CarHop News

Hello Rochester, Minnesota!

We have great news for car buyers in Minnesota and the surrounding area – CarHop has just opened in Rochester! The new store opened its doors on the morning of January 23, and it is CarHop’s 9^th Minnesota-based store.

“We’ve been able to help change the lives of numerous Minnesotans by helping them drive, and getting them on the road to better credit,” Mike Anderson, VP of Sales said. “Being the third largest city in Minnesota, the new Rochester store only further increases our accessibility to those who need our services, allowing us to provide help to even more Minnesotans.”

If you live in or around the Rochester area and you need a car but lack the credit and financing, come on by! We’ll be happy to meet you, and we’ll be happy to help you.

“At CarHop, we take pride in lending a helping hand to people when they need it the most,” Store Manager Jordon Whitney said. “So we’re very excited to have the opportunity to extend that hand to Rochester citizens, and people in the surrounding area.”  

If you’d like to stop by, CarHop’s new store is located at 1503 Hwy 52 N, Rochester, Minnesota 55901. Or if you prefer, you may call the store at 507-322-4400, or apply online for financing today!

CarHop Opens Store in Greeley, Colorado

We’re proud to announce that CarHop has opened a new store in Greeley, Colorado! This is CarHop’s 4^th store in the Rocky Mountain State. Located on 10th Street, the Greeley store opened its doors on January 18^th, 2012. 

“The opportunity to reach out to new communities is always exciting,” District Manager Larry Anderson said. “This new CarHop store means that we can now offer people with credit issues who live in and around Greeley, a chance to drive, to improve their credit and to change their lives for the better.”

If you follow CarHop news, you may have noticed that we have opened a lot of stores lately. Expanding our services and making CarHop available in new towns and markets is all a part of the pursuit of our ongoing mission to help people drive!

“We’ve already been able to help change the lives of a lot of people in Colorado,” Store Manager Mark McNally said. “The opening of our new store in Greeley will only make our services more available to the people who need them.”

CarHop’s new store is located at 3803 West 10th Street, Greeley, Colorado 80634. If you live in the Greeley area and have been turned down for a car loan in the past, call the Greeley store at 970-373-2839 or apply online for financing today!

CarHop Opens 5th Chicagoland-Area Store

There’s no stopping CarHop’s ambition and growth. We now have stores in 13 states, and that’s a huge accomplishment! But it’s still important that we continue to expand our services within the states that already have CarHop stores. That’s why CarHop has opened its 5^th Chicagoland-area store in Chicago Heights, Illinois!

“People in the Chicago Heights area who have credit issues will now have an opportunity to get driving again,” District Manager Peter Desouza said. “And we will do everything we can to get them approved, provide customers with a chance to improve their credit and change their lives for the better.”

And that’s the whole point – to help people with credit issues get driving and on the road to better credit. And the more available we can make our services to those who need them, the better!

“I’m really excited about the new location,” Store Manager Jim Arvia said. “Chicago has really welcomed CarHop with open arms. The Chicago Heights store will help serve our customers’ needs by being in a more convenient location for people who live in that area of Chicago, and people who live near the border of Indiana and Illinois.”   

CarHop’s new store is located at 207 S. Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, Illinois 60411. If you’re in the area, stop by, or call 708-856-8024. We’d love to hear from you! 

CarHop Opens First California-Based Store

Look out California, here we come! We are proud to announce that on January 5^th, CarHop opened its first California-based store in Hayward, California. Now we can say that CarHop has stores in 13 states, wow! But what does that really mean? It means that we can help even more people drive!   

“We’re now in 13 states nationwide and very excited to be in California,” Mike Anderson, VP of Sales said. “And we’re really looking forward to offering our services to Hayward, Oakland, and the entire Bay area. Many customers tell us we change their lives and lend a hand when they need it the most. That is a tradition we are proud of and will never outgrow.”

Branching out into a new state is a huge milestone for CarHop. Ever since we opened our first store 16 years ago in Lincoln, Nebraska, CarHop has been committed to Helping People Drive. Expanding our services by opening stores in new markets and new states allows CarHop to continue its pursuit of that mission.

“It’s really great that we have the opportunity to offer our program to a new market,” District Manager Bea Swanson said. “We can’t wait to show people who we are, and how we can help them drive! We’ll do everything we can to get them approved, provide customers with a chance to improve their credit, and change their lives for the better.”

Our new store is located at 22220 Mission Blvd, Hayward, California 94541. So if you live in the area, why not stop by? We’d love to meet you! Or if you want to chat and see what we’re all about, call the Hayward store at 510-931-4445.

