Credit check before test drive? Are you kidding me!

[MartinC]

I'm in the market for a new car and have been researching a number of vehicles and have narrowed my search down to a few vehicles - one of them is the Stinger. I've seen the Stinger and sat in one so I know it checks those boxes, but I haven't driven one yet. I need to do that before I consider putting down $50K on a new car - from a brand that is known for it's affordability and utility not luxury performace vehicles. The dealer near my office finally had a GT2 in stock to test drive but when I called yesterday to schedule one, they told me they would have to run a credit check before they let me do that! It was non-negotiable as I tried to let them know that I would never do that and have never done that before a test drive. BMW, Infinity, Jaguar, Audi, Alfa Romeo and others have never required me to do this for a test drive. By the way, that's who Kia says is their competition for this car! Just read all of the reviews that talk about the cars that Kia brought in to compare the Stinger to when they had all the journalists and Vloggers at their launch event.

That said, I may never know its full benefits and whether a Stinger is the right car for me - I'm stubborn that way. As a matter of principle and just plain being ticked off at that kind of mindset from a manufacturer, I refuse to accomodate their requirement. I'm curious as to whether I'm alone on this or not and just needed a place to rant as I thought about this issue the last 24 hours. Thanks for listening!

 

[jwhollan]

That is something that specific dealer is requiring, NOT Kia themselves. It's a stupid practice and I would never agree to that either. My recommendation is to go to another dealer (if you have another within reasonable driving distance) and give this car a chance. It's amazing before you drive it, and it will likely blow you away after you drive it. Don't let one terrible dealer policy skew your opinion.

 

[Terry S]

A couple of years ago I test drove a BMW i3 for THREE FULL DAYS, and the BMW dealer never even asked to see my credit card. I did have to show my driver's license, of course, and I suppose they might have run a credit check from that, but it was really refreshing to be handed the keys to a brand-new car to use as I wanted for three days without having to provide any overt proof of financial responsibility.

I'd tell the Kia dealership that I planned to pay cash for a Stinger IF I decided to buy one. If they still insisted on running a credit check after that, and before letting me take a Stinger around the block, then I'd walk out.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Welcome aboard, @MartinC! And thank you for signing up. We're actually having a pretty big discussion about this here:
Is it okay with you when a dealership wants to run your credit before giving you a test drive?

At first, it really pissed me off. Especially considering how like @Terry S has in the past, I've been given a car overnight or longer to test drive without a credit check. But as we're having the conversation, I'm beginning to understand the reasoning behind this... The Stinger GT is extremely rare right now. They're trying to keep the mileage off the car that YOU may buy. If they let everyone take a test drive - which will include a lot of people who simply want to test drive the car - there's just not enough inventory to keep that mileage off the Stinger that somebody is probably going to own very soon.

This will stop happening once each dealer has a few Stinger GTs in stock. I hear this isn't happening with the 2.0T. Like @jwhollan said, it's not Kia itself making this happen - it's the individual dealer. Try another one and see what happens. You could also try saying that you're very careful with your credit and have your banking institution handling the credit for this transaction...

 

[jbweb7]

WTF...My local dealer finally has five Stingers. I went to take a quick test drive today and was told Kia is requiring a credit check for all test drives. Sorry but I am not filling out paperwork for a quick drive. Plus I was in a rush..anyone else run into this? In my opinion this is just plan stupid.

 

[Dave Miller]

We don't require any credit checks at our dealership before driving a car. I agree it is stupid, especially with a car you need to drive to fall in love with.

 

[hej]

WTF...My local dealer finally has five Stingers. I went to take a quick test drive today and was told Kia is requiring a credit check for all test drives. Sorry but I am not filling out paperwork for a quick drive. Plus I was in a rush..anyone else run into this? In my opinion this is just plan stupid.

If you were told Kia requires it, that's a straight up lie. And yes, I've test driven a Stinger with no credit check or anything of the sort.

 

[jbweb7]

Good to know the local dealer will not be getting my business. Guess I will buying yet another car over an hour away. This will now be the fourth car I have had to do this for.

 

[STNGRNV]

Yeah, there's a thread about it somewhere about that. Kia is definitely not requiring it, but some dealers are asking for it.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Merging this with the other discussion now. There's also a poll here:
Is it okay with you when a dealership wants to run your credit before giving you a test drive?

