Bridgecrest's payment skip policy: what you get and when
Bridgecrest, a subprime auto lender, allows you to skip one payment per year on most loans. The skipped payment is added to the end of your loan term—you don't avoid paying it, you delay it. You must request the skip before the payment is due, and Bridgecrest typically processes the request within one to two business days. The skipped payment will appear on your credit report as deferred, not as late or missed.
The exact terms depend on your loan agreement and state law. Some Bridgecrest loans allow one skip per 12-month period; others may permit two skips in a 24-month window. Check your loan documents or call Bridgecrest customer service at the number on your statement to confirm what your specific contract allows. Requesting a skip does not require a hardship explanation, though Bridgecrest may ask basic questions about your situation.
Key Takeaways
- Bridgecrest typically allows one payment skip per year, added to the end of your loan rather than forgiven.
- You must request the skip before the payment due date; processing takes one to two business days.
- A skipped payment reports to credit bureaus as deferred, not as a missed or late payment.
- Your loan agreement determines the exact number of skips allowed, so verify your contract or call Bridgecrest directly.
- Skipping a payment extends your loan term and increases total interest paid over the life of the loan.
How to request a payment skip with Bridgecrest
Contact Bridgecrest before your payment due date. You can reach them by phone using the customer service number on your loan statement, through their online account portal, or by visiting a Bridgecrest office if one is near you. Have your loan number and account information ready. Tell them you want to use your payment skip option for the upcoming month.
Bridgecrest will confirm whether you have a skip available and process the request. Once approved, your payment due date shifts, and that month's payment rolls to the end of your loan. You will receive written confirmation—check your email or mail for a notice showing the new payment schedule. Do not assume the skip is active until you see confirmation; if you do not receive it within a few days, call back to verify.
What happens to your loan when you skip a payment
Your loan term extends by one month for each payment you skip. If you originally had 60 months to pay and you skip one payment, you now have 61 months. Interest continues to accrue on the remaining balance during the skipped month, so you pay more total interest by the time the loan is paid off. The skipped payment does not disappear—it moves to the end of the loan schedule.
The deferred payment will show on your credit report, but it should not damage your score the way a missed or late payment would. Credit bureaus distinguish between a lender-approved deferral and a payment you failed to make. However, some lenders report deferrals differently, so monitor your credit report after the skip to confirm it is recorded correctly. You can request a free credit report from each of the three major bureaus once per year at annualcreditreport.com.
When you cannot skip a payment with Bridgecrest
You cannot skip a payment if you have already used your annual skip allowance. Once you use your one skip per year, you must wait until the 12-month period resets before requesting another. If your loan is in default or you are significantly behind on payments, Bridgecrest may not allow a skip and may instead require you to bring the account current or work out a different arrangement.
Some loan agreements exclude certain circumstances from the skip option. For example, if your loan is in the final months of repayment, Bridgecrest may not permit a skip because there is not enough time to add the payment to the end. Read your loan documents or ask Bridgecrest directly whether any restrictions apply to your account.
The cost of skipping a payment
Skipping a payment costs you money in the form of additional interest. Because the loan term extends and interest continues to accrue on the balance, you will pay more over the life of the loan than if you had made the payment on time. The exact amount depends on your interest rate and remaining balance. A rough estimate: if your interest rate is 15% annual and your remaining balance is $10,000, skipping one month adds roughly $125 in interest to your total cost.
Skipping a payment also means you keep the car financed longer. If you were planning to own the car outright after a certain date, a skip delays that by one month. Consider whether the short-term cash relief is worth the long-term cost before you request a skip.
Alternatives if you cannot skip or need more time
If you have already used your skip or Bridgecrest will not approve one, other options exist. You can request a loan modification, which restructures the remaining payments over a longer period—similar to a skip but formalized in a new agreement. You can also ask about a temporary forbearance, where Bridgecrest agrees to pause or reduce payments for a set period (usually 30 to 90 days) while you stabilize your finances. Forbearance does not erase the missed payments; you repay them later, often added to the end of the loan.
If you are facing a genuine hardship—job loss, medical emergency, or income reduction—tell Bridgecrest. They have loss mitigation options designed for borrowers in temporary difficulty. These are not the same as a skip; they are negotiated case by case and may involve a written agreement. The sooner you contact them, the more options you have. Waiting until you miss a payment limits what they can do.
How a skipped payment affects your credit
A lender-approved payment skip should not lower your credit score the way a missed payment does. The three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) distinguish between a deferred payment and a delinquent one. When Bridgecrest reports the skip, it should note it as a deferral or approved skip, not as a 30-day late payment. This protects your credit profile.
However, the deferral itself may appear on your credit report and could be viewed negatively by future lenders, even though it is not a missed payment. Some lenders see any deferral as a sign of financial stress. The impact is typically smaller than a late payment, but it is not zero. If you are planning to apply for a mortgage, car loan, or credit card soon, consider whether skipping now will affect your approval odds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip a payment if I am already late?
No. Bridgecrest will not approve a skip if your account is in default or significantly past due. You must bring the account current first. If you are behind, contact Bridgecrest immediately to discuss forbearance or a loan modification instead of a skip.
Do I have to give a reason to skip a payment?
No. Bridgecrest does not require you to prove hardship or explain why you need a skip. You can request one for any reason. However, if you are struggling financially, telling them may open the door to other options like forbearance or modification.
What if I skip a payment and then cannot make the next one?
You are still responsible for all payments, including the one you skipped. If you miss the next scheduled payment after a skip, Bridgecrest will report it as late. Contact them before that payment is due to discuss options. Do not assume a skip gives you two months of relief.
Does skipping a payment hurt my credit score?
An approved skip should not damage your score like a missed payment would, but it may still appear on your credit report as a deferral. Future lenders may view it as a sign of financial difficulty. The impact is usually smaller than a late payment, but it is not invisible.
Can I skip two payments in a row?
Only if your loan agreement allows two skips per year or per 24-month period. Most Bridgecrest loans allow one skip per 12 months. Check your loan documents or call Bridgecrest to confirm your limit. You cannot skip two months in a row unless you have two separate skips available.