Drive Financial Services
Auto Loans in One - Complete - Solution!
Drive Financial Services is a discount lender that offers, what they call, their "One Complete Solution" for bad credit auto loans.
Each of the words above represents a main credit tier that a customer, based on Drive's internal scorecard, would fit into. A great aspect of Drive Financial Services program is that your credit score, whether 300 or 800, has no affect on their approvals.
All New! Want to learn how to buy a car with bad credit? Follow my simple 4 step Bad Credit Car Buying Guide and get yourself a new ride today!
Seeing as how you would probably not be reading this page if you had an 800 credit score this is good news for you. It is also very rare for a customer to get turned down for an auto loan.
What's covered below:
Bad Credit? Repo, BK, Divorce. Let us help! No Obligation Auto Loan Quotes
Who Drive Financial Services Loans To and How To Get ApprovedThere are very few customers that Drive Financial will not approve for an auto loan. I've been able to get auto loans approved for customers in a wide range of credit situations, including but not limited to: - multiple repossessions
- bankruptcy
- no credit
- limited credit with bad accounts, etc.
I've even had customers get approved with a repossession the same day they bought their new car. Even with Drive knowing that the customer just had a repossession that day, they still approved them for an auto loan. That's Strong!In fact, about the only credit situation that Drive seems to really shy away from is major derogatory credit issues after a bankruptcy. This is typically, one of the few times, when I will see turn downs from Drive Financial.
Drive Financial Does Not Loan Direct To The ConsumerThis is true with all subprime auto lenders and Drive only lends indirectly to consumers through car dealerships. That's okay, because you'll want a special finance loan specialist that can structure you the best loan. Drive does offer no money down auto loans for their "One" tier customers and limited money down for their "Complete" tier customers. Their "Solution" tier customers usually need a minimum of $1,000-$1,500 down. Oftentimes, a trade ins equity can substitute for a cash down payment. That's a big bonus...! To find loan specialists in your local area that work with Drive Finacial and/or other similar bad credit auto lenders complete this 60 second application and get your No Obligation Auto Loan Quotes .
Drive Financial Is Your "One Complete Solution"- One
Is Drive's top tier and is made up of 3 sub tiers; A, B and C. I don't know that I've ever seen an approval in this tier. The only dealers that I think use Drive for these tiers are independent dealers that have limited finance sources.
- Complete
Is Drive's middle of the road tier and is made up of 3 sub tiers; D, E and F. For customers approved in one of these tiers, there will be less requirements for funding and typically less money down required.
- Solution
Is Drive's bottom tier and is made up of 4 sub tiers; G, H, I and J. These are the big discount tiers, more on discounts below, with high APR's. Will usually require customers to have a nice down payment for the loan to structure right.
How Their Discounts Affect YouBeing a discount lender may sound like it would be a good thing for customers, but in reality the discount is taken from the total amount financed and will in no way benefit you, the customer. In fact, this discount all but eliminates any chance of the customer getting any type of "discount" off the selling price.
Example If you were to purchase a car for $10,000 and your total amount to be financed was also $10,000, then Drive would charge the dealer an acquisition fee (the discount) of anywhere up to 27%. What this means in this case is that the dealer will be charged a $2,700 acquisition fee (27% of $10,000) in order for Drive to fund the deal. That's a big fee! What would normally be $2,700 that you might be able to negotiate off the sales price is now a fee the dealer has to pay to Drive in order to get your auto loan approved and funded. That may sound crazy to you, but Drive is in the high risk auto loan business and has to try and protect itself from losses. These types of fees are very common with subprime auto loans. This is not to say that you can't try to negotiate a lower price, but don't be too surprised if the dealer is not willing to budge much...There simply isn't much "wiggle" room. This is one of the main reasons why it is so important to stay on top of your credit. Clean up what's legitimately yours and dispute what's not to raise your credit score fast. Check your credit score - Fast, Free & Easy at CreditReport.com.
What You'll Need For FundingThere are some very standard funding requirements that Drive will have and just about any approval they give will require these items before they will fund: - Proof of Income (paycheck stub, bank statements, etc.)
- Proof of Residence (utility bill)
- Proof of Insurance (Max $500 deductible)
- Complete Phone Bill
- 5 Complete References (Family, Friends, Co-workers, etc.)
