Yes. Reports can be configured to match the credit scoring model used by your lender, and it is recommended as a best practice.

Yes. If the same bureau and scoring model are used, the credit score from the soft pull will be identical to that from the hard pull.

FICO scores are still the most commonly used scores for lender underwriting. VantageScores, which was developed more recently by the credit bureaus, is often more cost-effective and can provide insight across all three bureaus even when only a single bureau is pulled.

In the non-mortgage space, FICO 8 seems to be the scoring model we see most often used, but there are other factors, such as industry, that can affect the answer to this question.

The right scoring model depends on your industry and lender requirements. If you are not a lender, then we recommend getting set up with the same scoring model that your lender uses.

Some industries use specialized scoring models, such as auto-specific, mortgage-specific, or credit card-specific scores, tailored to predict risk for those loan types.

Yes. Each bureau supports different scoring models, and scores can vary based on the bureau and model.

Yes. Multiple credit scores can be included on a single report, we do not see this often, but there could be situations where a business might want to see two or even three credit scores on the same report.

Yes. You can review the credit report data first and then decide if you want to see the credit score. This approach is not common, but it can help reduce costs and we have seen some businesses do it.

FICO is a company that develops credit scoring models used by lenders to assess credit risk. Its scores are among the most commonly used in consumer lending. Their formal name is Fair Isaac Corporation.

VantageScore is a credit scoring company jointly founded by Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax to provide an alternative credit scoring model.

Different scoring models are designed for different use cases, industries, and risk strategies. New models are also developed over time to reflect changes in credit behavior and data availability.

Common factors include payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, and recent credit activity. The exact weighting varies by scoring model.

Yes. Consumer credit scores evaluate an individual’s personal credit history, while business credit scores focus on a company’s credit activity and financial behavior.

Most consumer credit scoring models range up to 850, though some industry-specific models use different scales.

No. Scores can vary by bureau because each bureau has different data, and scores also depend on the specific scoring model used.

Mortgage companies typically pull all three bureaus and use these exact models:

• FICO Score 2 — Experian
• FICO Score 4 — TransUnion
• FICO Score 5 — Equifax

These are often called “classic” or “mortgage FICO scores.”

How lenders actually use them:

Most lenders apply a tri-merge approach:

1. Pull all three mortgage FICO scores
2. Take the middle score (not the highest or lowest)
3. Base underwriting and pricing on that middle score

Joint loan?
They usually take the lower middle score between the two borrowers.

Why mortgages use older FICO models

• Long performance history 📊
• Built specifically for housing risk
• Required by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
• Deeply embedded in lender systems and regulations

Important industry shift

Regulators have approved newer FICO and VantageScore models for future use, but adoption is gradual.

Single Bureau VantageScore pulls save money — without losing insight

With VantageScore 4.0, mortgage companies can pull credit data from just one bureau, but the score itself is built using patterns learned from all three bureaus.

In simple terms:

• The credit report data comes from one bureau (lower cost)
• The scoring model is trained and calibrated on how consumers behave across all three bureaus
• The resulting score reflects broader credit behavior, even though only one bureau was pulled

This allows lenders to gain multi-bureau-calibrated risk insight without paying for a full tri-merge credit report.

You’re not pulling three reports — but you are using a score designed with three-bureau behavior in mind.

More insight early in the process
VantageScore 4.0 uses trended credit data, analyzing how balances and payment behavior change over time—not just a point-in-time snapshot. This is especially useful for borrowers with recent credit improvement, thin files, or near-prime profiles.

Broader score coverage
VantageScore can generate scores for consumers with limited or newer credit histories, resulting in fewer “no-score” applicants during prequalification and helping lenders avoid prematurely excluding viable borrowers.

Lower cost and operational efficiency
Many mortgage professionals use VantageScore to screen high volumes of leads, power online prequalification tools, and support marketing or presqualification campaigns—reserving tri-merge and mortgage FICO pulls for later stages when borrower intent is established.

Yes, Soft Pull Solutions offers FICO scores with soft pull credit reports. We can get you set up with FICO, VantageScore, and whatever specific scoring model you need.

Yes, Soft Pull Solutions allows reports to be merged.

Yes, Soft Pull Solutions provides both soft and hard pull services.

Yes. Soft Pull Solutions can provide credit reports without a score, and many mortgage companies use this approach at the top of the lead funnel to evaluate credit data at a lower cost and avoid wasting time on prospects that are unlikely to qualify before moving forward with scoring or underwriting.

Yes. Some mortgage companies use a TransUnion proprietary scoring models with soft pull reports to save time and money while still allowing them to view a credit score.

Auto lenders use auto-industry–specific scoring models, primarily from FICO. Which model is used depends on the lender, platform, and risk strategy.

Most Common Auto Credit Scores Used Today

• FICO Auto Score 8 — most widely used
• FICO Auto Score 9 — growing adoption, especially with newer lender systems

These models are designed specifically to predict auto loan repayment risk and are the primary scores used for approvals and pricing.

Less Common Auto FICO Models

Some lenders—particularly those with older systems or niche programs—may still use earlier versions:

• FICO Auto Score 2
• FICO Auto Score 3
• FICO Auto Score 4
• FICO Auto Score 5

These are considered legacy models but can still appear depending on the lender relationship.

Newer / Limited-Adoption Models

• FICO Auto Score 10
  Limited adoption to date; more commonly used in testing or select programs.

Other Scores Used in Automotive Workflows

In addition to auto-specific FICO models, some dealers and lenders also use:

• VantageScore — common for dealerships who opt to only pull one credit bureau.

Yes, Soft Pull Solutions can get you whichever credit scoring model needed. We recommend getting setup with the same credit bureau and the same credit scoring model that your lender(s) use.

Because Soft Pull Solutions provides a full credit report on both soft pulls and hard pulls, many of our dealers use a FICO score on the soft pull. Once that insight is established, they might then choose to use VantageScore on the hard pull, since the FICO score has already been evaluated. This approach usually saves them $1-2 on every hard pull.

Yes. Some dealerships use VantageScore on a soft pull because it allows them to pull a single bureau while still getting credit insight that reflects consumer behavior across all three credit bureaus, helping reduce costs compared to pulling all three bureaus upfront.