Fresh Start
Life happens. We make it easy to get back on track.
Damaged credit, a no from another lender, or a pricey loan to get out of: start with the main program page.
Fresh Start Finance Program
Bankruptcy Doesn't Have to Mean No Car.
Coming out of a Chapter 7, or still making Chapter 13 plan payments? Westlie Ford in Washougal can help you shop again. The court papers set the order of things, and our finance office will help you gather them.
Match your paperwork to your case
| Case | Lenders usually want | Talk to |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7, discharged | The discharge order. U.S. Courts says the discharge generally lands 60 to 90 days after the creditors' meeting is first scheduled to take place. | Our finance office |
| Chapter 7, not discharged | Usually the discharge. Ask your attorney before taking on new credit. | Your bankruptcy attorney |
| Chapter 13, ongoing | Written permission from the trustee or the court. U.S. Courts says a Chapter 13 debtor may not take on new debt without consulting the trustee. | Your attorney and trustee |
| Chapter 13, completed | The Chapter 13 discharge order | Our finance office |
General information, not legal advice. For anything about your own case, ask your bankruptcy attorney or trustee.
Clark County, Oregon filings and the Chapter 13 vehicle rule
Federal law (28 U.S.C. 128) places Clark County in Washington's Western District. Once a Chapter 13 plan there is confirmed, Local Bankruptcy Rule 3015-2 lets the debtor write to the trustee asking to finance a vehicle. Trustee approval means no separate court order; if the trustee says no, a motion to the court remains an option.
Filed in Portland or elsewhere in Oregon? Then Oregon's federal court handles your case under its own local rules, not LBR 3015-2, and your attorney can walk you through that court's process. Wherever you filed, expect lenders to ask to see that approval before any money moves.
Getting ready, step by step
Follow your attorney's advice first. These steps give a lender a fuller view.
- Locate your court documentsThe discharge order for a closed case, or a written OK from the trustee or the court for an open Chapter 13. Missing the order? Ask your attorney.
- Check your reportsGet them free from AnnualCreditReport.com and confirm your case's accounts are listed correctly. Federal law lets a bankruptcy be reported as long as a decade after the case begins (15 U.S.C. 1681c).
- List all your incomeWages from either side of the river, self-employment, Social Security, SSDI, a pension. Regulation B won't let a lender shortchange pension or part-time earnings because of their source, though the lender decides how much to rely on.
- Keep the loan modestSpend less, put cash down or trade in. If you're in Chapter 13, the trustee will want the new payment to sit comfortably beside your plan payment.
- Compare lenders quicklyThe CFPB says a burst of auto loan inquiries, all inside 14 to 45 days, is generally scored as one.
A bankruptcy is one line in the file
The CFPB's list of what lenders weigh still applies: your income, existing debts, how much you'd borrow, how large your down payment is next to the vehicle's market value, and whether you buy new or used.
There's no universal waiting period after a discharge; lenders set their own. Westlie Ford's finance office starts with the details of your case, then routes the application only to lenders that will look at a bankruptcy file. Approval isn't guaranteed.
Bankruptcy vocabulary
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Discharge | The court order that releases you from most debts in your case, so you no longer owe them personally (U.S. Courts). |
| Trustee | The person appointed to run the case. In Chapter 13, the trustee receives plan payments and must hear about new debt first. |
| Local rules | Each bankruptcy district's own procedures. Clark County's Chapter 13 vehicle rule is the Western District's LBR 3015-2; Oregon has its own court and rules. |
| Chapter 13 plan | Three to five years of payments under a court-confirmed plan, and you keep your property throughout (U.S. Courts). |
| Reaffirmation agreement | Agreeing to remain responsible for a debt, often a car loan, that a Chapter 7 would discharge. Decide with your attorney. |
How Westlie buyers describe us
★★★★★1,400+ five-star Google reviewsRead our Google reviews for Westlie Ford
“Very nice experience. Felt comfortable with the people I dealt with. All questions answered and all paperwork explained.”
Sue E., Google review, December 2022
“...Everyone was very patient, informative, and I never felt that they were giving me any less than honest feedback.”
Steve, Google review, October 2018
“...He took the time to answer my questions, explained everything clearly, and never made me feel pressured.”
Alyssa S., Google review, July 2026
Excerpts from 5-star Google reviews, quoted as written. Every buyer's situation is different, and lenders make every credit decision.
Pick a vehicle that keeps the plan on track
A used vehicle keeps the amount borrowed lower, and each one we sell has passed a 137-point inspection. It comes with its CARFAX history at no charge, a 3-day / 300-mile exchange policy, limited warranty coverage running 3 months or 3,000 miles, and two complimentary oil changes and two complimentary tire rotations (tire rotations only on an electric vehicle).
Browse used vehicles under $20,000 or have a look at the full used lineup.
More Westlie Ford guides
First-time buyers
No credit isn't bad credit. It's a starting point.
A file that's thin after a discharge reads much like a first-time buyer's. Here's what lenders weigh in that case.
Bring these to 40 South Marina Way
- Discharge order or, for an open Chapter 13, written sign-off from your trustee or the court
- Your case number and your attorney's contact details
- Driver's license, Washington or Oregon
- Pay stubs, benefits letters, or tax returns and 1099s
- Proof of address
- Insurance information
Paperwork ready?
Take the quiz above, apply online, or call (360) 834-2113 and our finance office will take it from there.
Visit Westlie Ford
Westlie Ford40 South Marina Way
Washougal, WA 98671
Sales
- Mon - Fri
- 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
- Saturday
- 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Sunday
- 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Service
- Mon - Fri
- 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
- Saturday
- 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Frequently asked questions
How soon can I get a car loan after a Chapter 7 discharge?
As soon as the court enters your discharge, you're free to apply, with the order in hand. Waiting periods, if any, are set by each lender.
Can I get a car before my Chapter 7 discharge?
Talk with your attorney first. Lenders generally want the discharge before they lend.
Can I finance a car during Chapter 13 in Clark County?
It's possible with the trustee's approval. U.S. Courts says Chapter 13 debtors must consult the trustee before new debt, and in Clark County's district, LBR 3015-2 lets you request permission in writing after your plan is confirmed.
I filed bankruptcy in Oregon. Does that change anything?
Your case is handled by Oregon's federal court and its rules, not the Western District's LBR 3015-2. Your attorney knows that court's steps for new debt during an open case, and you're still welcome to apply here.
How long will a bankruptcy show on my credit?
Federal law caps it at a decade, measured from the order for relief. Lenders may ask about it even years later, and each weighs it differently.
Does Westlie Ford work with buyers after bankruptcy?
Yes. Whether your case is closed or your Chapter 13 plan is still running, our finance office will take the application and route it to lenders that consider bankruptcies. Each lender decides, and approval isn't guaranteed.
Does my bankruptcy case have anything to do with Fresh Start?
No. 'Fresh start' is a phrase from bankruptcy law, but here it's just Westlie Ford's name for the way our finance office handles applications from credit-challenged buyers. It isn't part of your case, and it's no substitute for your attorney's advice.
Related pages
The Fresh Start Finance Program is Westlie Ford's name for how our finance team handles applications from buyers with bad credit, no credit or a past bankruptcy. Financing comes from outside lenders, which decide approval and terms, and approval isn't guaranteed. This page is general information, not legal advice. A negotiable documentary service fee of up to $200 may be added to the sale price.