Lender Pulls for Test Drives?

[Anonymous]

Hello all looking to get into a vehicle come the new year 2013 and have begun my research now as I save for a deposit on the vehicle.

I'm currently looking to test drive upwards of 10-15 different cars. This may seem excessive but they are all within the same genre (small compact hatchback/coupes some hybrid, diesel, etc) and are all within the 20-30k range.

My question is when I visit these various dealerships and provide them with my drivers license (for their insurance purposes) do they then go and soft/hard pull credit to determine worthiness of purchase?

May be a question better suited for each individual dealership but appreciate the responses.

[Anonymous]

I have never been hard or soft pulled for test drives. It is not until you are interested in a car and/or what financing they could offer, would they actually pull your score.

[pizzadude]

Just to be safe I would make sure that you have a conversation with the salesrep about making sure that they don't pull your credit.   Some dealers have been know to pull your credit long before you ever get to the point of discussing financing with them.

[Anonymous]

I have been test driving cars on the weekend as a hobby for years. They request your driver license to confirm you are legally allowed to drive as well as the lender will require you have one should to want to apply and get approved for a auto loan. They use your driver license as a security measure should you have a accident doing test drive. Providing a driver license for test drives is not contest to have your credit report ran.

[Shogun]

It is not a permissible pull until you give permission for them to do so.  Just walking into the dealership or test driving a vehicle does not precipitate an agreement to purchase.