 

[Bobr]

I've been given a car overnight or longer

WAT? You can get a car overnight or longer to test drive it? Here it mostly limited by 30 mins %)

 

[Devang Patel]

I went to Garden Grove Kia to test drive about a week after they arrived. They had about 13 in stock. My friend and I wanted to test drive and we got the same thing....they told us that they must run our credit. We expressed our displeasure and the salesperson went to talk to his manager and they allowed us to drive it but had to make copies of our drivers lisence first.

Kia of Orange laughed when I told them that story and they didn’t even check my ID.

Ended up buying from Kia of Cerritos since I bought my K900 from them.

 

[mikeceli]

Dealers vary, around here. Never was asked for a credit check! Went to 2 Kia dealers, last week. First one asked if I wanted to test drive(TD) handed me the keys and away we went for 30 minutes. Other dealer, salesman ask if my son and I wanted to drive the Stinger GT2. He requested to copy our DL's and away the 3 of us went, for a 20 mile round trip.

When I was shopping Corvette's in 2002, test drives were readily offered.

I recall when the Pontiac Fiero first came out, the salesman said to my uncle and I "Your level of enthusiasm does not warrant a test drive". (He was actually correct)

Most mundane cars they WANT you to drive. A good salesperson can "smell" money, beyond a persons appearance.

 

[CO-bound]

Kia dealers are going to learn eventually this kind of stuff turns people off. This car is important for turning the brand around and bringing in people from the premiums; people used to the pampering from those brands aren't going to buy a Stinger if they're met with these type of games.

By far the best test drive experience I EVER had was at a local Infiniti dealership after the new Q60 came out last year. I was too busy to drop by so the dealer brought a brand new Q60 red sport to my job and let me keep it two days. No credit check, no hoops, just a visual check of my license and insurance and off he went, leaving me with the key to a 56k coupe, with 25 miles on it. Now that's service...

 

[mikeceli]

When we shopped Volt, in LA, I requested a few hour test drive, telling the salesman I did my research about the car. However my wife and I needed to drive it long enough to see "If it was something we could live with, day in and day out". They viewed my DL and Insurance, had me sign a "Borrowed Car Agreement" and said "Just be back before we close"(in about 6 hours). We returned about 3 hours and bought a new Volt.

Great dealership experience Rydell Chevrolet, Northridge Ca.

 

[Kia Stinger]

WAT? You can get a car overnight or longer to test drive it? Here it mostly limited by 30 mins %)

They won't all allow this - but it does happen. Usually the luxury brands (in my experience)...

I recall when the Pontiac Fiero first came out, the salesman said to my uncle and I "Your level of enthusiasm does not warrant a test drive". (He was actually correct)

Most mundane cars they WANT you to drive. A good salesperson can "smell" money, beyond a persons appearance.

Pretty rude - but good call since true... Boy, did I love the Fiero...

 

[Chris]

When I bought my Nissan Titan in 04, I was on the fence and they gave me one for the weekend. It worked out for them because after driving it for 3 days I really wanted to buy it..

 

[Irish]

When I started looking at a Stinger locally here, the dealer let me do a couple of dealer ride alongs (3 of them). Then they let me take it for over an hour one night. My wife has bad night vision and wanted to experience the car while driving at night. They were totally cool with letting me take the one off the showroom floor.. They just said please don't put over 50 miles on it..

Now I feel real bad cause I had to buy my stinger from a different dealer on the other side of the state..

 

[SEA Stinger]

Honda dealers are worse by far.

A number of years ago, I was serious about buying a Honda SUV and walked into a dealer to talk price. Dealer told me they wouldn't start negotiating until I filled out a full credit application. Not sure why, but I foolishly agreed. Then the a**holes quoted me an outrageously high "final" price. I turned and walked out, pissed.

Since then, I have refused to deviate from the following sequence:
1. fully research the vehicle
2. thorough test drive(s)
3. negotiate price, including getting in writing, total out-the door cost (if considering financing, tell them my credit score)
4. apply for credit
5. read and sign the purchase and sale agreement
6. remain willing to pull the plug if not satisfied during any part of 1 though 5

Some auto dealers have no clue about how to interact with customers, or about the lasting consequences to them. One bad review outweighs many good reviews.

When I've mentioned my bad Honda experience to friends, several have replied that they have also had awful interactions with Honda dealers.