Hi Alan,

I would suggest two things — in the first instance, talk to your bank manager, or your accountant, or your personal financial adviser — or all three if you have them — they’ll be able to give you the best advice and the best way you can manage your credit rating, which will of course have been affected by the bankruptcy. As well as that, I’d speak to dealers selling Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT, MINI, Renault, Dacia and Toyota cars (I’ve left out BMW, Audi and Lexus as I’m guessing you’re looking for a more cost-effective purchase). They all have ‘captive’ banks — finance providers that are part of the car company, so they tend to me more able to create bespoke finance packages than dealers who are relying on high street banks for finance. Be up front and honest about your situation, and ask to speak to the finance manager at the dealer to ask about the best way forward.