We require the following from you when you finance a car purchase with us:

• Valid driver's license or government-issued ID
• Current, active proof of insurance
• Your preferred payment method for the down payment or outstanding balance
• Any stipulations required by the lender (e.g. proof of income, proof of address, etc.)

Submitting a financing application initiates a 14–45 day "shopping period," during which all inquiries of the same type will be counted as one by the credit bureaus. That means if you're shopping around for rates, you won’t have to worry about multiple inquiries affecting your credit.

For most customers, the first credit inquiry will result in a temporary 5-point (or less) drop in their credit scores – a generally inconsequential number that typically goes away after 3-6 months.

Yes. We work with many outside lenders, but know that this process will add up to 7 additional days to your purchase, and we won’t be able to extend the initial 1-hour reservation on the car until payment is received. While every lender is different, here’s what the typical process looks like, and why that can cause an extended delay in your purchase timeline:

1. Before anything else, verify that your lender even works with online, non-franchised auto retailers like Shift (some do not, and we can’t use CUDL)
2. Start the Shift checkout process, and select the outside lending option when prompted.
3. Gather and send all the vehicle details (VIN, year, trim, mileage, price) to the loan officer
4. Complete the entire application process (repeat for every new lender)
5. Wait to get approved (each lender may require different approval stipulations or documents)
6. Get a “Purchase Order” from Shift
7. Must have final numbers for down payment, financed amount, any co-signers, optional protection plans, and lien holder info (bank name, address)
8. Clarify with lender that Shift cannot provide additional documents aside from a Purchase Order (i.e. vehicle’s current title, shortened titling timelines, etc)
9. Wait for lender to mail a cashier’s check to Shift (if lender does not provide a tracking number, both you and Shift are in the dark on the check’s delivery status)
10. IMPORTANT: cashier’s checks must be made out to “Shift Operations, LLC” and mailed to the following:
    
    Shift Operations, LLC
    12910 Mulberry Drive
    Whittier, CA 90602
    Attn: DocOps
    ‍
11. Wait for Shift to receive, upload, and verify that the check meets all necessary requirements – if not, your lender will need to reissue and mail it again
12. Once received and everything looks good, then you can proceed with your purchase (if the car is still available

This is just a snapshot. Lenders have different ways of handling auto loans, and some may require even more steps or paperwork.

That’s why 9 out 10 customers who finance use one of Shift’s lending partners. Our process lets you get your car as fast as possible, and our network of trusted lenders can offer rates that rival what you’d get on the open market – all in one easy application.

Shift serves customers of all credit profiles, including those with minimal or poor credit histories. Our lenders consider many factors beyond credit score when reviewing your application, so the best way to know you’re eligible is to find a vehicle you like and apply for financing.

We currently offer a variety of payment options, including (but not limited to):

• Financing through Shift: This option will make getting your car as quickly and efficiently as possible. Once you find the car you want, you can easily secure a great rate from our network of trusted lending partners during checkout.
• ACH transfer: Connect your bank account to make a direct payment in a few easy steps. We work with over 1,500 banks, so please make sure that your bank is set up to facilitate ACH transfers with Shift before choosing this option.

Financing through your own bank: Depending on your bank, we can help facilitate the financing process. However, this option can delay your purchase by as many as 7 days, so we highly recommend financing through our own lending partners instead.