Choosing how to finance a vehicle is nearly as important as choosing the vehicle itself. Whether you’re looking for your first car, upgrading your daily driver, or buying a work vehicle, there are two common paths buyers consider: Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH) and traditional bank or credit-union financing.

Both options have advantages and important differences. The best fit depends on your credit situation, comfort level, and how quickly you need a vehicle. Below, we break down each option so you can make an informed decision.

What Is Buy Here Pay Here?

Buy Here Pay Here dealerships offer in-house financing, meaning the dealership sells the vehicle AND handles the loan. You don’t have to apply through a bank, third-party lender, or outside financial institution.

Ideal for:

• Buyers with no credit

• Buyers with low credit scores

• Buyers rebuilding after financial setbacks

• Buyers who need a vehicle quickly and want a simpler approval process

Why People Choose BHPH:

• Faster approvals — often same-day or next-day

• Easier qualification for credit-challenged buyers

• Flexible down-payments

• Relationship-based instead of algorithm-based

• Payments may be made directly to the dealership, not a bank

Unlike traditional financing, approval is based on more than a credit score. Things like employment, income stability, and ability to pay are often more important than past credit history.

What Is Traditional Financing?

Traditional auto financing is what most people see at franchise dealerships or national banks. You apply through a bank, credit union, or third-party lender, and the lender—not the dealership - decides whether to approve you.

Ideal for:

• Buyers with strong credit looking for lower interest rates

• Buyers who have long credit histories or established financial stability

• Buyers who prefer working directly with financial institutions

Why People Choose Traditional Financing:

• Lower interest rates, especially with good credit

• More lender options

• Longer loan terms may be available

• Interest rate shopping can help secure better terms
  

Traditional financing is often a good fit for buyers with prime or near-prime credit scores who want the lowest overall borrowing cost.

Comparing Key Differences

Approval Process

• BHPH: fast, streamlined, credit-flexible

• Traditional: slower, paperwork-heavy, credit-score driven

Who Makes the Loan Decision

• BHPH: dealership

• Traditional: bank, credit union, or finance company

Ideal Buyer

• BHPH: buyers rebuilding credit, new residents, first-time buyers, or those needing quick approval

• Traditional: established credit, higher income, rate-focused buyers

Payment Experience

• BHPH: payments go directly to the dealership, sometimes weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly — flexible depending on income schedule

• Traditional: payments go to an outside lender, usually monthly

When Buy Here Pay Here Makes the Most Sense

Buy Here Pay Here can be the right solution when:

• You’ve had difficulty getting approved elsewhere

• You’re rebuilding after divorce, job loss, medical debt, or credit challenges

• You need reliable transportation right away

• You want more flexibility around approval and payment scheduling

• Your primary goal is getting into a safe, dependable vehicle without waiting

With the right dealership, Buy Here Pay Here can also help you rebuild credit over time, especially if the dealer reports timely payments.

When Traditional Financing Is Your Best Fit

Traditional financing may be better when:

• You have good or excellent credit

• You’re focused on the lowest possible interest rate

• You have a strong financial history or long credit lines

• You have time to shop lenders, compare rates, and complete paperwork

If your priority is overall cost of borrowing, traditional financing may be the best fit - assuming you qualify.

Bottom Line - There’s No One-Size-Fits-All

The best financing option depends on:

• your credit history,

• how quickly you need a vehicle,

• your comfort level with lending requirements,

• and how flexible you want the approval and payment process to be.

Buy Here Pay Here = simplicity, flexibility, and faster approvals for buyers who want a more human approach.

Traditional Financing = lower rates and longer loan terms for buyers with stronger credit or longer financial history.

Both paths can put you behind the wheel - the right choice is the one that supports your goals, timeline, and financial comfort. And at the Car Store, we are here to help you no matter what your situation or goals are! Give us a call, stop by our showroom or visit our website to check out our online inventory and get your pre-approval in minutes!

