What is my credit score if I never had a credit card?
If you have any type of financing whatsoever ever extended to you, you probably have a credit score. But that doesn't mean a credit card. If you have a car loan, a mortgage, student loans you certainly have a credit score. And there's probably three, because there's three credit reports and then there's FICO.
Even if you haven't had any type of credit before, your scores don't start at zero. You'll likely start somewhere in the middle, and then you can start building your credit from there.
That doesn't mean your credit score is zero or even that you have a bad credit score. Without any credit history, you don't fall into any credit range. You're credit invisible.
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.
Your credit rating will also be affected if you've never taken out a credit card or any kind of loan. In these instances, the credit reference agencies have no information to go on when deciding whether you will pay off any money you borrow in a reliable and timely manner.
There's no such thing as a starting credit score. However, there are minimum requirements for generating your very first credit score. According to FICO, the minimum requirements are: You must have at least one credit account or loan open for a minimum of six months.
Instead, depending on how well you manage your credit, your first credit score might be around the 500 mark. The age of your oldest form of credit plays a role in your credit score. However, working on other aspects can even get your initial credit score to be around 700.
At face value, "What does your credit score start at?" can be a trick question. Turns out, you don't actually start with a credit score at all. You're born outside the system. Even when you turn 18, you aren't automatically assigned a credit score.
Heavy credit card use, a missed payment or a flurry of credit applications could account for a credit score drop. Amanda Barroso is a personal finance writer who joined NerdWallet in 2021, covering credit scoring.
Having no credit is better than having bad credit, though both can hold you back. Bad credit shows potential lenders a negative track record of managing credit. Meanwhile, no credit means lenders can't tell how you'll handle repaying debts because you don't have much experience.
How to establish credit with no credit history?
- Become an authorized user.
- Try a credit-building debit card.
- Apply for a secured credit card.
- Apply for a credit-builder loan.
- Apply for a store credit card.
- Have rental payments reported.
- Establish credit with Experian Go™
It may be possible to live without credit if you aren't already borrowing through student loans, a mortgage or other debt. Even so, living credit-free can be very difficult. Tasks such as finding an apartment or financing a car can become challenging obstacles without credit.
"Paying rent can build credit if your payments are reported," says Rod Griffin, senior director of consumer education and advocacy for the credit bureau Experian. "Unfortunately, that's not the norm, as most landlord and rent management companies don't report rent payments."
You can also build credit simply by paying all your bills — including loans, rent, and utilities — on time. Doing this, you'll typically see an increase to your score after about six months, though the longer you pay on time, the more your score will grow. It may take several years to achieve a good or excellent score.
If you repay a balance in full, it can impact your credit score, as your credit utilisation ratio will change, and the mix of credit accounts you use and manage on a regular basis may change too. Any negative impact of this is likely to be short-lived though.
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.
It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly mortgage payments.
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.
- Conventional Loans Minimum Credit Score: 620. ...
- Jumbo Loans Minimum Credit Score: 700. ...
- FHA Loans Minimum Credit Score: 500. ...
- VA Loans Minimum Credit Score: 620. ...
- USDA Loans Minimum Credit Score: 580.
What is the average credit score in America?
What is the average credit score? The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. 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.
History isn't instant. If you haven't used credit before, it usually takes at least six months to generate a credit score – and longer to earn a good or excellent score.
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
Get a starter credit card
If you're a student, consider a student credit card. You can also establish a credit history with a secured credit card . A secured credit card requires a security deposit or collateral. The cash deposit — typically $200-$500 — becomes your credit line.
You now have fewer types of credit accounts
If you close an account that changes your credit mix, it could hurt your score. For example, if you only have credit cards and one personal loan and pay off your personal loan, you're down to a single type of credit.
