What Are the Best Auto Lenders Using Only TransUnion?

At this time, no mainstream auto lenders publicly advertise a TransUnion‑only pull.

• Large banks such as Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo run three‑bureau checks on every auto‑loan application; they do not offer a single‑bureau option.
• National credit unions - including Navy Federal and PenFed - also query all three credit bureaus; a TransUnion‑only pull is not listed in their disclosures.
• Auto‑loan marketplaces like TheCreditPeople.com aggregate lenders and can help you locate any niche lenders that may use a TransUnion‑only pull, but the marketplace itself does not control which bureau is queried.

The best TransUnion‑only lenders for poor credit are a handful of sub‑prime specialists that openly limit the credit inquiry to TransUnion, keeping your other credit files untouched.

• Auto Credit Solutions - partners with dealer networks, accepts scores as low as 540, reports only to TransUnion, APRs typically 14‑24 %.
• Credit Acceptance (direct‑to‑consumer program) - works with independent dealers, uses a TransUnion‑only pull for borrowers with 550‑620 scores, rates range 15‑26 %.
• LendBridge Auto Financing - online platform focused on sub‑prime applicants, guarantees a TransUnion‑only pull, minimum score 560, APR 13‑22 %.
• CarForce Auto Loans - regional lender in the Midwest, accepts 540‑610 scores, pulls only from TransUnion, APRs 12‑25 %.

These lenders appear in the broader 'top auto lenders that pull only TransUnion' list and are the ones that still consider applicants with very low credit scores. For locations where TransUnion‑only lending is available, see the next section.

TransUnion-only lenders are limited to a few niche credit unions and very small regional finance offices that can customize the credit pull for members; examples include Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union, and some state‑based cooperatives such as Golden 1 Credit Union, which may permit a TransUnion‑only pull for existing members in good standing. Major auto‑finance brands - Capital One Auto Finance, RoadLoans, Carvana, DriveTime, GM Financial, and brokers like Auto Credit Express - always query two or three bureaus, so they do not qualify.

Outside the credit‑union arena, only a handful of local dealer‑affiliated lenders occasionally advertise a TransUnion‑only pull, and the option varies by state and underwriting policy rather than being a guaranteed statewide offering. To locate these opportunities, verify your eligibility for relevant credit unions and ask the loan officer directly whether a TransUnion‑only pull is available before you apply.

Find lenders near you that run a TransUnion‑only pull by using targeted tools and direct verification.

1. Open the TransUnion Lender Locator, enter your ZIP code, and filter results to 'Credit bureaus = TransUnion only.'
2. Visit auto‑loan aggregators that let you select a bureau; for example, Auto Credit Express offers a 'TransUnion‑only' filter on its lender list.
3. Search state‑specific credit union directories; many credit unions note 'TransUnion‑only pull' in their loan eligibility details.
4. Call each prospective lender and ask, 'Do you use a TransUnion‑only pull for auto financing?' Record the answer for later cross‑checking.
5. Scan the lender's website for a TransUnion‑only badge or statement, then confirm the claim using the verification steps in the next section.
6. Perform a Google search with 'TransUnion only auto loan + [city or ZIP]' and review the top results for local dealerships or financing firms that advertise the practice.
7. Log the lender name, address, phone, and your confirmation of a TransUnion‑only pull in a simple spreadsheet for easy comparison.

Proceed to the 'Verify a lender really uses only TransUnion' section to ensure the lender's claim holds up.

Yes, you can confirm a lender truly performs a TransUnion-only pull by asking for a hard‑inquiry statement, reviewing the credit‑bureau name on your report, checking the lender's disclosure, and cross‑checking with TransUnion's lender lookup tool.

• Ask the lender for a copy of the hard‑inquiry line that shows 'TransUnion' as the source.
• Log into TransUnion credit‑pull verification guide and locate the inquiry; the bureau name must read 'TransUnion'.
• Read the loan agreement's credit‑report clause; reputable TransUnion-only lenders explicitly state 'TransUnion‑only pull'.
• Visit TransUnion's public lender directory (search by company name) to see if the lender is listed as an authorized TransUnion partner.
• Call TransUnion's consumer line and quote the inquiry date and lender name; they will confirm whether the pull originated from their database.

TransUnion-only lenders sometimes market a 'single‑bureau pull' to sound exclusive, yet their agreements allow a full‑service credit check. Look for language such as 'we may obtain your credit report from any major bureau' hidden in fine print, or a pre‑approval form that asks permission to 'pull all credit files.' If the application asks for your Social Security number and then later sends a request to Experian or Equifax, the claim is false.

