Reviewed by
Billy Lang, Director
FCA Registration No: 835008
Soft search vs hard search
Both are credit checks, but they affect your credit file very differently. The summary first, then the detail.
| Soft credit check | Hard credit check | |
|---|---|---|
| Visible to other lenders | No | Yes |
| Affects your credit score | No | Possible — typically a small temporary dip |
| Leaves a footprint on your file | No (only you can see it) | Yes — typically visible for around 12 months |
| When we use it | Eligibility & quote stage | Only at full agreement stage, after you decide to proceed |
| Repeat checks | No accumulating impact | Multiple in a short window can lower your score |
What we look at beyond the score
The credit score is one signal, not the whole picture. We look at affordability and circumstances together.
Affordability
Income against committed outgoings — what you actually have left each month, not just what your score suggests.
Employment & trading history
PAYE, self-employed, sole-trader or limited-company income. Each is treated on its own terms, not forced into a PAYE-only template.
Contracts & income evidence
Contracts, invoices, SA302s, bank statements — practical evidence that an income is real and ongoing.
The reason behind any past credit issue
A blip caused by a one-off life event reads differently to a long-running pattern. We will ask, and what you tell us matters.
What “no footprint” means in practice
A soft search is recorded on your credit file, but in a section only you can see when you log in to view your own report. Other lenders looking at your file cannot see soft searches. They cannot see that you checked with us, and our soft search will not be one of the factors they take into account.
Hard searches, accounts, payments, defaults, CCJs, public records.
Soft searches like ours, eligibility checks, your own self-views.
When does a hard search happen?
Only at the full agreement stage — once you have decided to go ahead, we have agreed terms, and we are putting the lease in place. A hard search does not happen during the eligibility check, the quote, or any conversation in between. We will tell you before it happens, so you are never caught out.
What this means if you have applied elsewhere recently
If you have applied to a few lenders in the last few months and each one ran a hard search, your credit score may have dipped. A soft check with us does not add to that. You can check with us, see where you stand, and decide whether to proceed without making the situation any worse.
Eligibility module
What may affect a decision
A soft check gives us enough to make an indicative decision. The factors that genuinely move the outcome are honest ones, not hidden:
- Affordability — committed outgoings against verified income
- Employment or trading status — PAYE, self-employed, sole trader, or limited company
- Pattern of past credit issues — one-off vs ongoing
- Documentation we can verify — payslips, SA302s, bank statements, contracts
- Address history and identity verification
All decisions are subject to status. We do not offer guaranteed approval and we will not make claims to that effect — anyone who does is not being honest with you.
The process, end to end
- 1
You get in touch
Online quote form, or call 01392 249250. We ask for the basics — vehicle, term, mileage, your circumstances.
- 2
We run a soft credit check
No footprint, no impact on your score. We see enough to give you an indicative decision.
- 3
We come back with a quote and a view
Honest answer — yes, no, or yes-but. If we cannot help, we will say so plainly.
- 4
You decide whether to proceed
No pressure. You can take time to think.
- 5
Full agreement & hard search
Only once you have decided to go ahead. We tell you before the hard search runs.
Frequently asked questions
Does a soft credit check affect my credit score?
No. A soft credit check leaves no visible footprint on your credit file and does not affect your credit score. Only you can see soft searches when you view your own report.
Will other lenders see that I checked with you?
No. Other lenders cannot see soft searches. They only see hard searches, which we do not perform at the eligibility-check stage.
When does a hard search happen?
A hard credit search is only performed at the full agreement stage, once you have decided to proceed and we have agreed terms. We will tell you before that happens — there are no surprise hard searches.
Can I check my eligibility multiple times without affecting my score?
Yes. Soft searches do not stack up against you the way hard searches can. You can check with us, then come back later, without it affecting your credit score.
Is this the same as a "pre-approval"?
It is similar in spirit but not the same. A soft check gives us enough information to make an indicative decision. A formal pre-approval typically still involves a hard search at some point. We are explicit about which stage you are at when we talk to you.
Which credit reference agency do you use?
[PLACEHOLDER — to be confirmed by client: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion]. We will name the specific agency in the final published version of this page.
Related
Eligibility
Vehicle leasing with imperfect credit
What we accept and what may affect a decision.
Read more
Audience
Vehicle leasing for the self-employed
SA302s and bank statements accepted. Soft check first.
Read more
Audience
Vehicle leasing for new limited companies
Newly incorporated and no filed accounts? Here is how the soft check changes things.
Read more
See where you stand — without affecting your score
Run a soft check now, or talk to an adviser. No footprint, no commitment.
