What are the 5 credit levels?
What's in my FICO® Scores? FICO Scores are calculated using many different pieces of credit data in your credit report. This data is grouped into five categories: payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), new credit (10%) and credit mix (10%).
| Category | FICO Score Range | VantageScore Range |
|---|---|---|
| Bad | 300-579 | 300-600 |
| Fair | 580-669 | 601-660 |
| Good | 670-799 | 661-780 |
| Excellent | 800-850 | 781-850 |
- Below 580: poor.
- 580 to 669: fair.
- 670 to 739: good.
- 740 to 799: very good.
- 800 and above: exceptional.
What's in my FICO® Scores? FICO Scores are calculated using many different pieces of credit data in your credit report. This data is grouped into five categories: payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), new credit (10%) and credit mix (10%).
In such situations, Tier 1 is the top level, typically referring to a credit score of at least 700, or sometimes a minimum score as high as 750. Basically, this tier encompasses borrowers with the best credit scores. Tier 2 typically ranges from a credit score of about 660 up to the lender's Tier 1 level.
Only 1.31% of Americans with a FICO® Score have a perfect 850 credit score. While a score this high is rare among any demographic, older generations are more likely to have perfect credit. Baby boomers make up a whopping 59.4% of the people with an 850 credit score.
FICO 8 scores range between 300 and 850. A FICO score of at least 700 is considered a good score. There are also industry-specific versions of credit scores that businesses use. For example, the FICO Bankcard Score 8 is the most widely used score when you apply for a new credit card or a credit-limit increase.
| Average FICO 8 Score by Generation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Generation | 2022 | 2023 |
| Generation Z (ages 18-26) | 679 - Good | 680 - Good |
| Millennials (27-42) | 687 - Good | 690 - Good |
| Generation X (43-58) | 707 - Good | 709 - Good |
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.
Subprime (credit scores of 580-619) Near-prime (credit scores of 620-659) Prime (credit scores of 660-719) Super-prime (credit scores of 720 or above)
What's a bad credit score?
Poor: 300-579. Fair: 580-669. Good: 670-739. Very Good: 740-799.
Look for red flags, such as: Treated differently in person than on the phone or online. Discouraged from applying for credit. Encouraged or told to apply for a type of loan that has less favorable terms (for example, a higher interest rate)
How soon can you see improvement? The length of time it will take to improve your credit scores depends on your unique financial situation. At the earliest, you may see a change between 30 and 45 days after you have taken steps to positively impact your credit reports.
In general, you'll need a FICO credit score of at least 600 to qualify for a traditional auto loan, but the minimum credit score required with vary from lender to lender. As interest rates increase due to inflation, securing a subprime auto loan may be more difficult — but not impossible.
Tier 5: A fair credit score ranges from 630 to 649 and means you “try to be responsible with my credit but have had some recent credit challenges.” Tier 6: Below 630, you get into the poor credit tiers.
Tier One – Considered exceptional credit, scores ranging from 800 – 850. Tier Two – Considered very good credit, scores ranging from 740 – 799. Tier Three – Considered good credit, scores ranging from 670 – 739. Tier Four – Considered fair/poor credit, scores ranging from 300 – 669.
While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.
Typically, cellphone providers don't report your payments to the bureaus — though newer services like Experian Boost can help you manually add your cellphone account. Unfortunately, it's easier for your cellphone bill to negatively impact your credit because missed payments do get reported to the credit bureaus.
A 620 credit score is typically what you'll need to get a mortgage for a home purchase. Although you can buy a house with a credit score as low as 500, you'll pay a higher rate and make a larger down payment.
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.
Which FICO score do car dealers use?
The two big credit scoring models used by auto lenders are FICO® Auto Score and Vantage. We're going to take at look at FICO® since it has long been the auto industry standard.
Chances are, however, that your dealer might use a FICO automotive score instead of a traditional FICO score or VantageScore. Your FICO Auto Score is a specialty score ranging from 250 to 900 that weighs past car-loan payments more heavily than the traditional FICO score does.
What is the average credit score? 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.
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.
Lenders like to see a mix of both installment loans and revolving credit on your credit portfolio. So if you pay off a car loan and don't have any other installment loans, you might actually see that your credit score dropped because you now have only revolving debt.
