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"Can I find out how big of a car loan I'll qualify for without messing up my credit? "

"I’m looking to buy a car soon, but I don’t want all of these dealers running my credit while I’m shopping around. Is there a way to know how much I'll qualify for before I go to the dealer?

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Johnny Puckett · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“If you plan on shopping around for the best financing rates, it is a good idea to do all of your shopping in one day so that only one hard inquiry will show up on your credit report. Multiple hard inquiries within a certain time frame are usually counted as one.
However, if you know who you want to get financing from, you can apply directly to them for pre-approval before going to the dealer and they will let you know how much of a loan you qualify for.
Outside lenders usually offer the best deals. Banks and credit unions typically offer the lowest interest rate, and having your own financing gives you better leverage when negotiating a sale price with dealerships. “
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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