1. Don’t lend money to people to get cars.
Anyone with a pulse can get a loan on car. If they sell the car, wreck it or it otherwise gets repossesed, their motivation to pay off the loan will drop to nil.
2. Don’t lend to people who are terminally ill or very old.
That sounds cruel but unless you’re in it for charity(and I admit, I’ve made one loan like that which surprizing hasn’t defaulted!) I suggest skipping this class of people.
3. Avoid people with a large number of delinquencies.
People who’ve had a dozen in the past 12 months are not good candidates for lending money!