Washington ESD unemployment benefits - what car dealerships accept unemployment income for financing?

Thanks! Do you know what specific paperwork they needed from Washington ESD? I can log into my account but not sure what to print out.

She printed her benefit statement and award letter showing the weekly amount and duration. Also brought bank statements showing the direct deposits from ESD.

How much higher are we talking? My credit is decent, like 680, but I know unemployment income makes it riskier for them.

With decent credit you might see 8-12% instead of 4-6%. Not ideal but gets you mobile for job searching which is the priority right now.

That's smart - showing the job search activity. Did they ask for your WorkSource records too or just the applications?

They didn't ask for WorkSource specifically but I mentioned I was meeting the job search requirements and had interviews lined up. It showed I was serious about getting back to work.

This is good advice. Dealers want to see you're not just sitting on benefits but actually trying to get back to stable employment.

Never heard of that service before. Is it legit? I've wasted hours trying to call Washington ESD directly.

Yeah it's real, they basically navigate the phone system for you and get you connected to actual ESD staff. Saved me like 3 days of calling when I needed documents for my apartment application.

I'm not a member of any credit unions currently. Do you have to be a member for a while before they'll do auto loans?

Most let you join and apply for loans right away. BECU just requires like a $5 savings account to establish membership, then you can apply for auto financing.

Second this on credit unions. Got my car loan through WSECU while on unemployment last year. Much better rates than the dealership financing.

Good point. I've seen those ads everywhere but they seem sketchy. Stick to legitimate dealers and lenders even if approval takes longer.

Absolutely. Those places are designed to trap people in cycles of debt. Better to get a reliable used car from a real dealer even if it takes more paperwork.

My sister might be willing to cosign but I hate to ask. How does that work if I want to refinance later when I'm working again?

Most lenders let you refinance and remove the cosigner after 6-12 months of on-time payments and stable employment. It's actually pretty common.

Dick Hannah is a good chain. What was your down payment situation? I've got about $2000 saved up.

i put down $1500 on a $12k used camry. they wanted to see some money down to show commitment but weren't crazy about the amount

Good reality check. I'm looking at payments under $250/month and have about 4 months left on my claim. Hoping to be working again by then.

That sounds reasonable. Just make sure to factor in insurance, registration, and maintenance costs too. Those add up quick.

I'll check out AutoNation locations near me. Do they typically have decent used car inventory or mostly older high-mileage stuff?

Mix of both really. They have certified pre-owned programs that might be worth the extra cost for warranty and reliability.

Interesting idea. Never thought about taking over someone else's lease. How does that work with insurance and registration?

You'd need to get your own insurance obviously, but registration usually transfers with the lease transfer paperwork. Just make sure you understand the remaining terms and mileage limits.

How much does that service cost though? If you're on unemployment every dollar counts.

worth checking their site for current info, but honestly even if there's a fee it's probably less than the gas money and time you'd waste trying to call ESD repeatedly

True, but then I'd need cash upfront right? I don't have enough saved to buy anything decent outright.

Some private sellers will do owner financing, especially if you can put money down and show proof of your unemployment income. Worth asking at least.

This is super helpful coming from someone in the industry. Any other insider tips for improving my chances of approval?

be honest about your situation, have realistic expectations on interest rates, and be flexible on the car choice. sometimes the difference between approval and denial is picking a less expensive vehicle

Yeah that's my biggest worry. I'm being conservative with the payment amount just in case there's a transition period.

Smart thinking. Better to get something reliable but modest than overextend and risk repossession later.

I'll add those to my list. Seems like it's worth calling multiple places to compare options and rates.

definitely shop around. rates and approval criteria can vary a lot between dealers even for the same brand

Good point about the warranty upsells. I'll focus on getting approved first then worry about the extras.

Yeah those warranty and GAP insurance add-ons can add $100+ to your monthly payment. Know what you actually need before you sit down with finance.

Thanks! All this advice has been really helpful. Feel much more prepared to start shopping around now.

Keep us posted on how it goes! This kind of info helps other people in similar situations.

Seems like multiple people have had success with it. Might be worth trying if I need official documentation quickly.

yeah especially if you're working with a dealer who needs verification fast. regular ESD phone lines can take days to get through to anyone useful