courts). |
| Amended income and expense statement | An updated version of the budget schedules from your case. In the Eastern District, it goes in with the notice asking to take on new debt. |
Buyers who know the feeling
★★★★★900+ five-star Google reviewsRead our Google reviews for Bud Clary Toyota of Moses Lake
“Enjoying my experience at Bud Clary. First purchase 2 years into bankruptcy and they really came through for me.”
Rustel K., Bud Clary Subaru, Longview, Google review, January 2023
“I was uneasy because I had a small budget and had a bankruptcy a few years ago, Travis was very optimistic and calmed my nerves! And he treated me like VIP.”
Charisse W., Bud Clary Ford, Longview, Google review, May 2025
“...didn’t judge me based on my credit,I will buy from them from now on!!”
Lucas C., Bud Clary Auburn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Google review, April 2020
Excerpts from 5-star Google reviews, quoted as written. Every buyer's situation is different, and lenders make every credit decision.
Picking a car your plan can carry
Used keeps the loan smaller. Before a used car reaches our lot it gets a 137-point inspection. Once it's yours, the 3-month / 3,000-mile limited warranty and the 3-day / 300-mile exchange both apply, the CARFAX report costs nothing, and two oil changes plus two tire rotations are on us (just the rotations for an electric car).
Begin with used cars under $20,000 or the full used inventory, which pulls from the whole Moses Lake campus. Found the one at a different Bud Clary location? It can come to our campus at no charge, as soon as the same day.
Other parts of the program
First-time buyers
No credit isn't bad credit. It's a starting point.
A bankruptcy can leave a credit file looking almost blank. See how lenders size up a thin one.
What to bring to Frontage Road
- The discharge order, or for an open Chapter 13, approval of the new debt in writing from the trustee or court
- Your case number and how to reach your attorney
- A valid driver's license
- Recent pay stubs, benefit letters, or 1099s and tax returns for self-employment
- A lease or utility bill that shows where you live
- Your insurance card or your agent's number
Paperwork in hand?
Start the quiz at the top, fill out the credit application, or call (509) 765-4517 for the finance team.
Visit Bud Clary Toyota of Moses Lake
Bud Clary Toyota of Moses Lake12056 N Frontage Rd East
Moses Lake, WA 98837
Sales
- Mon - Fri
- 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Saturday
- 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Sunday
- 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Service
- Mon - Fri
- 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Saturday
- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Frequently asked questions
How long after Chapter 7 can I buy a car?
Once the discharge is entered, you can apply; bring the order. There's no universal waiting period, since that's each lender's choice.
Can you get a car loan before a Chapter 7 discharge?
Check with your bankruptcy attorney before you sign for anything while the case is open. Most lenders will want to see the discharge.
Can I buy a car while in Chapter 13 in Moses Lake?
Possibly, with the trustee and the court in the picture. Chapter 13 filers are told by U.S. Courts to consult the trustee before borrowing, and the Eastern District's Local Bankruptcy Rule 2083-1 adds a notice filed with the court.
How many years after bankruptcy can you get a car loan?
There's no fixed number; it depends on the lender. A bankruptcy can appear on credit reports for a decade, so expect lenders to ask about it.
Are there dealerships in Moses Lake that work with bankruptcy?
Bud Clary Toyota of Moses Lake is one. Whether your case is closed or your Chapter 13 is still running, our finance team will take the application and send it to lenders open to a bankruptcy on file. Lenders decide; approval isn't guaranteed.
What is a reaffirmation agreement?
A signed promise to keep paying a debt that Chapter 7 would otherwise cancel, commonly a car loan. It has real legal consequences, so decide it with your bankruptcy attorney.
Does the Fresh Start Finance Program tie into the bankruptcy process?
No. Bankruptcy law talks about a fresh start, but here the phrase is only the name Bud Clary Toyota of Moses Lake gives its approach to credit-challenged applications. It plays no part in your case and doesn't replace your attorney.
Related pages
The Fresh Start Finance Program is Bud Clary Toyota of Moses Lake's name for how our finance team handles applications from buyers with bad credit, no credit or a past bankruptcy. Financing comes from outside lenders, which decide approval and terms, and approval isn't guaranteed. This page is general information, not legal advice. A negotiable documentary service fee of up to $200 may be added to the sale price.