Can you have a credit score without borrowing money?

Asked by: Jackie Jaskolski IV  |  Last update: January 24, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (38 votes)

Whatever your situation, you can build credit, or raise a credit score, without a credit card. Many of the alternatives don't involve borrowing money or going into debt but allow you to save money. Some even build credit with bills you're paying now, like rent and utilities.

Can you have a credit score without a loan?

Yes, it is possible. If someone has never had a loan or credit card, there's no payment history, and therefore, no credit score.

What is my credit score if I have never borrowed money?

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.

What is my credit score if I have no debt?

Ultimately, paying off credit cards and other balances and carrying no debt does not prevent someone from having a high credit score. As mentioned previously, more than 80% of people with no debt currently on their credit report receive a FICO® Score of 700 or above.

Do I have a credit score if I've never taken out a loan?

It may seem odd, but never taking out credit can also give you a poor rating. Lenders like to see that you've managed credit successfully in the past. If they don't have enough information to assess you, they may be less likely to approve your application.

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15 related questions found

Is a 900 credit score possible?

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.

Is a zero credit score good?

No. 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.

Why is my credit score bad when I have no debt?

If you have no record of handling credit previously, lenders have no evidence that you can borrow responsibly. This is referred to as having “thin credit” and can give you a lower score than you'd like. Thin credit can mean you have a low credit score, despite having no debt.

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 a perfect credit score?

A perfect FICO credit score is 850, but experts tell CNBC Select you don't need to hit that target to qualify for the best credit cards, loans or interest rates.

What is my credit score if I have no history?

There isn't a set credit score that each person starts out with. Instead, if you don't have any credit history, you likely don't have a score at all.

How long does it take to build credit from 0 to 700?

Starting from zero, building a credit score takes about three to six months of using credit, says Experian®. But getting an excellent score takes longer. 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.

What credit score do you start with?

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.

What is the credit score if no loan taken?

A CIBIL Score minus 1 means that you have no credit history whatsoever. It is assigned when there is no previous borrowing history, no credit card in your name, and no track record on which your creditworthiness can be based.

What is my credit score if I just got my Social Security number?

You won't get a credit score file opened with SSN as account number unless you open a credit card or get a loan account opened. Your score get better and better with time when you open the credit card and use that credit amount responsibly or loan account opened and pay them on time.

What credit score does an 18 year old start with?

The truth is, there isn't a set score number that you start with at 18. You don't begin on zero, for example. You may find that the CRA could struggle to find enough financial data about you the first time you try to check your credit reports.

Do I have a credit score if I have a debit card?

When you use your debit card, your money is withdrawn directly from your checking account. But since debit cards are not a form of credit, your debit card activity does not get reported to the credit bureaus, and it will never show up on your credit report or influence your score in any way.

How do I check if I have any loan on my name?

With your PAN card, you can know the total active loans in your name. For this, you can go to the website of any of the four credit bureaus in India.

What is the lowest credit score possible?

VantageScore and FICO scores range from 300 to 850, making 300 the lowest credit score possible. While credit scores as low as 300 are possible, most consumers have scores above 700.

What is the credit score for someone with zero debt?

Having no credit card debt isn't bad for your credit scores, but you do need to maintain open and active credit accounts to have the best scores. By using your credit cards and paying the balances off monthly (so that you carry no debt), you could achieve an excellent credit score.

Why is my credit score going down if I pay everything on time?

Using more of your credit card balance than usual — even if you pay on time — can reduce your score until a new, lower balance is reported the following month. Closed accounts and lower credit limits can also result in lower scores even if your payment behavior has not changed.

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.

What is the poorest credit score?

VantageScore credit scores
  • Very Poor: 300-499.
  • Poor: 500-600.
  • Fair: 601-660.
  • Good: 661-780.
  • Excellent: 781-850.

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.

Are you born with a credit score?

There's a common myth that you are assigned a credit score at birth or when you receive a Social Security number, but that's not the case. There are a few reasons why you may not have a credit score, such as: You haven't had time to establish credit yet, possibly due to only recently becoming eligible for credit.