What is the lowest credit score?
Generally, credit scores range from 300 to 850, making 300 the lowest possible credit score. But it's important to note that you typically have more than one credit score.
- Very Poor: 300-499.
- Poor: 500-600.
- Fair: 601-660.
- Good: 661-780.
- Excellent: 781-850.
Most of the credit scores that lenders use in the United States, including most versions of the FICO Score, range from 300 to 850. Therefore, most financial professionals generally accept that 300 is the lowest credit score a consumer can have.
Poor (300-579): 300 is the lowest credit score a person can have, and it's impossible to drop below that number. Fair (580-669): Lenders and banks will look at a Fair score more favorably, but their best offers may still be out of reach. Good (670-739): Experian® reported 714 as the average credit score in 2022.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 300 to 579, considered Very Poor. A 500 FICO® Score is significantly below the average credit score. Many lenders choose not to do business with borrowers whose scores fall in the Very Poor range, on grounds they have unfavorable credit.
Since income is not one of the five factors that determine a credit score, the wealthy are just as likely to have a low credit score as the people with lower income. The rich can miss payments, rely too heavily on credit, and open too many new accounts, all of which may lower their credit score.
You'll typically need a credit score of 620 to finance a home purchase. However, some lenders may offer mortgage loans to borrowers with scores as low as 500. Whether you qualify for a specific loan type also depends on personal factors like your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), loan-to-value ratio (LTV) and income.
The average FICO credit score in the US is 718, according to the latest FICO data from April 2023. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.
Most used auto loans go to borrowers with minimum credit scores of at least 675. For new auto loans, most borrowers have scores of around 730. The minimum credit score needed for a new car may be around 600, but those with excellent credit often get lower rates and lower monthly payments.
Fortunately, no one's credit score can equal zero – the range for FICO scores is 300-850 – and even people with poor or bad credit have a credit score of at least 300. A “no credit score” means there is insufficient information for a credit score calculator to compute a score.
Can I get a car with a 300 credit score?
In some cases, you may even find opportunities to buy a car with 0% APR loans, or interest-free car loans. If your score is closer to the bottom of the spectrum, particularly if it falls into the 300-500 range, you may find yourself facing much higher APR interest rates, some as high as 12% or even 20%.
Since everyone's credit journey is different, there's no one standard credit score everyone starts with. And you can have different credit scores depending on the credit-scoring model—either FICO or VantageScore. You won't start with a score of zero, though. You simply won't have a score at all.
Here's the average credit score by generation as of the second quarter of 2023, according to Experian: Gen Z (18 to 26): 680. Millennials (27 to 42): 690. Gen X (43 to 58): 709.
Average Recovery Time
For instance, going from a poor credit score of around 500 to a fair credit score (in the 580-669 range) takes around 12 to 18 months of responsible credit use. Once you've made it to the good credit zone (670-739), don't expect your credit to continue rising as steadily.
There's no specific minimum credit score required to qualify for a car loan. Still, if you have poor credit, it could be difficult to get approved for a car loan. Even with the best auto loans for poor credit, watch out for high interest rates, which can make it very expensive to borrow money.
The time it takes to raise your credit score from 500 to 700 can vary widely depending on your individual financial situation. On average, it may take anywhere from 12 to 24 months of responsible credit management, including timely payments and reducing debt, to see a significant improvement in your credit score.
A credit score of 999 from Experian is the highest you can get. It usually means you don't have many marks on your credit file and are very likely to be accepted for a loan or credit card. However, a high credit score doesn't guarantee your loan will be accepted.
Imagine looking through nearly 1,500 of them. Walter Cavanagh of Santa Clara, Calif. has earned the Guinness World Record title of "Mr. Plastic Fantastic" by keeping 1,497 credit cards in his name, amounting to a $1.7 million line of credit.
An Industry Standard for over 30 years
FICO ® Scores are used by 90% of top U.S. lenders. FICO ® Scores are also used in over 30 countries.
Conventional loan | Credit score: 620
To qualify for a conventional loan, you'll need a credit score of at least 620, though some lenders may choose to approve conventional mortgage applications only for borrowers with credit scores of 680 and up.
What credit score is needed to buy a $200 000 house?
It depends on the type of mortgage you're seeking: Many loans vary when it comes to the credit score needed to qualify. Generally speaking, you'll likely need a score of at least 620 — what's classified as a “fair” rating — to qualify with most lenders.
Your credit score is a major factor in whether you'll be approved for a car loan. Some lenders use specialized credit scores, such as a FICO Auto Score. In general, you'll need at least prime credit, meaning a credit score of 661 or up, to get a loan at a good interest rate.
Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750. In 2022, the average FICO® Score☉ in the U.S. reached 714. Achieving a good credit score can help you qualify for a credit card or loan with a lower interest rate and better terms.
Most older Americans have been building credit for much of their lives, and this population tends to have higher FICO scores than average. But being older doesn't mean you no longer have to worry about your credit score.
How does my income affect my credit score? Your income doesn't directly impact your credit score, though how much money you make affects your ability to pay off your loans and debts, which in turn affects your credit score. "Creditworthiness" is often shown through a credit score.