CarHop Opens 4th Chicagoland-Area Store

CarHop Moves to New Space in Kansas City

When the CarHop crew saw an opportunity to move our Kansas City, Missouri store into a newly renovated and more centrally-located building in the city, there was only one thing to say – “Let’s do it.” So on Friday, July 29th, the Kansas City team moved into the new building at Bannister Rd. and Troost Ave., and they couldn’t be happier with the new digs.

“This new space is just a perfect fit for us, so we’re really excited,” District Manager Jeff Hofer said. “Due to its location, it will provide easier access for customers and we’ll get to keep serving the great people here in Kansas City.”

Along with the recent renovations to the building that should make for a more inviting customer environment, the Kansas City team is enthusiastic about the move for another important reason – the new store location will allow CarHop to continue Helping People Drive throughout all of Kansas City.

“Even though we’re moving, we will still proudly continue to serve the people of Kansas City with honesty, fairness and respect,” Store Manager Jeremy Cowgill said. “We’ll also remain within the market for all of our South-town customers, and we hope the new location will increase our reach further into the surrounding community as well.”

As one of the nation’s third largest auto sales and finance dealers, CarHop focuses on helping car buyers with poor or no credit get approval for auto financing when they have been turned down for loans by banks or traditional car dealers.

CarHop’s new Kansas City store is located at 1115 E. Bannister Rd., Kansas City, MO 64131. Call 1-800-600-7013 to set up an appointment or stop in and see them in person today!

CarHop Replaces Customer Vehicles Damaged by Joplin Tornado

In the wake of the devastation caused by the tornado that hit Joplin, MO on May 22, CarHop is helping customers in Joplin rebuild their lives by replacing vehicles damaged in the disaster. To further help the community in Joplin, CarHop is donating $5,000 to the American Red Cross to aid in relief efforts.

“With all that has happened here in Joplin, our highest priority is ensuring that our customers are taken care of,” Store Manager Jared Harnar said. “In a time like this, the last thing a person should need to worry about is their vehicle. We just hope our efforts can ease that burden a bit.”

Although CarHop’s Joplin store, which opened in 2008, narrowly avoided damage itself, many customers and employees were affected by the disaster. As a company that strives to put its customers first, CarHop—whose mission is “Helping People Drive!®”—is focused on “Helping Joplin Drive” as the community recovers.

“The Joplin community is really coming together which is especially important in times like these,” District Manager Jeff Hofer said. “We want to do everything we can to focus even more on helping our customers when they need it the most.”

For CarHop customers in need of assistance, please call the Joplin location at 417-623-0828. For more information about CarHop, please visit www.carhop.com.

CarHop Opens Fifth Washington-Area Store in Bremerton, WA

We are extremely excited to announce the Grand Opening of our newest store location, which opened in Bremerton, Washington on May 27. CarHop now has 47 stores across 12 states and the Bremerton location is CarHop's fifth Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area store.

At CarHop, we focus on helping car buyers with poor or no credit get approval for auto financing when they have been turned down for loans by banks or traditional car dealers. In pursuing our mission of “Helping People Drive,” we have already opened successful stores in 12 states across the U.S. and, as the fifth Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area store, the Bremerton location will strengthen an already prominent CarHop presence in the state of Washington.

“We are so excited to be expanding our business to the peninsula,” District Manager Bea Swanson said. “There is just such a great opportunity to help people drive in the Bremerton area.”

Unlike new car dealerships, which cater to customers with high credit scores who are able to handle high monthly payments, CarHop offers same-day financing decisions with little down and low monthly payments. And, unlike many lower-end used car lots and buy here, pay here locations which sell cars “as is,” we include an 18-month, 18,000 mile limited warranty on all of our vehicles.

“It’s great to know we’ll be giving the people of Bremerton a chance to own and drive their own vehicles even if they have less than perfect credit,” Store Manager Jason Foss said. “On top of that, we’re in a great location for our customers. It just feels good knowing we’ll be helping people drive every single day here.”

CarHop’s Bremerton store is located at 6001 Auto Center Way, Bremerton, WA, 98312. If you're in the area, stop in and say hi!

CarHop Opens New Store in Irving, TX

At CarHop, we’re celebrating the Grand Opening of our fifth Dallas-Ft. Worth-area store in Irving, Texas which opened on May 18th. CarHop now has 46 stores across 12 states and we really couldn’t be more excited.

The Irving store helps us bolster an already passionate and energized CarHop presence in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and it allows us to further pursue our mission of “helping people drive.”

“Opening another store in this area means we will be able to continue helping even more great customers who deserve a vehicle they can afford,” District Manager Jerri Greer said. “So many of our customers have overcome credit issues and have even been able to improve their credit through CarHop, so we’re excited to provide that opportunity to the folks in Irving.”

