# Bad-credit car options compared (2026)

> The realistic ways to get a car with bad credit in the UK compared, short-term hire, guarantor deals, buying a cheap car outright, and subscription, with…

Source: https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/guides/bad-credit-car-options-compared

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# Bad-credit car options compared (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 4 min read

**With bad credit, the realistic ways to get a car are: short-term hire assessed on affordability, a guarantor arrangement, buying a cheap car outright, or a car subscription. Short-term hire is usually the easiest to be approved for and needs no credit check to quote; buying outright avoids agreements but ties up cash in an older car.**

## Why finance is the hard route with bad credit

- [default or CCJ](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/car-and-van-hire-after-a-ccj-or-default)
- [past IVA](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/car-and-van-hire-after-bankruptcy-or-iva)
- [no credit check](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/no-credit-check-vehicle-hire-quotes)
- [guarantor](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/guides/guarantor-car-and-van-hire-bad-credit)
- [car subscription](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/guides/car-subscription-vs-leasing-vs-pcp)
- [Check your options](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/apply)
- [Check my options →](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/apply?niche=bad-credit)
- [No & low deposit](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/hire/no-deposit)
- [Pay-monthly car hire](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/hire/pay-monthly-car-hire)
- [Bad-credit van hire](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/hire/bad-credit-van-hire)
- [How to rent a car with bad credit (UK, 2026)](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/guides/how-to-rent-a-car-with-bad-credit)
- [Guarantor car & van hire with bad credit](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/guides/guarantor-car-and-van-hire-bad-credit)
- [Does car leasing affect your credit score?](https://fasttrackleasing.co.uk/guides/does-car-leasing-affect-your-credit-score)