Visit your financing dashboard to see your current pre-qualification status, which lenders you’re pre-qualified with, and when your offer expires. You will also receive an email confirmation from CarGurus with your pre-qualification information. Keep in mind that your pre-qualification won’t apply to every car — it depends on the vehicle and whether the dealer works with your matched lender.

1) Browse cars on the search results page by applying the ‘Financing’ filter. Select your pre-qualified lenders (like Westlake or Capital One) to display eligible cars and see your personalized rates directly on the listings.

2) Send yourself a copy of your offer by downloading, emailing, or texting your pre-qualification certificate.

3) Contact the dealer for any car you’re interested in to let them know you're ready to move forward.

4) Bring your certificate with you when you visit the dealer so they know you're pre-qualified!

Your pre-qualification is valid for 30 days, subject to lender discretion. If it expires, you can renew your application with one click to see updated rates.

A pre-qualification certificate shows your financing offer for a specific car and is only available on vehicles that qualify with your matched lender. You can download, email, or text it to yourself from the listing page or from your financing dashboard by clicking “Rebuild Offer” on one of your viewed cars. Bring it with you to the dealership as proof that you’re pre-qualified.

Both pre-qualification and pre-approval can give you a clearer understanding of your financing before visiting the dealership. Pre-qualification involves a soft credit check and provides an estimated offer without affecting your credit score. Pre-approval requires a hard credit pull and usually reflects firmer loan terms. Final approval happens at the dealership.

APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the yearly cost of borrowing, including interest and any lender fees. A lower APR generally means lower monthly payments and less paid over the life of the loan. Your APR is influenced by factors like your credit score, loan term, and the lender’s policies. Subprime borrowers often receive higher APRs. Comparing offers from multiple lenders can help you find the most competitive rate.

Some lenders require a down payment based on factors like your credit profile, the vehicle price, and loan terms. If a down payment is needed, you’ll see that reflected in your pre-qualified offer or when finalizing your loan with the dealer.

CarGurus connects shoppers with participating lenders and displays pre-qualified offers. We’re not the lender and don’t make credit decisions — for specific questions about payments or approval, contact the lender or dealership directly.