Hello,
I am trying to negotiate with several dealers for a 2023 Subaru Crosstrek. Two Autonation reps told me they cannot negotiate without doing a credit check first. Which doesn’t make sense to me since we haven’t negotiated anything. They won’t take my FICO score without running my credit, even though I just ran it myself. One of the Autonation reps told me they go only by Transunion and that they not only need to see the credit score but also my credit history WTF!??? I have very good credit, but why do you need to be in my business of my credit history if my score is good??? The 3rd dealership was not an Autonation dealership and he said his ‘finance person’ won’t allow them to negotiate without a credit pull first due to ‘compliance reasons’. Also, a GM from one of the Autonation dealers said that all vehicles are being negotiated at MSRP (except for the Ascents) and that the only thing they could negotiate is APR and that could only happen if a credit pull is done first.
Is this a new ‘compliance’ thing? Or is it due to the shortages or both?
They don’t have to run your credit. Sounds like they either want to weed out buyers or scare you into buying a car from them since they already ran your credit.
Why are you only looking at autonation dealers? I’m pretty sure I’ve seen brokers advertise discounted Subarus recently in marketplace
That’s what I thought. Are you saying they probably ran a ‘soft’ credit check on me already? I haven’t filled out any credit app or provided any other info other than what I am looking for and all through email.
I am working with some non-Autonation dealers and one of them told me the same. That per ‘compliance reasons’ their ‘finance person’ told them a credit pull must be done first. This is in Denver area.
I don’t think they ran a soft credit check on you. Maybe they think if they run your credit and your score drops a few points, you’ll decide to stick with them?
Don’t run credit checks for negotiations. That is not required! Only run it once you agree on the #s and ready to sign. It’s a hard inquiry and it’s hit usually twice/credit application. One from dealer and the other from lender.
Thank you, that is what I thought. They are taking a hard stance. Even saying thanking your for the opportunity. Like go away and don’t bother me if you don’t run your credit. I am not giving in, but wondering if Denver metro area just doesn’t want to waste their time with people that don’t have good credit.
Are you negotiating for a purchase or a lease? If the latter, they may want to run your credit check to make sure you qualify for certain MFs before negotiating a lease payment.
Or they will tell OP that if you go to another dealer your Credit will be lower because we ran you a bunch of times. I don’t think your example would ever be true.
Dealers start with the best rate then come back and say ‘so sorry , we need $XXXX down because your credit sucks’.