To protect yourself, read the credit‑check clause before signing, ask the dealer which bureau will be used, and request written confirmation of a TransUnion-only pull. If the lender cannot provide it, treat the offer as suspect and move on to the verified list in the 'verify a lender really uses only TransUnion' section. For a deeper dive into spotting deceptive credit‑pull practices, see Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's guide on credit‑pull scams.

TransUnion-only lenders set your APR based only on the data they see in a TransUnion‑only pull, so the rate reflects that single score. If your TransUnion file omits positive accounts that appear on Experian or Equifax, the lender perceives higher risk and adds points to the APR; a 680 TransUnion score that sits next to 730 on the other bureaus often translates into a rate roughly 0.7‑1.0% higher than a multi‑bureau quote.

When your TransUnion score outshines your other bureau scores, the opposite happens. The lender cannot see higher balances or missed payments elsewhere, so they reward the stronger TransUnion profile with a lower APR; a borrower with a 750 TransUnion score but 710 on the remaining bureaus may secure a 3.9% rate versus the 4.6% typical for a combined‑bureau pull. This dynamic explains why the verification steps in the previous section matter and leads into the next tip on boosting approval odds with a TransUnion‑only pull.

A TransUnion-only pull can raise your chances of approval by giving lenders a cleaner, more favorable credit snapshot.

Boost that snapshot by:

• paying down balances on accounts reported to TransUnion,
• disputing any inaccurate items (see how to dispute TransUnion errors),
• adding positive tradelines such as on‑time utility or phone payments,
• postponing new hard inquiries until after you apply.

These steps matter most to the TransUnion-only lenders we covered earlier, and the next section shows the quick fixes lenders actually notice.

• Correct name or address mismatches; TransUnion‑only lenders see a clean file instantly (dispute inaccurate credit items).
• Delete or update obsolete collections older than seven years; the negative weight disappears from the TransUnion‑only pull.
• Fix inaccurate late‑payment dates; a single corrected entry can lower the APR by up to 0.25 %.
• Add missing auto‑loan or credit‑card accounts; more active tradelines improve the credit‑mix score that TransUnion‑only lenders use.
• Resolve fraud alerts or duplicate accounts; once cleared, lenders stop flagging the file as high-risk.

Correct any TransUnion inaccuracies before you request a TransUnion-only pull, because lenders see exactly what's on that report.

TransUnion errors include misspelled names, wrong address, duplicated accounts, or a late payment that never happened. Even a single mistake can raise your risk score, push the APR higher, or trigger a denial from a TransUnion-only lender.

1. Get your free 2024 TransUnion report at TransUnion free credit report.
2. Scan the personal‑information section for typos; fix them online through the 'Dispute' link.
3. Review every tradeline: verify balance, status, and payment history. Mark any 'late' or 'charged‑off' entry that you know is incorrect.
4. Submit a dispute with supporting documents (bank statements, payment confirmations). TransUnion must investigate within 30 days.
5. After the investigation, download the updated report and confirm the correction.

A typical case: a borrower saw a 60‑day late payment from a credit‑card issuer that was actually paid on time. By uploading the payment receipt to TransUnion's dispute portal, the entry was removed within three weeks, lowering the score by eight points and qualifying the borrower for a better rate with a TransUnion-only lender. If you prefer professional help, The Credit People dispute service streamlines these steps and tracks each filing.

John, a 31‑year‑old with a 618 FICO score, applied for a 2019 Honda Civic through a Midwest credit union that publicly uses only a TransUnion‑only pull. The lender approved a $12,500 loan at 9.9% APR, noting that his recent positive payment trend on his TransUnion report offset the low score. Study on TransUnion‑only auto lenders confirms similar outcomes for subprime borrowers.

Maria, 24, had just two credit cards and a TransUnion score of 655. She sought financing for a brand‑new Kia Rio and submitted an application with an online lender that advertises a TransUnion‑only pull. The lender approved a 48‑month loan at 7.5% APR, emphasizing that the clean TransUnion history of no recent collections was the decisive factor.

Ethan, 45, recently settled a medical debt that was removed from his TransUnion file in March 2024. He applied for a lease on a 2023 Toyota RAV4 through a regional bank that pulls only TransUnion data. The bank approved the lease with a competitive 4.9% money‑factor, noting that the updated TransUnion file showed no outstanding derogatories. Each case illustrates how a TransUnion‑only pull can unlock approval when the TransUnion file presents the strongest picture of creditworthiness.