: Often preferred by traditional banks. Dealers may also pull an Equifax report if an initial score from another bureau is borderline, hoping for a stronger result to secure approval.

: Commonly used by subprime or "bad credit" lenders. Some large national retailers, such as AutoNation , also lean toward TransUnion for initial checks. The "Auto Score" Difference

Lenders rarely look at the "base" credit score you see on consumer apps. Instead, 90% of top lenders use specialized .

: These models place more weight on your history with past auto loans and leases rather than generic credit card usage.

There is no single "default" bureau used across the entire industry, as the choice depends on the specific lender’s preferences and internal policies.