EZ Credit: Auto Financing for All Credit Situations

EZ Credit is the subprime and credit-rebuilding auto financing program operated at our Rimrock Subaru location in Billings, Montana. It serves credit-challenged buyers across our entire five-rooftop network: Rimrock Subaru in Billings, the Rimrock Snowy Mountains Chevrolet, CDJR, and Ford stores in Lewistown, and Nissan of Stockton in California. You do not have to buy a Subaru to use EZ Credit. The program routes your application through multiple third-party lenders to find a financing offer that fits your credit profile, your income, and the vehicle you want from our network inventory.

This page explains exactly how the program works, what to expect, and what to bring. We aim to be specific where most dealer sites are vague, because credit-challenged buyers have heard too many promises that did not hold up. If you have any credit challenge, from a 500 score to a recent bankruptcy discharge to no credit history at all, this page is written for you.

Who EZ Credit Is For

EZ Credit is built around five specific buyer profiles:

• First-time buyers. Young adults, recent immigrants, and anyone with a thin credit file who has never financed a vehicle. The program works with lenders that accept limited credit history when paired with stable income.
• Recent bankruptcy discharge. Chapter 7 buyers post-discharge (typically 30+ days out) and Chapter 13 buyers with court approval. We work with lenders that specialize in post-bankruptcy auto loans.
• Credit damaged by divorce or medical debt. Two of the most common reasons people in their 30s-50s have damaged credit through no fault of their own. Lenders we work with understand these patterns and weight them appropriately against current income.
• Credit invisibility. No recent active accounts in 12+ months. Different from a low score; you do not have a score because the bureaus have nothing recent to report on. EZ Credit-friendly lenders include credit-invisible programs.
• Rebuilding after past credit events. Any history of charge-offs, repossessions, or collections that have aged but not fully resolved. The further past the event, the better the rate; EZ Credit can work with events as recent as 6 months.

EZ Credit is NOT a guarantee of approval. Some applications still get declined because the combination of credit profile, income, debt-to-income ratio, or vehicle does not work for any lender in our network. We tell you that upfront rather than dragging out a process that will not end in approval.

How the Application Process Works

The end-to-end process typically takes 30 to 90 minutes for an initial application and approval decision. Same-day drive-off is common when paperwork comes together quickly.

1. Initial contact. Reach out by phone to Rimrock Subaru at 406-743-1617 and ask for the EZ Credit team, or use our contact form. Tell us what you are looking for in a vehicle (size, brand if you have a preference, target monthly payment range). We give you a sense of whether EZ Credit is a fit before you commit time to the full application.
2. Pre-qualification. A soft credit pull (does NOT impact your credit score) tells us which lenders are likely to approve you and at what rate range. This step is free and takes about 15 minutes online or by phone.
3. Vehicle selection. We help you identify vehicles in our network inventory that fit your approved loan amount, monthly payment target, and credit-rebuilding strategy. This step matters: buying the wrong vehicle can make a good loan fail.
4. Formal application. Hard credit pull, full application submitted to the matched lender. This step impacts your credit score by 5-10 points temporarily. Most hard pulls clear within 90 days.
5. Approval decision. Typically within 1-4 hours during business hours. The lender returns an approval with specific terms: rate, term length, down payment requirement, any stipulations.
6. Document signing and delivery. Once you accept the terms, sign the contract, complete any stipulations (proof of income, proof of insurance, references), and take delivery. Most buyers drive home in the vehicle the same day.

Throughout the process, you have the right to walk away. We do not pressure you to accept a loan offer that does not work for your budget. If approval comes back at a rate or payment that does not fit, we either source a different lender, adjust the vehicle selection, or honestly tell you that more credit repair is needed before this is the right time.

What to Bring

Having complete documentation ready cuts the application time roughly in half. Bring or be ready to provide:

• Valid government-issued ID. Driver's license, state ID, or passport.
• Proof of income. Two most recent pay stubs for W-2 employees. For self-employed: 2 most recent tax returns plus 3 months of bank statements. For gig-economy income: 3 months of statements from each platform.
• Proof of residence. Recent utility bill, lease agreement, or mortgage statement showing your current address.
• References. 3-5 personal references with names, relationships, phone numbers, and addresses. Most subprime lenders require these.
• Insurance information. Your current auto insurance company and policy number (if you have current coverage). Required at delivery; not required at application.
• Down payment. Cash, debit card, certified check, or wire transfer. The required amount depends on your approval; budget for 10-20% of the vehicle price.
• Trade-in vehicle and title. If trading in, bring the vehicle, its title (or a payoff statement if you still owe), and your current registration.

