Fall is finally upon us and that means students are getting ready to head back to school for the year. For a college student, having the means to travel has always been important. It’s also a lesson in the importance of a credit score so that you can get a good car loan. Getting yourself a credit history can be very difficult according to The Christian Science Monitor. Lenders tend to be very cautious with new applicants. For those applying the first time, they have some tips to stay ahead of the curve.

The first tip is to start slowly. That means to not go crazy on applying for credit. An influx of too many applications can seem like to a lender that you’re too desperate for credit. It can really have a negative impact on your credit score.

Next is having a co-signer. A parent or a close relative can really give you a leg up on getting yourself a great rate. Be careful with this privilege however, because any that can happen on your end, such as missing payments, can come back and hurt the person who helped. Make sure you know what you’re getting into so that you don’t damage your own and your parent’s credit score.

The next two tips go hand in hand. You’ll want three lines of credit. In order for your file to be considered something other than too thin, you need at least three lines of credit. That being said, variety is also important. The algorithms that create your credit score like to see a difference in the kinds of accounts that you have. What that means is that credit cards are not the one-stop-shop of upping your credit score. Other things, such as a car loan, can also help.

Getting a head start on establishing a credit history goes a long way in life. It doesn’t take long for anyone once they really get started on their own to see how important that number is. Using these tips, you can be prepared and when the time comes to purchase your vehicle, you get the best deal you can get.

Stop by Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge to finance a vehicle with us. We’re looking to help people with bad credit get themselves into the car they need. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more credit tips.

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