Which Credit Bureau Is Most Used For Auto Loans? (2024)

Experian and Equifax are the credit bureaus most commonly used for auto loans. They offer specialized auto lending solutions (such as Experian’s Auto Audiences) and receive a significant portion of their revenue for services associated with the auto industry. For example, the automotive industry contributed 7% of Equifax’s 2019 revenue (its fourth largest revenue segment) and 5% of Experian’s revenue for its most recent fiscal year (tied for its fifth largest revenue segment).

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. In most cases, the contents of your major credit reports will be very similar, as will most credit scores calculated based on those reports.

It’s important to note, however, that if one or more of your credit reports is frozen, that could affect your loan application. So, it’s worth asking your lender which credit bureau they will use in their decision to determine if you need to temporarily remove your credit freeze.

Finally, remember that when you apply for an auto loan, your credit score doesn't tell the full story. Potential creditors/lenders will also look at things such as your full credit report, employment status, income, and assets.

Which Credit Bureau Is Most Used For Auto Loans? (2024)

FAQs

Which Credit Bureau Is Most Used For Auto Loans? ›

Which Credit Bureaus Are Used Most for Auto Loans? Equifax and Experian are the most commonly used credit bureaus by auto lenders.

Do car loans look at Equifax or TransUnion? ›

Which credit bureau's scores are most commonly used for auto loans? Equifax and Experian scores are typically used for auto loans. TransUnion scores are also used, but not as frequently.

What credit bureau score is needed to buy a car? ›

In general, you'll need a credit score of at least 600 to qualify for a traditional auto loan, but the minimum credit score required to finance a car loan varies by lender.

Which credit bureau score is used most? ›

Although Experian is the largest credit bureau in the U.S., TransUnion and Equifax are widely considered to be just as accurate and important. When it comes to credit scores, however, there is a clear winner: FICO® Score is used in 90% of lending decisions.

Why is my Equifax score higher than TransUnion? ›

1. Why do scores from TransUnion and Equifax can differ? These scores can differ since these bureaus can use different algorithms and they may have access to different information. Due to these circ*mstances, potential errors may occur in reporting.

Do car dealerships use FICO or TransUnion? ›

What credit score do auto lenders look at? The three major credit bureaus are Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. The two big credit scoring models used by auto lenders are FICO® Auto Score and Vantage. We're going to take at look at FICO® since it has long been the auto industry standard.

Which one counts more TransUnion or Equifax? ›

Neither score is more or less accurate than the other; they're only being calculated from slightly differing sources. Your Equifax credit score is more likely to appear lower than your TransUnion one because of the reporting differences, but a “fair” score from TransUnion is typically “fair” across the board.

What credit score do most 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.

Which FICO score is used for auto loans? ›

FICO Auto Score has several versions. Most auto lenders use FICO Auto Score 8, as the most widespread, or FICO Auto Score 9. It's the most recent and used by all three bureaus. FICO Auto Score ranges from 250 to 900, meaning your FICO score will differ from your FICO Auto Score.

Can I get a car loan with a 640 credit score? ›

You can still get a car loan with a 640 credit score. However, you may have to pay a higher interest rate than those with excellent credit scores. The interest rate for a car loan with a 640 credit score can vary depending on several factors, such as the lender, the car's cost, and the loan term.

Which score is higher Experian or Equifax? ›

At Equifax, your score is on a scale of 0 to 1200, whereas Experian calculates it on a scale of 0 to 1000. Of course, the algorithms they use for calculating the score are also different. As a result, you may notice a difference in your score across these bureaus.

What credit bureau does Capital One use for auto loans? ›

Capital One appears to pull from any of three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Though all evidence is limited to anecdotal data, Capital One does seem to rely on specific bureaus in some states, though this is not a guarantee.

Is Experian the most accurate? ›

Those are TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. There isn't one “more accurate” report. The most accurate report in any individual case is the one that has the most complete information. Creditors don't have to report to any of the credit bureaus, and they certainly aren't required to report to all of them.

Do banks use TransUnion or Equifax? ›

When you are applying for a mortgage to buy a home, lenders will typically look at all of your credit history reports from the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. In most cases, mortgage lenders will look at your FICO score. There are different FICO scoring models.

Is Experian or TransUnion better? ›

Of the three main credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), none is considered better than the others. A lender may rely on a report from one bureau or all three bureaus to make its decisions about approving your loan.

Which credit report is most accurate? ›

The most accurate credit scores are the latest versions of the FICO Score and VantageScore credit-scoring models: FICO Score 9/10 and VantageScore 3.0/4.0. It is important to check a reputable, accurate credit score because there are more than 1,000 different types of credit scores floating around.

What lenders use TransUnion only? ›

Which Banks Pull TransUnion Only?
  • Avianca.
  • Apple Card - Goldman Sachs Bank.
  • Barclays.
  • Capital One.
  • Synchrony Bank.
  • U.S Bank.

Is 700 a good credit score to buy a car? ›

A credit score of 700 is good enough for you to negotiate the best interest rates. Dealerships prefer that customers buy new vehicles instead of old ones and the interest rates for financing a new car are much better than the interest rates for buying a used car.

Can I get approved for a car with a 550 credit score? ›

A credit score of 550 isn't the best you can have –it's not even the average. You can still qualify for a car loan with such a score, but you may notice a higher interest rate compared to what can be normally expected.

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