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Does DriveTime Affect Your Credit Score?
July 1, 2025
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
Does DriveTime Affect Your Credit Score?
- Applying online won't hurt your score. DriveTime says its initial online approval uses a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score.
- Financing a car does involve a hard pull. If you move forward with DriveTime financing, you must authorize a hard inquiry before the sale is completed, and DriveTime says it may impact your score.
- The loan itself matters most over time. If your auto loan is reported to the credit bureaus, on-time payments can help your credit history and late payments can hurt it.
What Is DriveTime?
DriveTime is a used car dealer that offers its own in-house financing. It works with many buyers who have bad credit or no credit history, and DriveTime says no minimum credit score is required for its online approval.
Instead of relying only on your score, DriveTime says it considers factors such as income, employment history, and your overall financial profile. After you're approved online, you can see your real terms, including the down payment, before you visit a dealership.
After the sale, DriveTime loans are serviced by Bridgecrest, which handles payments and account questions.
How Can DriveTime Affect Your Credit Score?
- Online approval (soft pull): The first step is a soft inquiry. It shows up only on your own view of your credit report and does not change your score.
- Financing (hard pull): Before you complete the purchase with DriveTime financing, you authorize a hard inquiry for a full credit report. A hard inquiry can cause a small, temporary dip in your score.
- A new installment account: If the loan appears on your credit report, it adds a new account, which lowers the average age of your accounts at first.
- Your payment history: Payment history is one of the biggest factors in credit scores. Paying on time builds a positive record, while a payment 30 or more days late can do real damage.
Does DriveTime Report to Credit Bureaus?
DriveTime doesn't spell out its credit reporting policy on its website. Auto loans are commonly reported to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, but the safest move is to confirm with Bridgecrest which bureaus your account is reported to.
You can also check for yourself. Pull your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com a month or two after your first payment and look for the auto loan.
How Can You Limit the Impact on Your Credit?
Start With the Soft-Pull Approval
Use DriveTime's online approval to see your terms before you commit. That step won't affect your score, so you can compare it with other offers first.
Rate Shop Within a Short Window
FICO treats multiple auto loan inquiries made within a short period as a single inquiry. That window is 45 days for newer FICO Score versions and 14 days for older ones, so try to finish comparing lenders within two weeks.
Get Pre-Approved Elsewhere
A pre-approval from your bank or credit union gives you a benchmark rate. If it beats DriveTime's offer, you can skip the dealer financing altogether.
Set Up Automatic Payments
Once you have the loan, autopay is the easiest way to avoid a late payment. A long record of on-time payments does far more for your score than a single inquiry takes away.
How Can You Improve Your Credit Score?
- Pay every bill on time. Automatic payments help you avoid missed due dates.
- Keep card balances low. Lower balances relative to your limits help your credit utilization.
- Check your credit reports. Review your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion reports for errors and dispute anything that's wrong.
- Space out new applications. Several hard inquiries in a short time can add up.
For more ideas, see our guide to increasing your credit score. If you're thinking about a credit card to help build credit, Kudos shows your approval odds before you apply, so you can avoid applications that are unlikely to be approved.
The Bottom Line
DriveTime's online approval uses a soft pull and won't affect your credit score. Financing a car with DriveTime requires a hard inquiry, and the loan's payment history can affect your credit for years, so make every payment on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Getting Approved Online With DriveTime Hurt My Credit?
No. DriveTime says the initial online inquiry is a soft pull that will not affect your credit score.
When Does DriveTime Do a Hard Credit Check?
If you choose to finance with DriveTime after getting your offer, you'll authorize a hard pull before the sale is completed. DriveTime says this may impact your credit score.
What Credit Score Do You Need for DriveTime?
DriveTime says no minimum credit score is required for its online approval. It looks at other factors, such as income and employment history.
Can a DriveTime Loan Help Build Credit?
It can if the loan is reported to the credit bureaus and you pay on time. Confirm reporting with Bridgecrest, the company that services DriveTime loans, and check your credit reports to see the account.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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