Do car dealerships use Equifax or TransUnion?

Asked by: Robbie Grant  |  Last update: May 13, 2023
Score: 4.3/5 (48 votes)

While Experian and Equifax are the most popular bureaus among auto lenders and car dealers, TransUnion can also be used for auto loan decisions. And the truth is, the credit bureau lenders use when evaluating your auto loan application probably will not influence their decision too much.

What credit bureau do car dealers use?

Auto dealerships use the FICO credit bureau, which stands for Fair Isaac Corporation. They also use the FICO Auto Credit Score, which has a range of 250 to 900. This may mean that an auto dealer has a different credit score for you than the one you see on your personal credit report.

Do car dealerships look at Equifax?

Each model only looks at the information in one of your credit reports from Experian, Equifax or TransUnion to determine your score. A higher score is best because it indicates you are less likely to miss a loan payment.

Is Equifax more important than TransUnion?

Is TransUnion more important than Equifax? The short answer is no. Both TransUnion and Equifax are reliable credit reporting agencies that compile reports and calculate your credit scores using different scoring models.

Do lenders look at TransUnion or Equifax?

An Equifax credit score isn't used by lenders or creditors to assess a consumers' creditworthiness. Instead, many lenders use FICO Scores® to help determine a potential borrower's creditworthiness. FICO uses credit scores from the three reporting agencies, including Equifax and Transunion, to determine their score.

Equifax, TransUnion, Credit Karma, Borrowell: Should you trust your credit score? (Marketplace)

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What credit score is needed to buy a car?

There is no set credit score you need to get an auto loan. If you have a credit score above 660, you will likely qualify for an auto loan at a rate below 10% APR. If you have bad credit or no credit, you could still qualify for a car loan, but you should expect to pay more.

Do car dealers look at TransUnion?

In conclusion, auto lenders use Equifax and Experian the most, while TransUnion is less used for auto loan credit checks, at least in some parts of the US.

What auto lender uses Equifax?

Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company. PenFed Credit Union is the only loan company that uses only your Equifax credit data. In most cases, you won't be able to determine beforehand which credit bureaus your lender will use.

What credit score is needed for a 2021 car?

The recommended credit score needed to buy a car is 660 and above. This will typically guarantee interest rates under 6%.

Why is my credit score different at the dealership?

Your automotive-weighted score places more emphasis on your payment history with auto loans and leases. So, if you've had past auto loans and you were on time with your payments, the lender will see a higher auto score compared to your regular FICO score.

Is 640 a good credit score to buy a car?

Answer provided by. While your friend is right that your credit score is considered fair, that doesn't mean securing an auto loan is impossible! With a 640 credit score, a new car loan interest rate hovers around 6.5% and a used car loan sits at about 10.5%. A credit score of 640 is below the national average of 710.

Is 650 a good credit score to buy a car?

A good credit score to buy a car is often above 660, as you're then considered a "prime" borrower. There's no industry-wide, official minimum credit score in order to qualify for an auto loan. Generally, the higher your credit score, the better terms you're likely to get on the loan.

Is Creditkarma accurate?

The credit scores and reports you see on Credit Karma should accurately reflect your credit information as reported by those bureaus. This means a couple of things: The scores we provide are actual credit scores pulled from two of the major consumer credit bureaus, not just estimates of your credit rating.

Is 670 a good credit score to buy a car?

The good news is, with a credit score of 670, you should be approved for a car loan. Most lenders require a credit score minimum of 661. Since this is your first time getting a car loan, here are a few tips to ensure you get the best deal: Compare multiple offers to see which lender can give you the best interest rates.

Can I get a car loan with a credit score of 600?

Unless you have the cash, that means you need an auto loan. It's essential to be knowledgeable about how your auto loan process will be different than someone with a higher score. You might not have the same options, but you can still get an auto loan with a 600 credit score.

Does Capital One auto use Equifax?

Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company. Capital One uses any of the three major credit bureaus for credit card approval: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.

What auto finance company uses TransUnion?

Get Car Financing. Even with poor credit.

When determining if a lender qualifies for a loan, GMAC uses TransUnion to check a lenders credit report. This agency (along with Experian and Equifax) generates your credit score that lenders use to determine you are reliable enough to give a loan too.

When a car dealership runs your credit does it go down?

When you visit a dealer and decide to purchase a car, fill out the loan paperwork and give the dealer permission to run a credit check, that generates a hard inquiry on your credit report. Hard inquiries will reduce your credit score anywhere from 5-10 points for about a year.

Is 680 a good credit score to buy a car?

The good news is that getting a car loan with a 680 credit score should be no problem. In general, standard lenders prefer applicants to have a credit score of at least 661, so having a credit score of 680 puts you in a favorable position.

What is a good credit score to buy a car without a cosigner?

A good credit score for a stand-alone auto loan is 660 or higher, but lenders consider other factors, meaning your minimum number could be higher or lower than this baseline figure.

Is 685 a good credit score for a car loan?

685 credit score car loan options

A 685 score should easily secure you a car loan. On average, your score should get you an interest rate between 3.6- 4.6 and between – and 6 percent on a used car. Scores above 720 are more likely to net you the lower percentage rates.

Why is there a 100 point difference between TransUnion and Equifax?

This is because there are 3 credit bureaus and dozens of different scoring models. Differences in which report is pulled, which scoring model is used, and what information is reported to whom and when, can all have an impact on the credit score you are viewing.

Why is Equifax lower than TransUnion?

The lower Equifax number is a common concern for many people. The reason that this score is lower than your TransUnion score is based on the fact that TransUnion adds personal information and employment data that is weighted into their model.

Why is my Credit Karma score higher than Equifax?

Lenders may not report to all three credit bureaus

Because of this difference in reporting, each of the three credit bureaus may have slightly different credit report information for you and you may see different scores as a result.

What credit score is needed for 1.9 financing?

This can help you find the best auto loan interest rates by credit score with less legwork than reaching out to lenders on your own. Rates for borrowers with excellent credit scores start at 1.9% for new cars and 2.15% for used cars, but those with credit scores of 575 or above can find loan offers through the site.