Capitol Auto Credit Honors Our Veterans

Capitol Auto Credit wishes to honor all service members, past and present, this Veterans Day.

We thank those that have served us, as well as those who continue to defend our nation both domestically and overseas.

Thank you for your service and dedication to our nation. And to everyone else, please take a moment to thank a Veteran that is close to you on this day.

Our Veterans display inside our building

Halloween at Capitol Auto Credit! Oct 24 and 31

Come Trick-or-Treat with us at Capitol Auto Credit!

We'll have games, prizes, and candy for little ghouls and goblins that come to our lot on October 24 AND October 31, from 11 AM to 1:30 PM.

Come dressed up in your Halloween costumes.

And grown-ups -- if you come dressed in YOUR outfits, fill out an app for a car while you're at it. Upon approval, we'll take $500 off your total car costs!

Fun for the kids AND parents. Games, prizes, and great deals at Capitol Auto Credit!

3100 E Washington Ave in Madison
www.capitolautocredit.net
608-246-3624

Three things you'll need to bring to complete an application with Capitol Auto Credit

When customers come to our offices, we usually ask to see three items before we set about completing an application. Having these three things ready when you arrive will greatly increase your chances of getting an approval. So please, make sure you have these things before you stop by!

1. Your Wisconsin Driver's License. We need to verify your identity. We also need to make sure you're able to drive off the lot with our vehicles if we sell you one today. So please, bring in your WI driver's license -- and if you don't have one, get yours as soon as possible. Here's a fast way to search for the nearest DMV in your area.


2. Your most recent pay stubs or proof of income. We need to make sure you're earning enough income to sustain a vehicle. This isn't just because we want to get your money -- it's for your benefit. We want to sell you a car that won't ruin the lifestyle you currently live. In other words, buying a car shouldn't mean changing the way you buy groceries, pay for rent, etc. We'll do our best to get you into a vehicle. But we won't put you into one that you can't afford -- having your pay stubs on hand helps us to keep that promise.


3. Proof of residence. We need to know what your address is so that if we need to, we can send you important documents or otherwise get in touch with you. Bring in a lease, a bill, or anything else that's official with your name and address on it.

If you have any questions about these three items, please feel free to simply ask us. You can call us at 608-246-3624 during our regular office hours. 

Happy retirement, Jim!

One of our salesmen, Jim Bernander, is retiring today.

Jim has been with Capitol Auto Credit for 11 years, and has been in the car-selling business for more than 24 years.

The first car Jim ever sold was a 1969 Buick Skylark:

Jim has been an invaluable member to the team at Capitol Auto Credit. Whether he’s selling cars or just telling one of his quirky jokes, Jim’s insights have provided a smile or a laugh to both customers and the staff at our dealership.

We will miss Jim, but we wish him the best of luck in his future. His plans include a lot of fishing – we hope that he “catches them all.”

Thanks, Jim!

Customers ask us: “What do I need for a down payment?”

One of the biggest questions we get at Capitol Auto Credit is about the down payment for a particular vehicle.

During the application process, customers often ask us straight up: “What do I need to put down?”

The answer to that: It Depends!

Here are the nuts and bolts:

There are several factors that go into deciding what the down payment for a vehicle will be. Some of those factors include the price of the vehicle itself as well as the strength of the application being completed.

There are occasions when an applicant’s background is so strong that we’ll even offer a vehicle loan with no down payment at all!

But putting a small down payment on a vehicle now will help you in the long-run in terms of the overall loan.

Keep in mind that higher down payments mean a greater selection for you to choose from on our lot. A higher down payment will also result in you having a stronger application approval overall, which will lower your total payments in the end.

We advertise that $99 and a job (plus taxes and title fees) can get you a car at Capitol Auto Credit, subject to approval. We’d love to get you into a car that you’d like, and sometimes that requires a bit of a higher down payment.

Whatever the case may be, we're always open to discussing it with you, in person, over the phone or in online chat at www.capitolautocredit.net.

For more answers to your down payment questions, please call us at (608) 246-3624.

We'll match your down payment (up to $1,000) for the month of March!

Our latest deal! Mention this blog post, and get your down payment DOUBLED up to $1,000. See below for details...

Want to DOUBLE your down payment? Until March 28, we're DOUBLING your down payment up to $1,000 when you mention this email! Take advantage of this amazing deal while it lasts.   Just received your tax return? We'll double it.   Got a bonus on your last paycheck? We'll double it.   Waiting for the right time to buy a car? That time is NOW! We'll DOUBLE your down payment up to $1,000! Don't wait! Call us at (608) 246-3624 to schedule a time to meet. Chat live with one of our sales managers on our website at www.capitolautocredit.net. Or better yet, just stop in at 3100 E Washington Ave. in Madison, mention this email and we'll DOUBLE your down payment today!    We can't wait to see you, and we can't wait to double your down payment up to $1,000! Limit one deal per customer, deal available until March 28, 2015, valid only on new deals.

