Financiers use your credit score to determine whether or not you should be approved for a car loan. In Canada, credit scores range from 300 to 900. Most conventional lenders need something above 650 to approve you for a car loan. If you have a history of missed or delinquent payments, your credit score may be lower than that. If so, you might find yourself stuck with a subprime interest rate or rejected altogether. That’s why it’s important to find out your credit score before you start shopping for a car.