What does an 18 year old credit start at?
The credit history you start with at 18 is a blank slate. Your credit score doesn't exist until you start building credit. To begin your credit-building journey, consider opening a secured credit card or ask a family member to add you as an authorized user on their account.
OK, what is your credit score when you turn 18? The truth is, there isn't a set score number that you start with at 18.
It usually takes a minimum of six months to generate your first credit score. Establishing good or excellent credit takes longer. If you follow the tips above for building good credit and avoid the potential pitfalls, your score should continue to improve.
If you're new to credit, it might take six months to a year to hit a respectable score of around 700 with FICO® or VantageScore® models. To reach a top-notch score of 800 or more, you'll need years of steady and responsible credit use.
The “good” credit score range starts at 670 for FICO scores, and the overall average FICO score for adults in the U.S. was 714 in 2022. People's starting FICO scores are usually anywhere from about 500 to more than 700 if their individual performances show responsible credit use during their first six months.
The credit history you start with at 18 is a blank slate. Your credit score doesn't exist until you start building credit. To begin your credit-building journey, consider opening a secured credit card or ask a family member to add you as an authorized user on their account.
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.
There's no single starting credit score for people who are just beginning their credit journey. However, early scores tend to be in the good (670-739) or fair (580-669) range. The average credit score for 18-year-olds — 681 — falls well within the good range.
- Understand the basics of credit. ...
- Become an authorized user on a parent's credit card. ...
- Get a starter credit card. ...
- Build credit by making payments on time. ...
- Keep your credit utilization ratio low. ...
- Take out a student loan.
Your FICO® Score falls within a range, from 740 to 799, that may be considered Very Good. A 750 FICO® Score is above the average credit score. Borrowers with scores in the Very Good range typically qualify for lenders' better interest rates and product offers.
What's my credit score if I've never had a credit card?
Having no credit history typically means you don't have a credit score at all. This is different from having a low credit score, which can stem from having limited credit history or negative reporting on your credit reports. If you have no credit history at all, building credit from scratch should be one of your goals.
What is the highest credit score possible? To start off: No, it's not possible to have a 900 credit score in the United States. In some countries that use other models, like Canada, people could have a score of 900. The current scoring models in the U.S. have a maximum of 850.

Where does your credit score start? The truth is, there's no universal “starting credit score.” While the lowest possible FICO score is 300, this isn't where you start. Instead, if you haven't started using credit yet, you have no credit history and no credit score — also referred to as unscorable or credit invisible.
Pros. Build their credit history: The primary reason to add your child as a user is to start building their credit early. Teach them good money habits: It's up to you whether or not you allow your child to actually use the card. If you do, it's a great way to teach them financial literacy and responsible spending.
- Get a Store Card. ...
- Apply for a Secured Credit Card at a Bank. ...
- Start a Digital Checking Account. ...
- Apply for a Credit-Builder Loan. ...
- Find a Co-Signer. ...
- Become an Authorized User on Another Person's Credit Card. ...
- Report Rent and Utility Payments to Credit Bureaus. ...
- Consider a Student Credit Card.
While a debit card typically will not help you improve your credit, it can still be part of building good financial habits. Because they use money in your bank account, debit cards may be a good option to help prevent debt, avoid interest charges or avoid overspending.
If you have no (or little) previous borrowing history, and no track record on which to determine credit-worthiness, CIBIL will assign you scores of 0 or -1 respectively: CIBIL score 0 means that information about the borrower's credit history is available for only up to a period of less than 6 months in total.
- Review Your Credit Report. ...
- Pay Your Bills on Time. ...
- Ask for Late Payment Forgiveness. ...
- Keep Credit Card Balances Low. ...
- Keep Old Credit Cards Active. ...
- Become an Authorized User. ...
- Consider a Credit Builder Loan. ...
- Take Out a Secured Credit Card.
Over time, a positive payment history will help build a good credit score, and eventually, you should be able to graduate to an unsecured card. Take out a loan. Another option is to take out a loan and build positive credit as you pay it back.
- Review Your Credit Reports. The best way to identify which steps are most important for you is to read through your credit reports. ...
- Pay Every Bill on Time. ...
- Maintain a Low Credit Utilization Rate. ...
- Avoid Unnecessary Credit Applications. ...
- Monitor Your Credit Regularly.
Can you buy a car with no credit?
It's possible to buy a car with no credit, but your financing options may be limited, and you'll likely face challenges that consumers with a solid credit history may not encounter. Lenders typically prefer applicants who have an established pattern of responsible borrowing and making on-time payments.
Consider yourself in “good” shape if your credit score is above the average for people in your age group. Given that the average credit score for people aged 18 to 26 is 680, a score between 680 and 690 (the average for people aged 27 to 42) could be considered “good.”
While credit score requirements vary based on loan type, lenders generally require a credit score of at least 620 to buy a house with a conventional mortgage.
Age group | Good credit limit |
---|---|
Millennials (24-39) | You may be able to get by on $3,000 – $7,000 while the limit generally tops out at $25,000 |
Gen Z (18-24) | Just starting out, you may get a good credit limit between $500 – $2,000 and typically no more than $12,000 |