In today’s fast-paced, digital-first automotive retail environment, understanding a customer's financial profile early in the sales process is key to closing more deals. That’s where soft pull credit checks come in. These tools allow dealerships to pre-qualify customers instantly, without hurting their credit scores or creating friction in the buying journey.

Soft pull credit technology, like AVA™ Credit from Autocorp.ai, gives sales teams an edge by delivering valuable insights upfront and helping structure deals faster and more effectively. If you're looking to increase conversions and build trust with your buyers, this is a must-have in your sales toolkit.

Here’s how soft pull credit checks help you close more deals and how to use them effectively at your dealership.

What Is a Soft Pull Credit Check?

A soft pull is a type of credit inquiry that lets you view a customer’s credit score and profile without impacting their credit rating. Unlike a hard pull, which typically happens during formal financing applications, a soft pull:

• Requires no Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Leaves no mark on the customer’s credit file
• Can be completed in seconds online or in-store

With tools like AVA™ Credit, this process happens directly through your dealership website, allowing customers to check their real Equifax credit score from the comfort of their home or right from the showroom floor.

Why Soft Pulls Help Close More Deals

1. Pre-Qualify Leads Faster

One of the biggest challenges for sales teams is identifying serious buyers early. Soft pull credit checks let you instantly assess a customer’s buying power and tailor your approach accordingly. If a lead is already pre-qualified, your team can move quickly to structure a realistic deal, without wasting time on mismatched options.

Dealer tip: Train your team to offer soft pull credit checks as part of the early lead nurturing process. This helps turn casual interest into qualified intent.

2. Build Trust and Transparency

Car buyers today are more informed than ever—and more cautious about their credit. Offering a no-obligation, no-impact credit check builds immediate trust and positions your dealership as transparent and customer-focused.

When customers feel in control and see that you're not pressuring them into a hard inquiry, they’re more likely to continue the conversation and move toward a purchase.

3. Speed Up the Financing Process

Once a customer completes a soft pull, your finance team has a head start. You’ll have access to real Equifax credit data and can start structuring payment options, interest rates, and lender approvals faster. By the time the customer is ready to buy, you’re already ahead of the paperwork.

Time saved = deals closed.

4. Better Inventory Matching

Having insight into a customer’s credit profile allows your team to recommend vehicles that actually match their financing eligibility. This avoids awkward conversations later and keeps expectations realistic.

Whether the customer has good credit or challenges in their history, a soft pull ensures you’re aligning them with the right vehicle at the right price from the start.

5. Increase Website Conversions

With tools like AVA™ Credit embedded on your website, soft pull credit checks become a powerful lead magnet. Shoppers browsing your inventory can instantly see what they qualify for—without leaving your site or speaking to a salesperson.

It’s a low-pressure, high-value experience that encourages online visitors to engage, convert, and show up ready to buy.

Why AVA™ Credit Is the Ultimate Soft Pull Tool

Unlike generic credit widgets, AVA™ Credit is purpose-built for automotive retail. It integrates directly into your website and CRM, giving your sales team real-time access to verified Equifax scores and deal-structuring data—without the delays or limitations of traditional tools.

Benefits of using AVA™ Credit:

• Real Equifax credit scores with no impact to the customer
• Zero SIN required, making it frictionless and private
• Full lead details for your BDC or sales team to follow up
• Automatically qualifies customers and shows real intent
• Seamless customer experience from online to in-store

Final Thoughts

If you're not using soft pull credit checks at your dealership, you're likely missing out on qualified leads and faster deal closings. With buyers becoming more credit-conscious and expecting a seamless digital journey, tools like AVA™ Credit aren’t just a nice-to-have—they’re a game changer.

Ready to pre-qualify more leads, build trust faster, and close more deals?
👉 Book a demo of AVA™ Credit at autocorp.ai