
Applying for an auto loan can be a straightforward process, but it's natural to wonder if it will affect your credit report. According to the article, a soft inquiry is typically made when you apply for an auto loan, which doesn't pull your credit report and won't impact your credit score.
However, if the lender requires a hard inquiry, it can temporarily lower your credit score by a few points. This is because a hard inquiry is a sign to lenders that you're taking on new debt, which can be a risk.
You can expect to see a soft inquiry on your credit report, but it won't be visible to potential lenders or creditors. This is because soft inquiries are only visible to you and the lender that made the inquiry.
If you're concerned about the impact on your credit report, you can always check your credit report for free once a year.
A unique perspective: Payday Loan Affect on Credit Score
Auto Loan Credit Impact
Applying for an auto loan can have a temporary impact on your credit score. Hard inquiries, which occur when a lender checks your credit, can cause a small credit score decrease.
Multiple inquiries in a short period of time, typically 45 days for FICO Scores and 14 days for VantageScores, count as a single check. This means that applying for multiple car loans in a short period of time will only have a temporary effect on your credit score.
However, applying for other forms of credit, such as credit cards or a mortgage, at the same time can lower your credit score significantly. It's best to focus on one type of loan at a time to minimize the impact on your credit score.
The key to reducing the impact of credit checks on your credit score is to submit only soft credit checks in the loan research phase. Pre-qualifications and soft credit inquiries can occur over weeks or months without affecting your credit score.
Take a look at this: Short Term Loan with Bad Credit
Here's a breakdown of how hard inquiries can affect your credit score:
Keep in mind that hard inquiries remain on your credit report for two years, although they have no effect on your credit score after one year. A single hard inquiry typically drops your credit score by just a few points, so the overall impact should be small.
Types of Credit Checks
There are two types of credit checks: hard and soft. A hard credit check is triggered when you apply for a loan, and it can decrease your credit score by a few points. Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for up to two years, but their impact on your credit score should diminish to zero within the first 12 months.
A soft credit check, on the other hand, is an unofficial credit check used for pre-approvals and doesn't affect your credit score. Soft inquiries do appear on your credit report, but they are not a concern for most people.
Intriguing read: Credit Check Car Loans
Hard inquiries can be a concern if you apply for multiple loans at the same time, as each application can trigger a separate hard inquiry. However, if you apply for multiple car loans within a short period, usually 45 days or less, they will count as one inquiry and won't have a significant impact on your credit score.
Multiple inquiries for a car loan will be treated as a single check, but applying for other forms of credit at the same time, like credit cards or a mortgage, will count as separate inquiries and could lower your credit score significantly.
Credit Check Frequency
A single hard pull can drop your credit score by just a few points, but the impact is usually small.
Multiple hard pulls from various auto lenders will be rolled into one as long as they occur within a specific timeframe, which is generally 45 days for FICO scores.
Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for two years, but they have no effect on your credit score after one year.
Lenders make allowances in some situations, treating multiple inquiries within a short period of time as a single inquiry and having little impact on your credit scores.
Factors Affecting Your Score
Your credit score is a complex calculation, but there are five main factors that affect it. These factors are payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new credit, and credit mix.
Payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score, making it the most important factor. Paying off your car loan early can actually hurt your credit score, as it reduces the length of your credit history.
Amounts owed make up 30% of your credit score, and it's calculated based on how much you owe compared to your credit limit. Closing a credit account will lower your credit score by a few points.
New credit accounts for 10% of your credit score, and shopping for a car loan can result in a hard pull, which will lower your credit score by a few points. However, multiple hard pulls from different lenders will be rolled into one if they occur within a specific timeframe, usually 45 days.
Your credit mix, also accounting for 10% of your credit score, is a combination of different types of credit, such as credit cards, loans, and mortgages. Building up a solid credit score and keeping your inquiries to a minimum will help minimize the impact of hard inquiries on your credit.
How Long Between Pulls?
You should wait as long as possible between credit pulls, but a good rule of thumb is to wait at least 90 days.
A hard credit pull remains on your credit report for up to two years, so it's essential to space out your applications.
