Soft credit check

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No impact on your credit score.

If you’re thinking of getting car finance at some point you’ll need to have a credit check. There are two kinds of credit check: a soft credit check (also called a soft search) and a hard credit check (or hard search). But what’s the difference and why does it matter?

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What is a soft credit check?

A soft credit check is a top-level overview of your financial history. It’s a first look at certain information on your credit report, based on information provided by you. Lenders perform soft credit checks to help them decide whether you’re eligible to apply for credit with them or to check that you qualify for certain offers.

You can also run a soft check on yourself: it’s a useful way to determine how eligible you might be for a range of credit, including car finance, before deciding to apply.

And there’s no limit to the number of soft checks you can have, and they’ll never affect your credit rating.

Reasons for a soft credit check include:

An employment verification – this is where a potential employer (or sometimes a landlord) wants to confirm you are who you say you are and check that you are financially responsible.

When a credit card company or another credit provider reviews your credit to check if you qualify to receive certain offers.

You may want to check your own credit rating from time to time or before you make an application for a finance product to decide whether to apply.

What does a soft credit check show?

A soft credit check only reveals that your credit report exists; it doesn’t reveal your actual credit score. Only publicly available information will be visible, such as your electoral roll status, your name, address and a basic overview of your financial history. Credit account history, past applications and financial associations won’t be visible on a soft check. Your credit score itself won’t show up, nor will it be affected in any way by a soft credit check.

What is a hard credit check?

A hard credit check generally takes place when a financial services company is making its final lending decision. A hard check usually occurs once you have actively decided to buy a car and have applied for finance, or you’ve applied for a mortgage, a credit card or another kind of loan.

Visible to other lenders, hard credit checks normally stay on your credit record for 12 months. Soft checks also remain on your credit record for 12 months but are
only visible to you.

You should try to avoid having multiple hard searches over a short space of time, as they can suggest to lenders that you’re in urgent need of credit and are therefore a high-risk customer. So it’s best to avoid applying for lots of credit cards all at once.

At Oodle we'll only run a hard search if you’ve already been pre-approved to
apply for finance with us and you've decided to take up that finance. The hard credit check is undertaken once you have agreed to proceed with the agreement.

Visible to other lenders, hard credit checks normally stay on your credit record for 12 months. Soft checks also remain on your credit record for 12 months but are
only visible to you.

What's the difference between a soft and hard credit check?

Soft search

You can see it on your own credit report

Lenders and organisations can see it on your credit report

It will stay on your credit record for 12 months

It is recorded when you apply for credit

It is recorded when you apply for a utility contract

It is recorded when an identity check is carried out

It is recorded when you check your own own credit report

Hard search

You can see it on your own credit report

Lenders and organisations can see it on your credit report

It will stay on your credit record for 12 months

It is recorded when you apply for credit

It is recorded when you apply for a utility contract

It is recorded when an identity check is carried out

It is recorded when you check your own own credit report

Credit scores further explained

Can you fail a soft credit check?

No, don’t worry. You’re not actually applying for anything with a soft credit check, so you can’t ‘fail’ or be penalised. Soft credit checks simply give you a good indication of whether you’re likely to be approved for credit should you then go on to apply.

While a soft credit check won’t leave a permanent imprint on your file, it is recorded – usually for 12 months. No lenders will be able to see this record and it won’t affect your credit score, but you’ll be able to see if anyone has checked your recent credit history.

What is your credit score and why is it important?

Your credit score – a three-digit number between 300 and 999 – gives potential lenders an idea of how reliable you are at borrowing and repaying debt. Lenders will look at your credit score to decide whether to offer you credit and how to structure your repayment options.

Generally, the higher your credit score, the greater your chances of being accepted for credit and the better (lower) the interest rate is likely to be. If you have a low credit score it doesn’t mean that you will be refused credit but you will have to shop around – and you can expect to pay a higher interest rate.

Does a soft credit check affect your credit score?

No. Because a soft credit check doesn’t reveal your credit score, it has no impact upon it.

Instead, it gives prospective lenders an idea of your creditworthiness, helping them to decide whether to offer you credit. Soft credit checks are visible to you only.

No. Because a soft credit check doesn’t reveal your credit score, it has no impact upon it.

Instead, it gives prospective lenders an idea of your creditworthiness, helping them to decide whether to offer you credit. Soft credit checks are visible to you only.

Calculate monthly car finance payments

The world of car finance can be a confusing one – but we’re here to help simplify things. Use our car finance calculator to help you decide whether car finance could be a good option for you, without affecting your credit rating. The calculator will give you a good idea of what your monthly payments could look like based on how much you’re looking to borrow.

Don’t worry, you’re not committing to anything; this tool is simply a useful guide to help you figure out a budget that suits you best before you complete a full application for car finance.

Soft credit check FAQs

Do CCJs show on a soft credit check?

Does a soft credit check show defaults?

NEWS Aug 2024: FCA announcement on discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs)

Oodle customers are not impacted