What Approval Looks Like by Credit Range

Honest expectations matter more than glossy marketing. Approximate ranges, with the caveat that every individual case varies:

• 620 and above (non-prime): Strong approval odds, multiple lender offers, rates typically 9-14% APR. EZ Credit is overkill at this level; standard dealer financing usually works.
• 580-619 (subprime entry): Solid approval odds, 1-3 lender offers, rates typically 13-17% APR, down payment of 5-15% expected.
• 500-579 (subprime): Reasonable approval odds with the right vehicle, 1-2 lender offers, rates typically 17-21% APR, down payment of 10-20% expected, often with stipulations like income verification or starter-interruptor device.
• Below 500 (deep subprime): Approval is harder. May require co-signer, larger down payment (20%+), and vehicle restrictions. Rates 19-23% APR. Many cases here are better served by 60-90 days of focused credit repair before applying.
• No credit / credit invisible: Approval is possible with proof of stable income (12+ months at current job is typical minimum) and a 10-15% down payment. Rates depend on the lender's first-time buyer program; 12-18% APR is common.

The rates above include the lender's risk pricing, not a markup we add. We are paid by the lender when the loan funds; we do not have an incentive to inflate your rate.

Vehicle Selection Under EZ Credit

Not every vehicle in our inventory qualifies for EZ Credit financing. Subprime lenders impose restrictions to protect themselves against rapid depreciation and reconditioning risk. Typical restrictions:

• Vehicle age: Most lenders cap at 10 model years old for subprime loans. A 2016 model is approvable in 2026; a 2014 may not be.
• Mileage: Most subprime loans require under 100,000 miles. Some lenders extend to 125,000 for specific buyer profiles.
• Vehicle price: Subprime lenders often cap loan-to-value at 110-130% of book value. Vehicles priced significantly above retail book do not qualify.
• Vehicle type: Standard sedans, SUVs, and pickups are easiest. Exotic vehicles, high-mileage commercial vehicles, and salvage-title vehicles typically do not qualify.

Our most subprime-friendly inventory includes used Subaru Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek at Rimrock Subaru; used Nissan Sentra, Versa, Altima, and Rogue at Nissan of Stockton; and used Chevrolet, Ford, and CDJR sedans and SUVs at the Snowy Mountains campus. Browse our value used inventory for vehicles typically in the EZ Credit-friendly range.

After Your Loan: Credit Building and Refinance

An EZ Credit loan is a starting point, not an endpoint. We structure the program so that every loan reports to all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). On-time payments build your credit score over time, often opening refinance opportunities 12-18 months in.

For deeper coverage of credit repair strategies, refinance timing, and how to graduate from subprime to prime borrowing, see our full guide on bad credit car loans.

Get Started With EZ Credit

Three ways to start:

• Phone: Call Rimrock Subaru at 406-743-1617 and ask for the EZ Credit team. Best for direct conversation about your situation.
• Contact form: Send us a message with your vehicle interest and a brief note about your credit situation. We respond within one business day.
• In person: Visit Rimrock Subaru at 324 S 24th St W, Billings, MT 59102 during business hours. No appointment required, but calling ahead is faster.

If you live in California and are considering financing through Nissan of Stockton, contact that location directly at 209-307-9260 for subprime and first-time buyer programs. EZ Credit-style financing is available through our Stockton location as well; the operational headquarters of the program is at Rimrock Subaru, but the financing options apply network-wide.

EZ Credit approval is subject to lender criteria and is not guaranteed. Rates, terms, and required down payments vary by credit profile, income, debt-to-income ratio, vehicle selected, and other factors. The program is operated through third-party lenders; Rimrock Subaru and the ez.car dealer network are not direct lenders. All loans are subject to credit approval and may include stipulations such as proof of income, proof of residence, or starter-interruptor device installation.