You may have come across no-credit-check car finance after being refused credit or because of a low credit score. It sounds simple enough, but the reality is a little different. A responsible lender still needs to assess whether you can afford the loan, even if they don't use the usual credit checks.
You cannot usually get car finance without any form of credit check, but Carplus begins the application process with a soft credit search, which allows lenders to assess your eligibility without damaging your credit score from the start. A hard credit check may only be required if you proceed with a finance offer.
Tell us what car you want, how much you need, and what payment feels manageable. From there, Carplus runs a soft eligibility check across a panel of lenders, which won't affect your credit score from the beginning, to see what options might be available to you.
If you receive an offer and decide to go ahead, you can buy from most reputable UK dealers or part exchange your current car. We'll work with the finance provider and guide you through each stage, so you always know what's happening next.
Once your finance application is approved, that's the last hurdle cleared. You can arrange collection or delivery, often the same day so it shouldn't be long before you're behind the wheel.
These estimates are subject to credit checks and may change when you apply for finance. this is for example purposes only
Maximum borrowable amount
Rates from 9.9% APR: the exact rate you will be offered will be based on your circumstances, subject to status. Representative Hire purchase (HP) example: borrowing £7,000 over 5 years with a representative APR of 21.9%, the annual interest rate of 21.9% (Fixed) and a deposit of £0, the amount payable would be £185.33 per month, with a total cost of credit of £4,119.81 and a total amount payable of £11,119.81. We look to find the best rate from our panel of lenders and will offer you the best deal that you're eligible for. We receive a fixed fee commission per finance agreement, or we receive a commission based on a percentage of the total amount of finance taken. This will not affect the interest rate offered or the total amount repayable. Our service is free.
No credit check car financing refers to car finance offers that don't start with a traditional hard credit check. It can sound like a quick and simple way to get approved, but most lenders still need to check your credit report and finances in another way. Some finance providers don't base their decision on your credit rating alone. They also look at your income, regular outgoings, and whether you can realistically afford the monthly payments.
That doesn't necessarily mean there's no credit check at all. Even lenders that advertise no credit check car finance need to work out whether the repayments are affordable. Depending on the lender, they will ask different questions or request documents to support the information you've provided.
Yes, but not quite in the way the name suggests. You'll find plenty of adverts for no credit check car finance, although very few lenders leave out every credit check. They still need enough information to work out if the agreement suits your financial circumstances and the amount you want to borrow.
Quite often, the first step is a soft credit check. That gives the lender an initial look at your creditworthiness without damaging your credit score. If everything looks alright and you choose to go ahead, a hard credit check may come later as part of the full application.
So the phrase can be a little misleading. It's not a promise that every check has disappeared, so you should view it as a shorthand for no hard credit checks at the start. It only takes a few minutes to read through the details, and it could prevent an unpleasant surprise later on.
When you apply for car finance, not every credit check works the same way. Lenders generally use soft credit checks first, although there are two types of searches, and only one is likely to include your credit application on your file for other lenders to see.
| Feature | Soft credit check | Hard credit check |
|---|---|---|
| Visible to other lenders | No | Yes |
| Affects your credit score | No | Yes |
| Used to make lending decisions | No (pre-approval stage only) | Yes (final approval) |
| Leaves a record on your credit file | No | Yes |
| Carplus uses this method | Yes | Only after you choose a car finance offer |
| Useful for determining your eligibility | Yes | Not advised for early-stage applications |
If you're looking for no credit check car financing, you won't usually find a separate finance product with that name. Instead, some finance providers may offer their standard agreements after they carry out their own affordability checks, which don't always begin with a traditional hard check. As with most products in the car finance industry, the application process varies from one lender to another.
The most common types of car finance include:
Some people compare personal car loans with dealer car finance, especially if they want to own the new car outright. With a personal loan, the money comes directly to you rather than the dealership. Approval depends on your overall creditworthiness and the different types of credit you've used in the past, so this route may be harder if you've had bad credit or recent financial problems.
Although some providers start with a soft credit check instead of a hard credit check, they will still assess your financial circumstances before offering car finance.
| To apply for car finance you need to | Requirements | Car must meet the following criteria: |
|---|---|---|
| Provide your full name, date of birth, and nationality | Be aged 18-75 years old | Cost between £4,000 and £40,000 |
| Share your recent address history | Pay an initial deposit if the lender requires one | Have no more than 120,000 miles on the clock |
| Confirm your employment status | Receive a monthly income of at least £1,000 | Be no older than 14 years at the end of the finance agreement |
| Show your income and regular monthly outgoings |
No lender can guarantee you'll be approved for car finance, but these are some of the factors lenders pay the most attention to:
The key thing is that lenders rarely make a decision based on one detail alone. If you're unsure where you stand, you can check car finance available through credit brokers that start with a soft search before you apply. That won't guarantee approval, but it’ll help you compare your options without risking a higher fee for interest or unnecessary hard searches.
Compare and find the best car finance deals quickly and easily even with bad or poor credit. When comparing deals, you can also factor in the part-exchange value of your current car to reduce the overall cost.
Getting a finance quote with Carplus won't affect your credit score, but a hard search will be completed before completion of the deal
No-deposit car finance options are also available. Check your eligibility today with a soft search and find out what you qualify for.
Get your UK car finance decision in minutes. Check your eligibility first. Apply in confidence with Carplus
