For many people, the credit check can be the most frightening part of purchasing a car. If your credit score is poor, you may worry about your ability to receive the necessary financing to buy a vehicle. Luckily, this isn't the case. In fact, taking on a car payment can do wonders to improve your credit score.

Here's a quick look at the good and the bad of credit scores, and how you can boost yours.

Understanding how credit scores work is the first step toward recovery.

The bad
If you're embarrassed about your low credit score, don't fret – you're in good company. More than half of Americans – 56 percent – sport a credit score that is sub-prime, or below 640. Considering it can take between seven and 10 years to recover from a poor credit score, that may seem like an overwhelming figure. Unfortunately, in many cases, people turn to other financial products to recover their credit scores, such as high-interest credit cards or secured cards. While they can help you slowly build your credit, it's easy to get locked into a debt cycle and end up owing even more.

The good
But just because your credit score low doesn't mean new purchases are out of the question. Due to flexible financing options, nearly everyone can be approved for a car loan. Not only can you qualify for financing, but making regular, on-time payments toward your vehicle can boost your credit score and limit the recovery time. Keep in mind that the average down payment for a car is between 10 and 20 percent, so you'll need to have some money saved up first.

Prepare yourself
If you're ready to dig your way out of bad credit, congratulations! Just prepare yourself to answer some difficult questions. Be ready to offer information on how much you currently owe, as well as your history of repayment, including information on late payments.