Of all the steps people take before buying a car, financing is among the most important. However, some prospective buyers may be nervous about applying for a car loan if they have a checkered credit history. There are a number of ways that you can clean up your score and improve your chances of not only getting approved for an auto loan but also ensuring a secure financial future.

The best place to start when trying to rebuild your credit score back to an appropriate level is to obtain a report, Money Talks News advises. After all, how are you supposed to address all your shortcomings if you don't know where they are?

Once you have a credit report in hand, the first thing to do is check for any inaccuracies. This can include everything from the correct address to your account balance and status. After everything is straightened out, it's time to take steps to improve your standing.

There are only a few ways to get bad credit marks expunged from your history, the news source reports. One of them is to simply let them expire. Most – like late payments and collections – will be gone after seven years and bankruptcies after 10. However, for people looking to get a loan, waiting may not be feasible. Instead, you should simply consider taking steps to improving your score for the future. Paying down your credit card and using it as lightly as possible are the simplest, most effective methods.

Making car loan payments on time is also a great way to improve your credit score, and that's not too hard to do thanks to guaranteed credit approval at New Jersey State Auto Auction. Regardless of your history, New Jersey Auto's partnership with the Credit Acceptance Corporation will have you driving away in a used car in no time.