- Valid in State Drivers License
If you do not have one or more of these, then let the special finance manager know ahead of time and they can help to figure out what else might work.
From A Car Dealers Stand PointDrive Financial Good: - They approve most all applications.
- They finance up to 72 months (most subprime lenders don't).
- Quick application decisions (typically less than 10 minutes).
- Loan to value up to 130% of wholesale book (most applicants don't qualify for the max, but when they do it helps with the fees).
- Accept fresh repossessions, like the same day customer buys their new car.
- Do not care about credit scores...300 FICO's welcome.
Drive Financial Bad: - They have tightened up recently and discounts are so big it's hard to put a deal together.
- Really do not like negative after a BK. I've seen more turn downs from this then in past days.
- Rates seem to be maximum for most every customer now. Averaging out at around 25.99%.
- Even though maximum advance is 130%, most customers are only getting approved for 105 to 110% and with 25% discounts it is very hard to put together a deal without big money down.
All in all, Drive has reverted back to their lending style of a few years back, which makes it very difficult to put deals together. A year ago they were one of my top lenders and now I may send them a deal once every few months. They are certainly not my first option anymore.
Customer Service and Payoff InformationDrive Financial Services was purchased in 2006 by Santander Bank and has remained headquartered in Dallas, TX. Here is some quick contact information: Customer Service and Payoff Information (888) 222-4227Customer Payments (Regular Mail) Drive Financial Services P.O. Box 660633 Dallas, TX 75266-0633Customer Payments (Overnight Mail) Drive Financial Services 1010 W. Mockingbird Ln. Ste. 100 Dallas, TX 75247
Dealers Contact InformationCredit Analyst (Dealers Only) (888) 540-5626, then dial 0Funding Center (Dealer Only) (800) 877-4696Lien Holder Address (Dealer) Drive Financial PO Box 25120 Lehigh Valley, PA 18002-5120Overnight and Contract Packages (Dealer) Drive Financial eDocs Program, Ste 2039 4054 Willow Lake Blvd Memphis, TN 38153Regular Mail and Contract Packages (Dealer) Drive Financial eDocs Program, Ste 2039 4070 Willow Lake Blvd Memphis, TN 38118
Your Reviews of Drive Financial Services
Have experience with Drive? Was it good? Bad? Or just down right ugly? I'd certainly like to hear it and I'm sure thousands of other visitors would appreciate what you've got to say.
Other Visitors Reviews
Click below to see reviews of Drive Financial Services from other visitors to this page...
Drive Financial is Scandalous!
    
Visitor Review: This Company (Drive Financial), now named Santander Consumer USA, practices "illegal" methods to extort money from its Customers. They ...
complaint

Visitor Review: Someone needs to shut down this company. They don't know how to treat us the consumer...We are the reason that you a--hole have JOBS....
Anguished in PA
Not rated yet
Visitor Review: Drive/Santander choose not to communicate with me about my account.
My husband and I had to file for bankruptcy but, Drive took ...
Don't get behind on your payments!!!
Not rated yet
Visitor Review: Whatever you do don't get behind. They call you automated like 10 times a day, harass everyone on your list of references and that ...
I WANT MY TITLE. CAR IS PAID OFF.
Not rated yet
Visitor Review: I am furious! Drive Financial has my title on hold. The Department of Motor Vehicles in Portage, Indiana will not release my title ...
Drive Financial
Not rated yet
Visitor Review: Overall I have had a positive experience with Drive. I pay my monthly bill online and its easier than sending in a payment by mail....
Run Fast and Far From This Company: Drive Fianancial/Santander/Pinnacle/Triad Financial
Not rated yet
Visitor Review: This Company went "belly up" sold/changed names, based out of Spain.... and breaks "every" law you can think of with its Consumers....
Drive Repo
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Question: I defaulted on my auto loan which resulted in a Drive Repo and it has been charged off. What can I do to get back into good standing with ...
Drive Financial, Beware of the Unbelievable
Not rated yet
Visitor Review: I had financed a 2004 Impala with Drive, purchased 9/2006. Well I recently traded the car in for the big rebates that were offered ...
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