If you're shopping for a car loan, you can apply to multiple dealers within a 14-to-45-day period, and it will be treated as a single hard pull.
However, if you're applying for different types of credit, such as a car loan and a credit card, each will be treated as a separate hard inquiry.
Here's an interesting read: Dentist Pull Infected Tooth
Waiting 90 days between credit pulls is a good idea, as it gives you time to space out your applications and minimize the impact on your credit score.
According to Experian, multiple hard inquiries within a short period can be viewed as a red flag, so it's best to be cautious and wait until you're ready to apply.
You can make soft credit pulls as frequently as you'd like without affecting your credit score, so feel free to shop around and compare rates without worrying about the impact on your credit.
Car Loan Application Process
Applying for a car loan can be a straightforward process, but it's essential to understand what's involved.
The first step is to check your credit score, which can affect the interest rate you'll qualify for. You can request a free credit report from the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
You'll need to provide personal and financial information to the lender, such as your income, employment history, and debt obligations. This information will help the lender determine your creditworthiness.
The lender will review your credit report and score, as well as the information you provided, to make a decision on your loan application. The entire process usually takes a few days to a week.
You can apply for a car loan online, over the phone, or in person at a dealership or lender's office. Some lenders may have additional requirements, such as proof of insurance or a down payment.
Credit Score Effects
Applying for an auto loan will result in a hard pull on your credit report, which can cause a small credit score decrease. However, multiple inquiries within a 45-day period are treated as a single check.
A single hard inquiry can lower your credit score by just a few points, but the impact is usually small. In fact, most FICO credit scores are not affected by multiple inquiries for auto, mortgage, or student loan lenders within a short period of time.
Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for two years, but they have no effect on your credit score after one year. This means that while they may still be visible on your report, they won't hurt your credit score as much after a year has passed.
Taking out a car loan can have a few different effects on your credit score. First, it will increase your total debt load and change your credit utilization ratio, which may cause a slight drop in your score.
However, making regular on-time payments is good for your payment history, which has the biggest impact on FICO scores. In fact, payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score, making it the most important aspect of your credit report.
A car loan can also improve your credit mix, particularly if you didn't already have an installment-type account on your report. This is because a diverse credit portfolio shows that you have successfully managed different kinds of credit, which appeals to lenders.
Here's a summary of the effects of a car loan on your credit score:
If you pay down the balance of your auto loan over time, your credit utilization will go down, and your credit score may improve. This is because a lower credit utilization ratio shows that you can manage your debt responsibly.
You might like: Being Upside down on Car Loan
Minimize Dealership Credit Impact
Hard credit inquiries can indeed impact your credit report, causing a small credit score decrease. Any type of hard credit inquiry will be noted on your credit report.
Multiple inquiries in a short period of time, such as 45 days for FICO Scores or 14 days for VantageScores, count as a single check. This can help minimize the impact on your credit score.
However, applying for other forms of credit at the same time, like credit cards or a mortgage, while trying to get a car loan will count as separate inquiries. This could lower your credit score significantly.
To minimize the credit score impact of dealership credit checks, submit only soft credit checks in the loan research phase. Pre-qualifications and soft credit inquiries can occur over weeks or months without affecting your credit score.
Grouping hard inquiries and pre-approval attempts within two or three weeks can also help minimize the impact on your credit score. They will appear on your credit report but will be treated as a single hard pull.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will my credit score go down if I apply for a loan?
Applying for a loan may cause your credit score to drop by less than 5 points. However, your score is likely to recover within a few months to a year with timely payments.
Sources
- https://www.investopedia.com/how-long-is-a-credit-pull-good-for-an-auto-loan-7556628
- https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/dealership-credit-checks/
- https://wolfchasenissan.com/finance/car-finance-tips/does-applying-for-car-loans-affect-credit
- https://www.capitalone.com/cars/learn/managing-your-money-wisely/how-do-car-loans-affect-my-credit-score/1046
- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-will-shopping-for-an-auto-loan-affect-my-credit-en-763/
Featured Images: pexels.com