<prompt> Human: Feel free to skip down to the questionsSo I went to lease a car yesterday, and they couldnt get me tier 1 approved. The finance man said even though my credit score was 730, I only had one credit line, and usually they look for four. He told me I was tier 2b.I asked him what type of credit lines theyre looking for, he said credit cards, mortgages, and car loans. Well, I rent, and Im here trying to get a car, so should I have four credit cards?In the end, I have to pay an extra 40 a month. Basically, the following things didnt matter at all: Salary Savings I could buy the car outright 2.5 times Student loans My willingness to have a bigger down paymentSo my questions: Now that Ill have two credit lines, how do I get two more so when I want a mortgage they wont charge me extra like the car place did? Should I just get another credit card for no apparent reason? Why the bleep dont student loans count? Or salary, or savings, or anything that to a normal logic machine would decrease the risk? After youve helped me fix this issue, how long will it take to get to that tier 1?Edit:We have established that I got screwed and I should have walked out. My goal is to be ready to deal with this kind of shenanigans when I try to get a mortgage. Weve also established that lots of people dont like leases.Assistant: My best guess would be youre not tier 1 because they could tell you were desperate for the car and would take it anyway even if you had to pay more per month.The key to not getting taken advantage of, be it cars, or mortgages, or whatever is SHOPPING AROUND. Usually mortgage companies are very clear on their FICO rules... I.E. best rates are for 720, then 700-720 is a bit worse rate, then 680-700 is a bit worse rate Im not sure of the actual cutoffs, just making an example. Human: So the problem with the car was that it was the cheapest one around. I could have gone to the dealership two doors down and would have paid the same amount for their base model IF I was tier 1 for them. Im not worried about the car anymore, I just want to know what to do so this doesnt happen when I try to get a mortgage in 2015 or 2016.Assistant: The sad truth with car dealers is that everything is a negotiation. They want to sell you the highest markup, highest interest, longest term, and lowest trade in price.I suggest negotiating each separately. Get approved for a loan through a CU beforehand, sell any vehicle afterward and apply the money to the loan.If you do that, it is much easier to negotiate. Car dealers are better than you at loan math. They can make you think you negotiated them down, when really they just took less money up front and way more down the line.Human: But will this same situation happen when Im trying to get a mortgage? Will I have to play hardball with them and shop around, or are they better than car salesmen?  <response>: Shopping around, no matter what youre buying, is a wise idea. Mortgages, which are the biggest purchases youre likely to do, are worth almost any amount of time spent shopping around and bargaining. A .1 interest rate reduction on a mortgage can translate to thousands of dollars saved. 