When it comes to finding a dependable used vehicle in Myrtle Beach, you have choices. Franchise dealerships, big-box auto retailers, online car-buying apps… they all promise convenience. But there’s one option that consistently delivers more value, more trust, and more long-term peace of mind: buying from a locally owned dealership.

In a community like the Grand Strand - where relationships matter and word travels fast—choosing local isn’t just a feel-good decision. It’s often the smarter one.
Here’s why buying used local wins every time.

1. Local Dealers Know Local Needs

Myrtle Beach isn’t like everywhere else.

We have:

• Coastal humidity

• Seasonal traffic

• Families, retirees, tourists, and workers all needing different types of vehicles

• Drivers who rely on their cars daily for hospitality, healthcare, construction, and tourism-related jobs

A locally owned dealership understands what works here - whether that’s a fuel-efficient commuter, a roomy family SUV, or a reliable work truck.
Because they live here too.

2. You’re Not Just a Buyer - You’re a Neighbor

When you buy from a locally owned dealership, you’re not customer #48819 in a national database.

You’re someone the team may run into at:

• the grocery store

• a Friday night football game

• a local festival

• or even on the road

Local dealerships value reputation over trends. Why?
Because how they treat you today is how the community talks about them tomorrow.

In the Grand Strand, word-of-mouth is everything.

3. Local Dealers Stand Behind Their Vehicles

Unlike large corporate retailers who operate by volume, local dealerships depend on:

• repeat buyers

• referrals

• satisfied customers

• and a long-standing community presence

This often means stricter standards on what they put on the lot, plus a willingness to walk buyers through the vehicle history, condition, maintenance expectations, and best long-term choices.

There’s accountability you can’t always find online or with out-of-state sellers.

4. Faster, Friendlier Service

With local ownership comes:

• quicker decision-making

• flexible financing options

• personalized communication

• and someone who actually answers the phone when you call

Whether you need guidance on payments, repairs, recommendations, or trade-ins, local means human, not corporate queues or automated chatbots.

5. Your Money Stays in the Grand Strand

Every used car bought locally helps support:

• local employees

• local families

• local charities

• local schools

• community events

• and the overall local economy

Instead of sending profits to corporate headquarters states away, you’re reinvesting right back into your home.

Buying local is one of the simplest, most meaningful ways to strengthen Myrtle Beach.

6. Local Dealers Adapt to Real Community Feedback

Because local businesses are closer to their customers, they adjust faster.

If people need more trucks, more SUVs, more work vans, more affordable payment options, or more reliable starter cars - local dealers hear it first and respond quickly.

They’re building a business around the Grand Strand, not forcing a national agenda onto it.

7. Trust, Transparency, and Long-Term Relationships

Buying a vehicle is a major decision.
Local dealerships succeed by building trust - not just for the sale, but for years to come.

Whether you:

• upgrade vehicles later

• send a friend

• recommend a coworker

• or come back for your teenager’s first car

…that relationship matters.

And that’s what sets local apart.

The Bottom Line: Buying Used Local Is a Win for You—and Your Community

Myrtle Beach is built on hospitality, relationships, and taking care of our own. When you choose a locally owned dealership, you get more than a vehicle:

• You get trust.

• You get accountability.

• You get real people who care about your experience.

• And you keep your dollars right here at home.

Whether you’re new to the area or have lived here for years, one thing remains true:

Locally owned truly matters - especially when it comes to buying your next used car in the Grand Strand.

Common Myths About Buy Here Pay Here Dealerships (And the Truth Behind Them)

When you’re shopping for a reliable vehicle—especially with credit challenges—it’s easy to get overwhelmed by misinformation. Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH) dealerships often get a bad reputation online, but many of the things people warn about are outdated or simply untrue.

It’s time to clear the air. Here are the most common myths about BHPH dealerships—and the real facts every buyer should know, brought to you by The Car Store.

Myth #1: “Buy Here Pay Here dealerships are only for people with terrible credit.”