Unlike new car dealerships, which cater to customers with high credit scores who are able to handle high monthly payments, CarHop offers same-day financing decisions with little down and low monthly payments. And, unlike many lower-end used car lots and on the spot financing locations which sell cars “as is,” CarHop includes an 18-month, 18,000 mile limited warranty on all of its vehicles. Most importantly, as we like to tell our customers, “nobody works harder to get you approved!”

“One of the things I’m most excited about is helping people find a car that fits their needs and their budgets,” Manager-in-Training Alex Schormann said. “Our excellent program combined with our convenient location in Irving should make us a great fit here.”

CarHop’s Irving store is located at 601 N. Belt Line Dr., Irving, TX, 75061 between the Irving Mall and the Lone Star Park Race Track.

CarHop Opens New Store in Portland, Oregon

For the second time in the past week, CarHop is celebrating the Grand Opening of a new store. Our new Portland, Oregon location opened on March 31, making it our first store in Oregon, which means CarHop now serves customers in 12 states and 45 stores across the U.S.

The Portland location will provide a passionate and energized CarHop presence in the state of Oregon and, as always, it will allow CarHop to continue pursuing its mission of “helping people drive.”

“I’m excited to be opening our landmark store here in Oregon, especially with the great team we’ve assembled,” District Manager Bea Swanson said. “CarHop just continues to grow and it is a privilege to help people drive in a great state like Oregon.”

Helping our customers is always a priority, which makes the opportunity of this new location so exciting.

“In this economy, it’s wonderful that our unique program can help people who might not otherwise have a chance to finance a car in this area,” Swanson said. “On top of that, our store is centrally located in Portland to make it easy for customers to stop by and see us.”

CarHop’s Portland store is located at 8555 SE 82nd Ave.  CarHop is in its 15th-year of "Helping People Drive®" and helping change the lives of its customers.

CarHop Opens New Store in Duluth, Minnesota

We celebrated the Grand Opening of our new store in Duluth, Minnesota, on Friday, March 25. The Duluth location is our 8th store to open in Minnesota. CarHop now has 44 stores open nationwide, which is very exciting.

Having already opened stores across 11 states in the U.S., our new Duluth location will further strengthen the CarHop presence in Minnesota and will let us continue to pursue our mission of "Helping People Drive."

"We are truly excited to be opening a new CarHop store in Duluth," CarHop District Manager Lee Schwierjohann said. "Helping so many people overcome credit issues and getting them driving again feels great, and we're happy to provide that opportunity now in Duluth."

And Lee isn’t the only person excited to be helping people.

"What we do for our customers here at CarHop is amazing and it's great that we will be able to serve even more car buyers," Duluth Store Manager Mickey Peterson said.  "We know that CarHop says yes when others say no, and we’re excited to prove that to our customers here in Duluth."

Unlike new car dealerships, which cater to customers with high credit scores who are able to handle high monthly payments, CarHop offers same-day financing decisions with little down and low monthly payments. And, unlike many lower-end used car lots which sell cars "as is," CarHop includes an 18-month, 18,000 mile limited warranty on all of their vehicles.

Our new Duluth store is located at 328 E Central Entrance, Duluth, MN, 55811. CarHop is in its 15th-year of "Helping People Drive®" and helping change the lives of its customers.

Why Good Credit Matters (and How CarHop Can Help)

If you’ve ever struggled with credit issues, you know bad credit can be a major burden in life. Whether you hope to own a home, want to be able to buy nice things or need to get a new car, bad credit can keep you from doing those things. Here are some reasons why good credit matters and how auto sales and finance dealers like CarHop can help you fix your bad credit.

Many people who struggle with credit issues find it very hard to get over the challenges they face. Because many major purchases depend on a good credit history, bad credit can keep people from buying the things they need and want in life. This is why good credit can be so important.

Without good credit, it is almost impossible to buy a home or purchase major electronic equipment (such as TVs, stereos, computers, etc.). Bad credit can also be keeping you from getting a better job. Finally, credit issues can keep you from getting a vehicle – no matter how badly you might need one.

Luckily, getting a vehicle from CarHop can actually help you improve your credit. CarHop report your credit score to all three national credit bureaus monthly. Each of these payments helps show that you deserve good credit. Consistency is key when it comes to rebuilding credit, and unlike many buy here, pay here dealers, CarHop promises to report your credit.

Although buying your vehicle through CarHop won’t fix your credit overnight, it can be a way for you to get driving again fast while also helping to improve your bad credit. Of course, improving your credit will take dedication, time and good financial decision-making until it is back in order.

