Okay, but no. What kind of car should *I* buy?

[lumberjim]

It is a common misconception that multiple inquiries can adversely affect your score. If you have a car dealer run your credit, then they submit it to 13 banks, then you go to another dealer, and it happens the same way, it will all count as a single inquiry. as long as they are all AUTO inquiries, and fall within a 3 week range (appx because transunion is vague about the way they word that)

Originally Posted by transunion

“Hard inquiries" by a lender or creditor, such as those resulting from your applying for credit, can slightly lower your credit score. If you’re shopping for a loan and concerned about harm to your score, know that multiple loan inquiries within a period of a few weeks are usually treated as a single inquiry to minimize impact.

but if you have your own financing lined up, just tell them you're a cash customer until right at the end. If your salesman is smart enough to ask you if that's cash-cash, or outside financing, then great...be honest. but don't volunteer it.

there should be no reason they can give you to pull your credit prior to your agreeing to purchase the car. once you do say yes, though, expect them to run it. even if you are going with your bank. they have to check you against the OFAC database(Patriot Act), and also verify your identity (Red Flags Rule), and a credit report is a good way of doing both at once. There are other ways, and if you're really against them pulling your bureau, they can get around it. don't sign the credit application if you don't want it run. go ahead and give up your ss#, sign the privacy notice, etc.... call me if you panic. any time