Customer Walks Into Dealership With Bad Credit Score. Then They Get the Highest Interest Rate This Salesman’s Ever Seen

"Never seen anything like this before."

Photo by: @jrodsellscars

By: Nina Hernandez

Jul 14, 2025 at 5:00am ET

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A dealership worker shares the highest interest rate he’s ever seen a car buyer secure. Then he reveals the credit score that got them the deal.

TikTok user Joseph Rodriguez (@jrodsellscars) is a car salesman based in New Jersey. In a video posted on July 10, Rodriguez reveals the interest rate on his most recent sale. It’s an eye-popping number.

“You think you have a high interest rate on your car?” Rodriguez says. “I can guarantee you somebody has it worse.”

Rodriguez shows a brief summary of the deal on a piece of paper. It shows an initial retail price of $17,767 at an interest rate of 33.4% over 72 months. The total they're borrowing is $18,767.

"This was an approval to a 520 score," Rodriguez says. "For all you guys out there who might have a 15% rate, an 18% rate—that's still way better than this."

This is why having a good credit score is so important, Rodriguez says.

"The difference in payment between a 10% rate and a 34% rate is significant. I'm talking hundreds of dollars a month,” he adds. “Nevertheless, this is the reality of coming to the dealership with a low credit score."

If your credit score is currently on the lower end, Rodriguez recommends first working with a credit repair program and waiting six to 12 months before heading to the dealership for a new car.

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In a direct message to Motor1, Rodriguez said, “Consider rebuilding your credit before taking on high-interest loans.”

‘Don’t Give Up’

As Rodriguez suggests, this customer will pay a significant sum in interest alone.

According to NerdWallet’s auto loan calculator, an $18,767 loan with a 30.4% interest rate and 72-month (six year) term will cost $569 a month. Over the life of the loan, NerdWallet says the individual will pay just shy of $41,000 for the vehicle—or over $22,000 in interest.

In the comments, viewers offered a torrent of disbelief over the terms of this loan. "That's a credit card APR," wrote one person.

A second person agreed, "Buying a cash car off of a credit card makes more sense at that point."

Other people said this deal made them feel better about their situations. "I have a 2.9 and I still complain," wrote one person.

And one person even offered some words of encouragement to those who are still building or repairing their credit after financial struggles.

"I filed bankruptcy back in 1998, but from 2005 it's been 832 to 848. So, people, don't give up," they wrote.

Should You Repair Your Credit Before Getting a Car Loan?

Credit score reporting agency Experian backs up much of what Rodriguez says.

In a blog, the company states that, with the average new car price and car loan interest rates skyrocketing, it’s a good idea to work on raising your credit score before securing an auto loan. Loan applicants with higher credit scores get lower interest rates. That means saving money over the life of the loan.

Experian recommends first checking your credit report to see your score and what is dragging it down. Although Rodriguez pointed his followers to a credit repair agency, you can also track inaccurate entries on your credit report and sent dispute letters to the creditors on your own.

After that, Experian says to start making your bill payments on time, getting serious about tackling any credit card debt, and limit any new credit applications going forward.