Soft search car finance

Applying for finance can be stressful, especially if you don't have the best credit score. Many people fear that applying will leave a mark on their file, making it harder to get approved elsewhere.

We understand this concern. That's why our process starts with a car finance soft credit search.

This initial look at you and your credit file is a risk-free way to find out if we can help you. You get the information you need without any negative impact on your credit file, putting you in control of the process. No more guesswork.

We were named the Best Car Finance Provider at the Consumer Credit Awards for a fifth year running in 2025, and we're here to help you in whatever way we can.

1. We'll ask a few basic questions about you, the car you're hoping to buy, and your employment status. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to sort.
2. If everything from the soft check comes back okay, we'll send you an email or text message, as well as showing you illustrative examples on your screen. You can either continue with your application or come back to your quote later. 
3. If, after running the soft search, we don't think we can help at this time, you will get a message explaining this. We'll provide details for Experian, the credit agency we use as part of the soft check, if you wish to get a better understanding. 

Craig, our Head of Underwriting, explains the difference and how the whole process works: 

"A lot of our customers come to us worried about their credit score. A 'soft search' is designed to fix this - think of it as a 'first look'. We run a soft check to see if you're likely to be approved. It's only visible to you and us, and it has zero impact on your credit score.

"A 'hard search' only happens when you agree to your quote with us."

Yes. In fact, a soft search for car finance is a vital tool if you have a poor or thin credit history.

Multiple applications for credit in a short space of time that involve hard credit searches can make your score worse, and getting rejected can be stressful. But a car finance soft search, like ours, is designed to stop the cycle.

When you get a quote from us, you get a clear "yes" or "no" in principle, without any risk to your credit file. It gives you a safe way to check your eligibility without the fear of another hard search damaging your file.

We specialise in looking at your current situation and affordability, not just your credit score. Our soft credit check car finance process is the first step in showing us the bigger picture.

• Check your credit file: You can get a free copy of your credit report from agencies like Experian. Look it over. Is your address history correct? Are there any mistakes? If you spot any errors, contact the lender to get it updated.
• Tidy up your details: Lenders look for stability. Make sure you have your address history for the last three years and your employment details to hand. Having all your information correct makes the application much smoother.
• Register to vote: This is the fastest and easiest win. Being on the electoral roll is a way lenders, like us, confirm your name and address. It's a simple tick for proving your identity.
• Manage your existing credit: If you have other credit accounts (like a phone contract or a credit card), try to ensure you're making payments on time. This shows you're a responsible borrower.

We use Experian, one of the UK's top credit reference agencies, to run our credit checks. This helps us to understand your credit history, which is one of several factors we take into consideration when making a decision on your approval for vehicle finance.

We’re authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

We're committed to treating customers fairly and giving clear, honest information so you can trust us to put your best interests first every step of the way!

Use our car finance calculator to get an idea of what your payments might look like. It's free to use and doesn't require a credit check. Your final result will be influenced by:

• The value of the vehicle
• The size of your deposit
• The length of your repayment term
• Your credit rating

• We put our customers first. We've been named Best Car Finance Provider at the Consumer Credit Awards for five consecutive years.
• Our customers agree. We're five-time winners of Feefo's Platinum Trusted Service Award, showing our commitment to outstanding service. 
• You'll be joining a community of over 300,000 people we have successfully helped get the car finance they need.

And it all starts with our customer-first soft search car finance check to protect your credit file.  

We're SAF Approved by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), which means that all of our customer-facing employees have passed the Specialist Automotive Finance (SAF) Expert test. This ensures our team members have all the relevant knowledge to advise you on available finance products and help find the right one for you!