Before applying for a car loan in Australia, check your credit report for mistakes and unfamiliar accounts. Getting your own report is different from a lender’s credit enquiry when you apply, so ask what sort of check is involved before proceeding.
How do you get a free credit report?
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) says you can access your consumer credit report free once every three months. Its guide links to Equifax and Experian; they may hold different information, so checking both can be useful.
Use those official links and select the free report option. A paid monitoring subscription is not necessary just to use your free-access entitlement.
What should you check?
Read beyond the score. Check your name and address, the credit accounts listed, repayment history and applications you recognise. ASIC’s Moneysmart guide explains what these sections mean.
If something looks wrong, note the entry and gather any supporting records. The OAIC’s correction guide says you can ask the relevant credit provider or a credit reporting body to investigate and correct inaccurate information, without a fee.
Keep the response and check an updated report afterwards. Correcting an error does not mean accurate negative information can simply be erased.
Will checking your report affect your score?
Equifax explains that accessing your own report is a soft check and does not affect your credit score. A lender’s hard enquiry after a credit application may affect it. Multiple applications can also have an impact.
Before requesting a quote, ask: “Is this a soft check, or will it create a credit enquiry?” Do not assume every quote or pre-approval process works the same way. Comparing information first can help you avoid submitting applications just to discover the terms.
What should you prepare next?
A credit report is one preparation step, not an approval or a promised interest rate. Work out a repayment amount your budget can support, including the car’s running costs, and read our guide to comparing car-loan quotes beyond the headline rate.
Aussie Loans is a finance broker. Contact our team to discuss the application process and which checks a proposed lender requires.
General information, current at 13 October 2026. Finance is subject to lender assessment and approval; rates, fees, terms and eligibility vary.
