Does anybody know if a car dealership can check your credit without showing anything on your credit report?

Question

A car salesman promised me that he can check my credit without affecting my credit score as an inquiry, I just want to see if anybody has hear of this before?!

Answer 1

He's full of it. Car dealers are the worst about runnin gyour creit. They will run it through multiple lenders. I learned that the hard wya. The first time I tries to buy a car I think it was about 8 different lenders they gave my info to and everyone shows up as an inquiry on your credit.

Answer 2

He is lying to you. Anytime a salesman lies to you, give him the permanent boot.

This is a hard inquiry that will drop your credit score, possibly up to 5 points depending on the extent of your credit history.

This is a minor blip though if you are serious about financing a car. In fact, you are better off to get numerous offers from lenders so that you can get the best rate. All automobile loan inquiries that are initiated within the same 45 day period will show up on your credit report, but they appear as only ONE inquiry, not dozens as most people believe.

Answer 3

He's lying to you ...if you are applying for financing they will run your credit and this will be an INQUIRY and will affect your score.
Remember this is a salesman and he's going to tell you what you WANT to hear........ :-\

What's important to remember is that this is considered only as ONE inquiry... even if they go to multiple lenders for offers. So it's not as bad as it sounds.

I have known of people that take a copy of their own credit report into the dealership and sometimes they will accept it -- but since I haven't tried it myself (I only buy a car about every 10-12 years!) I can't attest to whether this works.

There is possibly no slimier sales person on the planet than a car salesman!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

No. Any creditor who checks your credit will cause an inquiry, which will lower your score.

However, you can pull your own credit report as many times as you like and never affect your score. It may be best if you pull all 3 reports and take them to some car dealers to get a loan quote.

Also, there is a place called Lending Tree who will pull one credit report and match you to several lenders.

Answer 5

Only you can get a free report, once a year for the 3 major credit reporting agencies, without it going as a check for credit.

Answer 6

When a dealership pulls your credit, it's refered to as a 'hard pull' and it will show up on your credit report. One or two inquiries will not hurt your score, it's the multiple pulls over and over that will kill it. It looks like you are trying to get a bunch of credit and file bankrupcy or skip town, etc.

Answer 7

No it will effect you credit report by 2 points. You can check you credit report all the time you want and it will not effect it. Here is a website that gives you a free report annually that is part of new federal law.
http://www.annualcreditreport.com although it doesn't show your fico's you can get them from truecredit.com but it will cost you.
Good Luck

Answer 8

Nope once he goes into your credit your score goes down it happens all the time this dealer is Lying 2 U

Answer 9

sammie has it right, a soft pull can be done, but he doesn't get a copy of your credit report, all he would see is you are in a certain range no exact figure, no details.

so ask him to see someone else's pull with info blocked out ofcourse to level of detail, if there is none then you are ok, however i recommend you to pull your own and give him a copy instead (as was suggested again by sammie)

Answer 10

Yes and no. He can do it, but will not get a true credit score. It's what they do for all of the pre-approved offers for credit cards. I don't think he can determine if you will for sure get approved. If you are concerned, you should check your own credit and give the info to him.