Purchasing an Automobile can be stressful sometimes. While some worry about being approved for a loan, others worry about the best possible rate that they can find. We all can imagine that someone with not so great credit wouldn't have the luxury of rate shopping; meaning people with credit issues usually get what they can find. In fact, most don't even look at the loan documents or educate themselves about what type of rate they've finally been approved for.
The question you as a buyer should always ask yourself: Is a $10,000 vehicle worth paying $25,000 total for over the course of 5 years? When you do those types of evaluation, you will take time to do a little bit more shopping around for the best rates.
Another alternative is to find a close friend or family member with good credit to co-sign a loan for you. That way you can reduce the amount of interest you would be paying during the term of the loan.
When you're ready to shop, the best way to do this is to find a company that works with multiple lenders; that way you can prevent too many credit inquiries. By using only one network of lenders, you will save lots of time, less points will be deducted from your credit file, and you will most likely be matched with the best lender that matches your need.