Are you thinking about “buy here, pay here”? When life throws you some money problems, the idea hits differently. Maybe you’ve had a problem with your credit, such late payments, collections, or a score that makes banks anxious. If you walk into a bad credit auto dealership, you could see lots of cars with big price tags on them. Click here, buy here, pay here comes in here, promising to ignore problems with your credit score.

Let’s be honest: traditional lenders are harder on your credit than a librarian who has had too much coffee. This is why drivers like buy here pay here dealerships so much. These places are both banks and places where you may buy cars. You pick out a set of wheels, fill out some forms, and if everything goes well, you can drive away the same day. You won’t have to nervously go back and forth as you wait for the bank to call. People admire that kind of efficiency, especially since Old Faithful just had her last cough on Main Street.

But wait—there are some tricks and illusions to think about. Buy here, pay here isn’t a magic ticket. Yes, you stay away from the big banks, but these dealers often charge much higher interest rates. Why? Customers who are more likely to lose money need more confirmation that they will get it back. Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t get something for nothing”? That’s how it is on a lot where you buy a car and pay for it right away. They might not check your credit score, but you might have to pay for that freedom over time.

People say they get paid once a week or every other week. If you miss one, your ride could be gone faster than your left sock in the dryer. Some dealers even put in kill switches that may be used from far away. Did you forget to pay? At night, your car is quietly than a mouse. That feeling of having to rush to receive last week’s paycheck to keep your car running is true. Humor can only help you so much when you’re walking to work.

But not everything is horrible. Buy here, pay here is the first step on the credit ladder for some people. Pay your invoices on time; certain dealerships may alert credit bureaus about how well you are doing. You might be able to slowly improve your score. Every little bit helps, especially after all the other lenders said no.

It’s a good idea to have questions ready when you come to the property. What is the real price of the car? Do repairs come with the service, or will you have to remedy every noise? Is the down payment going tighter than your favorite jeans after Thanksgiving? Don’t be fooled by the “easy approval” sign. Read every line of every paper, and if you need to, read them again. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your intuition.

A lot of people like buy here pay here for cars, but there are always problems along the way. People who ask questions, look at costs, and do the arithmetic are often the happiest shoppers. You can still attain your goals even if you have bad credit. Take your time, think about it, and let your next car pick you up from a better place.