Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH) dealerships are a type of auto dealership that offer in-house financing to customers faced with low credit scores or no credit at all. Unlike traditional auto dealerships, BHPH dealerships act as both the seller of the vehicle and the lender, allowing customers to purchase a vehicle and make payments directly to the dealership. This model is often seen as an attractive option for individuals who are unable to secure financing through traditional means. For those with poor credit or no credit, securing a loan from a bank or other financial institution can be challenging. BHPH dealerships offer an alternative option, allowing individuals to purchase a vehicle and make payments directly to the dealership.

Car Credit, a Tampa Bay BHPH, guarantees credit to their customers, allowing many people to purchase a vehicle despite their financial hardships.

The Advantages of Buy Here Pay Here Dealerships
One of the main advantages of BHPH dealerships is that they provide access to transportation for individuals who may otherwise be unable to purchase a vehicle. Let’s face it – we all rely on a car for employment and daily life activities. Without a reliable mode of transportation, individuals struggle to get to work, attend appointments, or take care of their families. BHPH dealerships play a vital role in ensuring that individuals have the means to get where they need to go.

Interest rates are typically higher in these dealerships, which means that customers pay more for their vehicle over time. Still, if you do not have access to other financing, it is a game changer for you and your family to have a car. Car Credit offers a quick and convenient financing process, as they do not require customers to go through a third-party lender. At Car Credit, our bilingual sales associates can help you find a vehicle that will fit your family’s needs at a payment you can afford.

Creating Jobs & Fueling Local Economies.

A strongly positive aspect BHPH dealerships have on local economies is job creation. Dealerships employ a large number of staff members, including salespeople, finance managers, and service technicians. This helps stimulate economic growth and provide employment opportunities in the local community.

Car Credit operates four dealerships throughout the Tampa Bay area, employing close to 40 people.  Their diverse team is known for their commitment to the company and the causes they support, and they also have established a profit-sharing program that benefits all employees. In the end, for Car Credit owner, Steve Cuculich, it’s about who you choose to surround yourself with and how you want to make an impact. “Good people attract good people. We take pride in that most people we hire are actual friends or referrals of people who work here,” he says.

BHPH dealerships generate tax revenue for local governments. As these dealerships sell vehicles and provide financing services, they are subject to sales taxes and other fees. This revenue can be used to fund public services and infrastructure projects in the community.

BHPH dealerships also have a positive impact on local businesses. When individuals are able to purchase a vehicle through a BHPH dealership, they are more likely to be gainfully employed, patronizing local businesses and contributing to the local economy.

Putting People on the Road to the American Dream
BHPH dealerships can be a lifeline for low-income and, particularly, immigrant communities. These communities often have limited access to traditional financing options, making it difficult for residents to purchase a vehicle. BHPH dealerships provide an opportunity for individuals in these communities to obtain reliable transportation, which makes a positive impact on their quality of life.

Car Credit is committed to ethical lending practices. At Car Credit, our customers always get transparent information about interest rates, fees, and repayment terms. With today’s volatile economy, more individuals face financial challenges and struggle to obtain traditional financing, increasing the demand for established, reputable BHPH dealerships like Car Credit.

This holds especially true for Car Credit’s usual customers: recently arrived immigrants. Seeing up close the many challenges immigrants face, the company decided, with Steve at the helm, that they wanted to do more. “We’re not just selling cars. We’re furthering someone’s education and their ability to go forward in life,” says Cuculich. “We’re in the community,  constantly looking for ways to be there for them.”

Car Credit’s Community Commitment

Making a positive impact is at the core of Car Credit’s business philosophy. Owner, Steve Cuculich, has not forgotten the challenges he faced at a young age. After his father died, he and his brother and their mom didn’t have much, and financial insecurity was a constant. Looking back at the struggle made him realize how important a dependable vehicle is, especially for families. “A car in Florida is a necessity, not a luxury,” says Cuculich. “It’s a simple formula: If your car doesn’t work because somebody sold you a bad car, they made their money on you. You can’t afford to fix it, so you can’t go to work and you’re unable to support your family. That’s something that we really want to avoid.”

Referencing his childhood hardships, Cuculich says “Along the way, there were so many good people who were ready to lend a hand. It’s impossible to forget them; it puts a soft spot in your heart. “Working hard for everything I’ve achieved has probably made me appreciate life and what I can do for others a bit more. It’s impossible to forget where you came from.”

Cuculich puts his money where his mouth is, most notably through his two signature programs: Corazones de Car Credit and Nuevo en-US.

Created in 2010, the Corazones de Car Credit program has made a donation to a local Tampa Bay area charitable organization every month, recognizing their work helping people who are new to the country. From schools and food banks to women’s empowerment programs and local soccer leagues, the reach of the program can be felt across the Tampa community.

Cuculich’s nonprofit, Nuevo en-US (www.nuevoenus.org) was formed to assist and empower those who just moved to the country as well as the nonprofits who work to assist them. By connecting newly-arrived immigrants to resources such as schools, churches, hospitals, legal help, and community organizations, they offer them a helping hand to families who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

Through these programs, Cuculich hopes to make their new lives a little bit easier. “I really think immigrants are the future of the country,” he says. “They really put themselves out to come here. If you can help them, think about what you’re doing for their future and the country. Hopefully, they’ll remember and will pay it forward to help somebody else.”

His philanthropic work has also permeated into his BHPH car business. “We’re not dollar motivated, we’re people motivated,” says Cuculich. And it’s not just words: Are you thinking of purchasing a used car? Visit www.carcredittampa.com and find a quality vehicle you can trust. With its two-year limited maintenance agreement, you can depend on your car and the service Car Credit provides even beyond your purchase.