Will shopping around for a car loan hurt my credit score?

Usually only minimally, if you do it within a short window. FICO and VantageScore generally count multiple auto-loan inquiries in a short shopping period as one inquiry, recognizing that you're comparing rates for a single loan. The exact window depends on the scoring model, commonly 14 to 45 days, so keeping your applications within about two weeks is a safe approach. The CFPB at consumerfinance.gov encourages rate shopping because it can save real money.