Wondering if it’s possible to get a car without a credit check? Read our guide to find out how credit checks work when you apply for car finance and what to do if your credit score is less than perfect.
Wondering if it’s possible to get a car without a credit check? Read our guide to find out how credit checks work when you apply for car finance and what to do if your credit score is less than perfect.
You’ll find plenty of companies advertising no-credit-check car finance or no-credit-check car loans online. But while this suggests they offer car finance (also known as vehicle or auto finance) without doing a credit check, that’s not the case. The lender will do a soft credit check to see if you’re eligible. This doesn’t appear on your credit record and so won’t damage your credit score. But if you go on to apply for the car finance, they’ll do a full credit check.
There’s no such thing as guaranteed car finance with no credit check. The Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates the car finance industry, requires car finance providers to assess their customers for creditworthiness. Lenders do this by carrying out several checks including a credit check to see what other credit you have and if you’ve been a responsible borrower in the past.
There are two types of credit checks:
A soft credit check. This is an initial look at the information on your file. From this the lender can tell you if your application is likely to be approved. Although passing the soft search check is not a guarantee of acceptance, it significantly reduces the risk of your application being rejected later.
Only you can see the soft searches on your file. It doesn’t matter how many soft searches you have as they don’t affect your credit score.
A hard credit check. This is a complete search of your file and is done when you make a formal application for car finance. A hard credit check shows on your credit file which means lenders can see if you’ve previously applied for credit. Too many applications in a short space of time can suggest you’re too reliant on credit or in financial trouble and can make it harder to get credit.
If you have bad credit or no credit history at all, checking your eligibility for car finance before you apply is a good idea. Although it’s not possible to get a car loan without a credit check, many car finance providers offer soft credit checks. This means you can get quotes from several companies without damaging your credit record.
There are several types of car finance. These include:
With Experian, you can check your eligibility for PCPs, personal loans, HP deals and credit cards with a soft credit check. You can also compare guarantor loans and offers from car finance brokers. But remember we’re a credit broker and not a lender.
Experian’s car finance tool compares car finance deals – including electric car finance offers - from over 20 leading brands without affecting your credit score. It takes less than two minutes and we’ll tell you if you’re pre-approved for the loan and at what APR (annual percentage rate) so you can apply knowing your application has a good chance of being successful.
There isn’t a particular credit score you need. In fact, you can get a car with a low credit score or if you have no credit history at all. But the higher your credit score, the better. With an excellent score, you’ll get the lowest interest rates and be able to borrow more.
There are some steps you can take if you’re refused car finance. These include:
Yes, you can get no-credit-history car finance, but you may find it harder and more expensive. Lenders see you as a higher risk as they can’t check how well you’ve handled credit in the past. The good news is there are ways to build your credit history.
If you manage your car finance well by consistently making payments on time and in full, it’ll help to improve your credit score. With a higher credit score, you’ll be able to access better deals in the future.
Having a County Court Judgment (CCJ) makes it harder to get a car loan. But while a mainstream lender may turn you down, one specialising in bad-credit car finance may be happy to lend. It’s likely they’ll charge a high interest rate or limit the amount you can borrow.
Lease providers usually require a good credit rating. However, there are some providers that specialise in bad-credit car leasing who may accept a lower score and may even consider you if you have a CCJ.
This is a type of hire purchase aimed at people who have struggled to keep up with finance payments in the past. A small device is fitted to your vehicle which enables the lender to immobilise your car if you don’t pay on time.
No, because you don’t borrow any money with a car subscription. Instead, you pay a monthly fee upfront which lets you have use of a car.
Here the key steps to take before applying for car finance:
We're a credit broker not a lender†