Is it okay with you when a dealership wants to run your credit before giving you a test drive?

[Kia Stinger]

So we've been hearing a few stories where Stinger test drives aren't permitted without first running your credit. How do you feel about this? Please vote and explain your answer if you like...

 

[Jayce]

I'm going to vote a no on that one, unless it is a soft hit. I don't want you running my credit just so I can test drive a vehicle. If I don't like it, then I've had a hit on my credit for no reason.

 

[Kia Stinger]

I don't typically vote on my own topics but I have strong feelings about this one. I have NEVER in my entire life had a salesman* demand they run my credit before I can test drive their "precious" vehicle. And I don't plan on starting any new trends...

* For the politically correct record, a woman has never sold me a car.

 

[Chris]

Big fat hell no from me.
I'm not taking a credit hit to drive a car. One guy asked me one time when I was trying to buy a Celica when I was 17. Never happened since.

 

[CrisX]

I never ran into this issue before. I also vote no to this. In my opinion, this is borderline discriminatory. The dealer can take my info and photo copy my driver's licence to protect themselves. But if they want to run credit on me first, I would just walk away.

 

[exodus]

I don't typically vote on my own topics but I have strong feelings about this one. I have NEVER in my entire life had a salesman* demand they run my credit before I can test drive their "precious" vehicle. And I don't plan on starting any new trends...

* For the politically correct record, a woman has never sold me a car.

I am right there with you. Never had it happen and would be like W T F if it did.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Landslide... These Kia dealerships need some education - and quickly...

 

[German Stinger]

It is fairly simple. They want to sell and I am the customer. They do what I want or I am off.

I am glad my dealer is not stupid. From what I read here the average Kia dealers in the US do not seem to be very smart.

 

[corradoMR2]

At this time, it's a 20 to 0 vote in favor of No

Not surprising!

There's an arrogance on the dealership's part demanding a credit check as if to say you may not be good enough for their car. It's never happened to me and I'd walk out. The golden rule is to treat everyone as a 100% potential buyer giving the benefit of the doubt to the customer, always.

 

[ballistic]

i'm vote number 23 for no. no way. stupid.

 

[admonite]

I let a motorcycle dealer run my credit before I could take a test ride, but I was only 18 yrs old and didn't really care...or know any better. Today, I wouldn't. I'd go somewhere else.

 

[Euljiro1ga]

Probably the Stinger is so much more "precious" than an average Kia, the dealers got overly excited, thinking they are selling a Bugatti. They forgot the BMW dealer next door has been offering test drives without credit checking way before Kia entered the US market.

 

[Jumpy]

Is "running your credit" not the same thing as a "credit check"? I didn't realize this entailed "taking a hit." I thought it simply meant checking to see if you have good credit.

 

[Chris]

Is "running your credit" not the same thing as a "credit check"? I didn't realize this entailed "taking a hit." I thought it simply meant checking to see if you have good credit.

There are two types of credit checks. A soft check and a normal credit check. Soft pulls happen when you pull your own credit score, or things like your new employer is verifying who you are, some other things like that. This will not hurt your score. If a dealer is pulling your credit it is not a soft credit check they are doing a normal can we give you a loan check. This will drop your score slightly every time it happens, more if it happens multiple times in a short period.

 

[Jumpy]

There are two types of credit checks. A soft check and a normal credit check. Soft pulls happen when you pull your own credit score, or things like your new employer is verifying who you are, some other things like that. This will not hurt your score. If a dealer is pulling your credit it is not a soft credit check they are doing a normal can we give you a loan check. This will drop your score slightly every time it happens, more if it happens multiple times in a short period.

Interesting...why does that hurt your score just to see if you can get a loan?

 

[Chris]

Interesting...why does that hurt your score just to see if you can get a loan?

?? Who knows? why is the sky blue? That whole credit bureau business is a load of s#!@ IMO.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Interesting...why does that hurt your score just to see if you can get a loan?

Because it means you want to buy something you don't have enough money for...

 

[CoconutRob]

I assumed it was a soft check!

 

[Euljiro1ga]

What if you want to buy it with cash? How can a dealer verify that?

 

[Kia Stinger]

What if you want to buy it with cash? How can a dealer verify that?

Ahh, that's a good one... "No, sir - I'll be paying in cash"...