"How do I begin an application with Capitol Auto Credit?" Start with these three things...

One of the top questions people ask us as they come into our offices is, “What do I need to start an application?”

We’re happy you want to work with us. We want to get you into a car that’s the best fit for your needs, be they for your family, personal, or work-related situations.

When we start an application, we ask for as much information as possible to help you qualify for a vehicle. The three things we need to get an application moving forward are:

• A driver’s license;
• Proof of income (e.g. paystubs or other information that shows income); and
• Proof of current residence (such as a bill or a lease that has your address on it).

These three things are what we require when we submit an application for you. Having a more complete set of information – for example, providing us with pay stubs from the past few months versus just the last pay period – will also help you to get on your way towards purchasing a vehicle.

We hope this information helps you. If you’re interested in chatting live with one of our sales managers, you can do so during regular business hours at our website www.capitolautocredit.net.

You can also start your application online by clicking here!

As always, please feel free to call us with questions at (608) 246-3624, or just stop into our offices at 3100 E Washington Ave in Madison, Wisconsin.

Thanking our customers...

We made a video recently featuring many of our recent customers. We thank you for your current business, and hope to work with you in the future.

Winter Driving Tips

Driving in the wintertime can be scary for some folks. Yes, in Southern Wisconsin we can take some pride in knowing how to make it to work after a night of heavy snowfall. But a refresher in safety isn’t a bad thing.

The Twitter account @CapAutoCredit offers a different #CarTip every day. Here are five tips you can do in the winter to make driving a little bit safer (most of these tips derived from the Ready Wisconsin website).

1. Slow it down!

Give yourself ample space between you and the car in front of you. In especially slippery situations, double the space you are normally used to – stopping times vary in certain conditions, so giving yourself enough time to react plus extra time to execute is key to preventing accidents.

2. Pack an emergency kit

Emergency kit / ReadyWisconsin.WI.gov

We’re all told this trick of the trade in driving school, but how many of us actually do it? Make sure you’ve packed emergency items in your car during the winter. Don’t pack them in the trunk – it can get jammed or stuck in winter weather.

A warm blanket, a crank or battery powered radio, cat litter, flashlights (with batteries), and first aid items should all be considered when making this kit, in addition to extra gloves and hats. A full list of suggested items can be found at ReadyWisconsin.WI.gov.

3. Stuck in a snowbank? Don’t run the car too much

Stuck in the snow, waiting for help? Getting fresh air is just as important as staying warm. If you have to run the car, only do it for 10 minutes at a time per hour. Snow can be blocking your exhaust pipe without you even knowing it, and other problems with your exhaust could be happening if you crashed your vehicle. Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by running the car only occasionally, or if need be by leaving the windows open a crack.

4. Stay with your vehicle

If you find yourself in storm conditions, stay with your vehicle. Don’t get out and attempt to walk somewhere unless your destination is close by. Overexerting yourself by trekking too far is dangerous, and can result in hypothermia if you sweat too much. Stay with your reliable shelter if you can – your car.

5. Don’t panic

You don’t want to lose rational judgment when you’re in a tricky situation. Keep yourself as level-headed as you can, and devise a plan for what to do. Being prepared for worst case scenarios is your best bet. But if you find yourself in an emergency situation, stay calm and remember what to do with your preparedness!

Welcome to East Wash and Aberg!

Welcome to East Wash and Aberg, a Madison blog that will take a unique look at the capital city of the Badger State and its surroundings.

We’re Capitol Auto Credit – a dealership in Madison, Wisconsin, that specializes in helping people with challenged credit to finance their vehicles. We’ve been in Madison for a few decades now, and we’re proud of our roots. We love our customers – but mostly we love seeing the smiles on their faces as they purchase a vehicle from us.

We know what you’re thinking – is this site going to be just about cars or financing? Is this another site for Capitol Auto Credit to promote itself? While we do plan to occasionally talk about how we operate and what we offer, we’re also going to take a look at what makes the City of Madison one of the greatest places to live in. We want to write about different neighborhoods, talk to local Madisonians, recommend restaurants and other locations, and just talk about the area in general.

It’s our hope that you’ll come back here from time to time to read about our great city. We also hope you have Capitol Auto Credit in mind for your vehicle and financing needs. If you have challenged credit or no credit, we’re here to talk with you.

Stop in and see us at 3100 E Washington Ave in Madison. Chat with us live on our website at www.capitolautocredit.net. Follow us on Twitter @CapAutoCredit, or Like us on Facebook.

Have a suggestion about the site? We’d love to hear from you. Send us an email and tell us what you think, what could be better, or even a tip on a great restaurant for us to check out. Our ears are open!

We’re excited about this new site, and can’t wait to share the experience in growing it with you, the Madison-area community!