When you make the decision to purchase a new or used vehicle, it is important to know what your credit score is and the factors that are effecting it. It is beneficial for you as the consumer, to regularly check your credit for issues and reporting mistakes to avoid having trouble getting financing for your next car loan. There are a number of ways in which you can obtain a current copy of your credit report without much hassle.

There are three nation-wide credit reporting agencies that are government approved and these are TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. In accordance with US law these companies are required to provide you one free copy of your credit report every year. To get your free copy, visit their central website (http://www.annualcreditreport.com ) to start the process. You can also call them directly at 1-877-322-8228.

If you need additional copies of your credit report you can obtain them through the major credit reporting companies for a fee. To request, visit their individual websites to fill out the proper forms.
http://www.transunion.com
http://www.equifax.com
http://www.experian

There are many commercials and advertisements for websites offering ‘free credit reports’. These sites should be avoided if at all possible. They are in no way tied to the federal free credit report program and are not authorized to provide you with a free copy. These websites obtain a copy of your information from one of the three major reporting agencies and will show it to you for a fee. These sites often say you are getting a copy for free, when in reality, they are giving you the copy during a ‘free trial’ and if you forget to cancel you will be charged for that ‘free’ report at the end of the trial. Your best bet as a consumer is to contact one of the major credit reporting agencies directly to obtain free and current copies.