While most of this process is a "black box" putting cash vs financing when you first apply doesnt specifically make a difference, HOWEVER.....
1. There is some evidence over the years that not having a completed profile can somewhat delay getting a vin assigned. Putting cash completes that step.
2. With moving ETAs ( and again, they are going to move, nothing about the ESTIMATED delivery date makes much sense, it should be ignored until you get a vin, basically), Even if you are approved for financing now, its possible for your approval to lapse.
3. If your approval lapses, you will get another hard pull on your credit, and since that second hard pull will likely be more than a couple of weeks separated from the first one, it will be treated like a separate credit inquiry, unlike when you shop for a loan and do multiple inquiries in a couple week span, which all get treated as one hard pull.
Hard pulls can lower your credit score There isnt any reason to get more hard pulls than necessary, and ***waiting to apply for financing until you get a vin*** limits you to getting one hard pull for this transaction, instead of a chance of multiple hard pulls.
*** note that the strategy of waiting to do financing till you get a vin should only be done by people who know their financing will be no issue, and know they will be approved. If there is ANY question of whether you might or might not be approved, better to apply and find out than get to the end and find you cant buy the car. ***
