When you want a safe, reliable vehicle for work, travel, and running
errands, upgrading to a newer model often makes the most sense. It will have
less wear and tear, a more efficient powertrain, and better safety features.
But buying a late-model car out of pocket is not an option for most buyers. And
while going to a no credit check car dealer in Utah is a great option for many
buyers, often they will start by shopping at a dealership, where applying for
financing may be necessary, along with a credit check. A credit check assesses
your reliability as a borrower and your financial ability to pay back a loan.
How Does a Credit Check Work?
When you apply for automotive financing, shop for a car, or even schedule a
test drive in some cases, the car dealer will typically run a credit check.
This means sending an inquiry to one or more of the three primary credit bureaus
in the United States—Experian, Equifax, and Transunion.
Nearly every company that offers credit in some form, from retail stores and
restaurant clubs to credit card providers, banks, and mortgage brokers, will
report to these firms. The credit bureaus will then track all your credit
transactions, your balances, and your payment history, noting any late
payments, defaults, credit inquiries, and other factors that could reduce your
creditworthiness. They then calculate a credit score that represents your overall
reliability as a borrower.
As private corporations, the details of how credit scores are calculated by
the credit bureaus can be a bit vague, as they all have their own proprietary
formulas. They also have different policies on how long certain information
remains on your credit report, both positive and negative.
How Does a Credit Check Affect Car Buying?
Unless you shop at a no credit check car dealer in Utah, you will likely
need to obtain financing from a lender that will check your credit. If you have
poor credit or no credit at all, it is likely that you will be declined for a
loan. If you have fair credit, you may be approved, but you will likely pay
higher interest rates and fees than someone with good credit, resulting in
higher monthly payments. The lowest interest rates, the lowest fees, and the
shortest borrowing terms are reserved for those with near-perfect credit
histories. But even the act of checking your credit can harm your credit.
There are two types of credit checks—soft inquiries and hard inquiries.
Things like taking a test drive or pre-qualifying for a car loan may result in
a soft inquiry, which releases only basic information to the dealer about your
creditworthiness and does not affect your credit score. A hard inquiry happens
when you apply for financing or a loan. It provides a more detailed history of
your credit to the lender, allowing them to judge if you are worth the risk for
a loan. Each hard inquiry affects your credit for about two years, and if you
have multiple hard inquiries during a short time, it can make you look
desperate for a loan. Multiple inquiries can easily occur when you are visiting
different dealerships and shopping for a car.
If you would like to avoid the stress and hassle of multiple credit checks,
consider shopping at a no credit check car dealer in Utah. They feature
alternative lending options that can offer more flexibility when you are
shopping for a car, allowing you to get a newer, safer, and more reliable vehicle
than if you had to pay in cash alone. Contact our friendly team at
Rocky Mountain Motor Cars today!