First, lenders must perform a hard inquiry on your credit. Each hard inquiry may drop the score by about 5-10 points. However, if you apply with all your potential lenders within a 14-day window, only one hard inquiry will be counted toward your credit report.
Additionally, when you sign on to a loan, the average age of your credit decreases, which can cause your score to drop.
Don’t fret, though. If you continue to make on-time payments on your car loan, you should find that your credit score will consistently increase. Plus, in 12-24 months, the hard inquiries should fall off your credit report, giving you an additional five to 10 points back instantly.