Tier 1 / Tier A+
The top credit tier on a captive lender's rate sheet. Unlocks the lowest money factor and APR.
Why it matters
Captive lenders (GM Financial, Ford Motor Credit, Toyota Financial, BMW Financial, etc.) tier customers by credit score on internal rate sheets — typically Tier 1 / A+1 at the top (usually 740+ FICO), then Tier 2, 3, 4, and so on. Top-tier customers get the advertised national buy rate; subprime tiers can pay 3-8 percentage points more. Always ask the F&I manager which tier you priced in at — if the answer is anything but Tier 1 with a 740+ score, the dealer is rate-bumping you. Captive tier breakpoints are published on rate sheets dealers receive monthly; sites like LeaseHackr post region-specific copies.
Related terms