As you can see, good credit is important for a variety of reasons. If you are in need of a new vehicle and suffer from bad credit, consider CarHop, where nobody works harder to get you approved®! Although payments on a CarHop vehicle are only one way to help get your credit score better, they can certainly be helpful and can make a big difference in your financial future.

Tips To Help You Get Approved for Used Car Financing

When it comes to getting approved for used car financing, many car buyers are unprepared for what they will need to have with them in order to get the approval they are hoping for. With CarHop, most car buyers can be approved for financing, even when they have poor credit or no credit at all. But in order to make the application process even smoother and faster, CarHop customers can take certain steps to be prepared.

In some cases, simply knowing what to bring and having it ready during the application process can help you get approved in just an hour. Here are some tips that should help you cover your bases and get you approved fast for used car financing.

• Have your driver’s license with you. By having your driver’s license with you when you go in to apply, the CarHop crew can easily verify that you are who you say you are.

• Bring a recent pay stub or proof of income. Like most “buy here, pay here” dealers, CarHop needs to see proof that you are making a consistent income so we know that you’ll be able to keep up with your payments.

• Have a cash down payment and/or trade title ready. Almost every used car sold will need a down payment of some sort, so having an appropriate amount ready before going in to buy your car will make the process a much smoother one.

• Bring a recent phone or utility bill. Having a recent bill with you will show the folks at CarHop that you really do live at the residence you claim to be living at, which is important when applying for auto financing.

• Have proof of a bank account. If you have a bank account, bringing proof of that bank account will help the process go faster.

• Have 12 references ready. Even if you have poor credit or no credit at all, having 12 references of friends and family can serve as a type of character check in place of a credit check.

Overall, these are just a few of the steps you can take to help the used car financing process go more smoothly and efficiently. Remember: the more prepared you are, the faster it will go, and Nobody Works Harder To Get You Approved® than CarHop!

Celebrating 15 Years of Helping People Drive!

Throughout 2011 CarHop is celebrating an exciting milestone – our 15th Anniversary. Since selling our first car on February 15, 1996, CarHop has grown both in numbers and in the impact we’ve had on our customers, our communities and our own team.

Since opening our first, little lot in Lincoln, Nebraska, CarHop continues to open new stores across the United States. Even more inspiring is the fact that we continue to add new, excited employees to the hundreds of energetic and passionate CarHop employees already working hard and Helping People Drive® every day. Oh, and did we mention the thousands and thousands of overjoyed customers who prove how hard CarHop works to help people drive and make their dreams of owning a car come true?

Needless to say, we don’t plan on slowing down. With innovative improvements like a new mobile website to better serve customers and a steadily expanding reach nationwide, CarHop continues to provide an unmatched service for our customers.

We’re proud to celebrate our 15th Anniversary and we look forward to the next 15 years and beyond. Thanks everyone!

How Can You Get A Car With Bad Credit?

For many hardworking men and women, bad credit can have a bad effect on your life. No matter the reasons, bad credit can add stress and difficulty to an already stressful financial situation. And for some people, bad credit makes getting a new vehicle very difficult. Here are some reasons people develop bad credit and some ways you can get a vehicle, even if your credit is less than perfect.

Here are just a few common causes of bad credit:

• Job Loss – Losing your job and needing to pay expenses with a credit card can be one of the easiest ways for bad credit to build up.
• Divorce – A divorce may leave you stuck with legal fees, housing you cannot afford, or being stuck with your ex's bills or debt.
• Illness, Accident or Death – Whether you yourself are sick or in an accident, or there is a death in the family, having to pay large bills at an unexpected time can really hit your credit score hard.
• Bad Spending – Sometimes people just spend too much. Whether it's shopping (clothes, computers, TVs, etc.) or other poor spending decisions, bad credit can sneak up on anyone.

So once you've fallen into a hole of bad credit, how can you get yourself out to buy a new car? To get a new job or to get to work, people need a vehicle for transportation. But to get a new vehicle, credit problems can be difficult to overcome. For many people, this can be a difficult circle to get out of.

One solution is to get a new car through an auto sales and finance dealer such as CarHop. CarHop specializes in automobile financing for people who are suffering from bad credit or have never established any credit at all.

Not only does CarHop give customers with poor credit a chance at getting the used vehicle they need, but CarHop also helps them build their credit score back up by reporting consistent payments and making a commitment to see customers succeed.

It is always important to research your options before buying a vehicle, but if you are struggling with poor credit or no credit at all,  an auto sales and finance dealer like CarHop may be your best option. Not only does CarHop offer fair payments, but we also include an 18-month, 18,000 mile limited warranty to go with your new used vehicle.

