Need advice on buying a car

[tracy1878]

Hubby and I are planning on filing chapter 7 on our own w/o a lawyer and will be doing this within a few weeks. My question is our minivan is about to be repo'd, which is fine cause it needs more in repairs then the value is, which will leave us w/o a family car. We have a little beater car that we bought for 80 bucks and it does run and get us from work and back. I want to go to a local buy here pay here where they don't check your credit and it's one of those "your job is your credit" type of places. The car is a 97 plymouth breeze and it's 400 down and payments of 60/per week for 2 and 1/2 years. If i go ahead and go through with the deal, will it hurt my bankruptcy, will i have to give it up? From what I've gotten from the dealer, the payments don't go on my credit report.

Anyone got any good advice for me?

[jlaury1]

You are usually allowed to keep one vehicle per spouse if you both work in a chapter 7 but they will ask you if you own the car or you are paying on it and it doesn't look good to the judge if you buy a car less than 60 days before a bankruptcy, plus if you lie it is purgery and you can go to jail.

[Diane143]

I do not really think a judge is going to give you problems. You need a car right? I have heard of lawyers recommending buying more expensive cars right before filing because you can use it a an expense as long as they are under the exemption limit. i would do it. But it does not help your credit because it does not go on the report. Save receipts and when you go to get another better car down the road you may be able to show them that you have paid on another car successfully.

[tracy1878]

thanks for your replies... yes we need 2 cars, my hubby and I both work and we have 2 young children. Just today I had to run in and pick my son up from school cause he was sick. Had I not had my 2nd vehicle, i wouldn't have been able to get him. Also, we live in a rural area, about 10 miles away from any city. Would the judge take that into consideration as well?