The Truth:
While BHPH financing is designed to help credit-challenged customers, it’s not ONLY for them. Many buyers choose it because they want fast approvals, simple requirements, and a straightforward buying experience. Even customers with decent credit appreciate the convenience and flexibility.

Myth #2: “The cars at BHPH dealerships are low quality.”

The Truth:
A good BHPH dealership stands behind its vehicles. At The Car Store, every vehicle is inspected, serviced, and reconditioned before it hits the lot. We want you on the road—not in a repair shop.

Myth #3: “Interest rates are automatically sky-high.”

The Truth:
Rates depend on risk, but they aren’t automatically extreme. Since BHPH dealers finance in-house, they take on more risk than banks—so rates reflect that. Still, a reputable dealership like The Car Store keeps rates fair and transparent and works with you to build a payment plan that fits your budget. We also allow early payoff without penalty.

Myth #4: “BHPH dealerships only offer weekly payments.”

The Truth:
Payment schedules are actually designed to match how YOU get paid. At The Car Store, customers can choose between bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly payment schedules. Loan terms are straightforward as well—three years is usually the maximum.

Myth #5: “Buy Here Pay Here dealerships always report payments to the credit bureaus.”

The Truth:
Not all BHPH dealers report to credit bureaus—and that’s okay. The Car Store does not report payments, but we use your payment history with us to offer perks such as better terms, lower down payments, and upgrade opportunities on your next vehicle.

Myth #6: “BHPH dealers don’t care about their customers.”

The Truth:
This myth sticks around because of a few bad actors, not the entire industry. At The Car Store, we rely on long-term customer relationships, fair pricing, dependable vehicles, and flexible payments. When you succeed, we succeed.

Buying a car is a big decision, and you deserve real information—not myths. At The Car Store, you’ll find flexible financing, dependable vehicles, and a team committed to helping you stay on the road. For buyers working through credit challenges or simply wanting an easier approval process, BHPH can be one of the smartest, most stress-free ways to get into a reliable vehicle.

The Smart Way to Buy a Car: Why Buy Here Pay Here at The Car Store Might Be Right for You

At The Car Store, we believe everyone deserves a dependable vehicle — even if your credit isn’t perfect.
Life happens, and sometimes traditional lenders just don’t understand that. That’s where our Buy Here Pay Here program comes in.
We make it easier for real people to get approved, stay on budget, and drive away in a car they can count on.

?? What Does “Buy Here Pay Here” Mean?

With Buy Here Pay Here, you handle everything directly with us — no middlemen or banks involved.
That means:

• You buy the car here

• You finance it here

• You make your payments here

We make our own approval decisions based on your situation, not just your credit score. While we do check credit, we understand that credit challenges don’t define you. If you’ve had no more than two repossessions and have been on your job and at your residence for at least six months, you’ve already met our main requirements.

?? Real People. Real Chances.

Our team looks at the whole picture — your job history, stability, and ability to pay — not just what’s on paper.
We help customers every day who thought they couldn’t get approved anywhere else.

All you need to get started is:

• A valid driver’s license

• Proof of income

• Proof of residence

• A reasonable down payment

Once approved, you can drive away the same day!

?? Flexible Payments That Fit Your Schedule

We know every customer’s paycheck is different, so we make payments work around you.
At The Car Store, payments can be made:

• Biweekly

• Semi-monthly

• Monthly

We’ll match your payment plan to your pay schedule — simple, flexible, and stress-free.

?? Reliable Vehicles, Honest Deals

Every vehicle on our lot is carefully inspected for quality and reliability. We want you to drive with confidence, knowing your car will get you where you need to go.
Plus, our friendly staff will walk you through every step — from picking the right car to setting up a payment plan that fits your budget.

?? Why Customers Love The Car Store

Our customers keep coming back because we:

• Offer fast approvals

• Have fair and flexible payment options

• Treat every customer with respect and honesty

• Believe in giving people a second chance

We’re not just selling cars — we’re helping our neighbors get back on the road and move forward.