So keep CarHop in mind if you are looking for a vehicle and have less-than-perfect credit. We might just be the answer you're looking for.

CarHop Teams Up With NetSpend

CarHop is pleased to announce that it has teamed up with NetSpend, offering NetSpend® Visa® Prepaid Cards to bring customers a convenient alternative to cash, credit cards and traditional banks.  Millions of people believe in NetSpend prepaid cards because they empower consumers to make purchases and pay bills without the need for a traditional bank account or credit history.  Here’s why you should order a personalized card today:

• Convenience: Pay bills without the hassle of money orders or cash.  Stop standing in line and spending money on money orders or cash payment services.
• Control Spending: Spend only what you load on the card – so there is no overspending or worrying about overdraft fees or credit card debt.
• Faster Access to Funds: Get paid up to two days faster with FREE Direct Deposit.¹

No credit check is required to get a card.²

Click here to order a personalized prepaid card today.

1. Faster access to funds is based on comparison of traditional banking policies versus electronic direct deposit.
2. The USA PATRIOT Act is a Federal law that requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.  During card activation, you will be asked to provide additional information that will allow you to be identified, such as your date of birth and Social Security number.  You may also be asked to provide documentation and proof of identification.
NetSpend® Visa® Prepaid Cards are issued by MetaBank™, members FDIC; please see back of your card for its issuing bank.  NetSpend is an authorized Independent Sales Organization of MetaBank.  Use of card subject to funds availability.  Transaction fees, terms and conditions apply.  See Cardholder Agreement for complete details. 

More Consumers Labeled as High Credit Risks

The number of Americans in the lowest credit-score categories has risen by 2.4 million in the past two years, according to a report by The Associated Press on data from credit-score firm Fair Isaac. Some 25.5% of U.S. consumers — nearly 43.4 million people — score 599 or lower on the 300-to-850 credit scale; a score below 600 indicates a poor credit risk.

Breaking the Cash Car Cycle

Considering buying a used car for cash?  Looking for a better vehicle than you have now, but don’t believe you have the cash or credit to achieve it?  Here are a few key questions to help you break the cash car cycle.

Who is responsible for the repairs?

Vehicles purchased for cash are commonly sold “as is” and instantly shift full responsibility from the seller to the buyer of the vehicle, including any and all repairs.  For example, if a vehicle purchased “as is” breaks down five minutes after purchase, the seller would have no legal responsibility to take the vehicle back or assist in repair costs unless the vehicle included a warranty or a guarantee of some kind.

Ask Yourself:  How soon until your current (or next) used vehicle needs repairs?  Who is responsible for paying for those repairs?

Solution:  Make sure the vehicle you purchase includes written warranty covering the more expensive repairs and/or guarantees the vehicle for at least a couple days after purchase. 

How can I improve my quality of vehicle?

When you buy a vehicle for cash, the vehicle is only as good as the amount of money you have at that moment.  When that vehicle breaks down, the next vehicle you buy is only as good as the amount of money you have at that moment…and the cycle continues.

Ask Yourself:  How do I get a better vehicle?  Since I can’t know when my vehicle will break down, how will I have the cash I need to buy a better vehicle?

Solution:  Apply for a vehicle loan.  By making smaller payments over time, you may be able to purchase a better vehicle than you can with cash alone. 

What if I can’t get approved?

What if I can’t get approved for a vehicle loan because I have bad credit (or no credit)?
Perhaps you are going to the wrong type of auto dealerships.  Most auto dealerships specialize in financing only people who have strong credit, but there are options that can help you get approved.

Ask Yourself:  Have I gone to the wrong dealerships?  Have I given up on (or avoided) getting a loan because of my visits to a few dealerships?

Solution:  There are dealerships that specialize in working with people who have credit issues.  Search on the internet for search words such as “bad credit auto loan” to find resources that can help you.  You may also be able to trade in your current vehicle to help you get approved.

How can I improve my credit and get a vehicle at the same time?

Buying a vehicle for cash provides no opportunity to build your credit and will most likely cause the issues above to continue with each vehicle you purchase. 

Ask Yourself:  Do I want to improve my credit?  What would I be willing to do to improve my credit and break the cash car cycle?  

Solution:  As long as the car loan you take has payments that fit in your budget, financing a vehicle will provide you a great opportunity to improve your credit.  If you can, find a company that reports the payments you make to the credit bureaus. This ensures that every vehicle payment you make also helps to boost your credit score.

If the questions above fit with your car buying experiences, consider the solutions offered in this article to help you improve your vehicle and your credit so you can break the cash car cycle.