A FICO auto score is a credit score created specifically for auto loans and leases. It takes into account the same factors as a regular FICO score, such as payment history, length of credit history, and amount of debt, but places more emphasis on your history of auto loan payments.
Checking your FICO auto score is easy, and you can do so directly from FICO. A one-time report from a single credit bureau, whether it's Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax, costs about $20, though you can get a report from all three for $60.
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. What is a FICO credit score? FICO is an acronym that stands for: Fair Isaac Corporation, the company that developed the FICO® credit scoring.
Your FICO Auto Score is not available for free, but you can access it directly from fico.com through one of the company's subscription plans, which cost $19.95 to $39.95 per month. Paying for your FICO Auto Score may not be worth it, though, as lenders often use their own customized credit-scoring models.
A credit score above 660 will typically allow you to qualify for an auto loan without a hassle. A credit score of 781 and above will typically allow you to qualify for the most competitive rates, which could save you thousands of dollars in interest.
While some dealerships look at your base FICO score, others might look at your FICO Auto Score. This industry-specific rating provides a more accurate picture of the likelihood of you repaying an auto loan instead of the likelihood of you repaying any credit obligation.
Industry-specific FICO® Scores are FICO Scores versions that are optimized for a certain type of credit product, such as auto loans or credit cards. The foundation of these versions is the same as the base FICO Score versions, but they are fine-tuned based on industry-specific risk behaviors.
FICO ® Score Open Access for Lenders and Service Providers
If your bank, credit card issuer, auto lender or mortgage servicer participates in FICO ® Score Open Access, you can see your FICO ® Scores, along with the top factors affecting your scores, for free.
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.
FICO Score 8 is a base score, which means that it is used to consider the risk of a borrower not making payments on any type of loan. Other types of FICO Score are used for a specific type of borrowing, such as an auto loan.
Most car dealerships use the FICO Score 8 scale to determine your eligibility for a loan. The FICO score is the most widely used because it is considered to be the most accurate assessment of your credit standing. It takes the scores of all three major credit bureaus to create a FICO score.
Auto lenders may rely more on Equifax and Experian for credit report insights, but TransUnion also sells consumer data to a number of automotive lenders. Credit scoring models such as FICO® Auto Score 9 generate a credit score based on the debt and payment information in a consumer's credit report.
The base FICO score is also called FICO Score 8 or 9. It's not designed specifically for auto loans, but many lenders use it. It's a number between 300 and 850, and a higher score means that a person is more likely to make loan payments on time.
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.
For instance, mortgage lenders tend to use different scoring models than those used for general lending decisions, such as credit cards. While most lenders use the FICO Score 8, mortgage lenders use the following scores: Experian: FICO Score 2, or Fair Isaac Risk Model v2. Equifax: FICO Score 5, or Equifax Beacon 5.
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.
When your score is 750, you can rest easy that you will qualify for most financial products and get among the very best rates on them. A 750 credit score is considered excellent on commonly used FICO and VantageScore scales, which range from 300 to 850.
Though the FICO® Score 9 is an updated version of FICO® Score 8, the FICO® Score 8 is still the most widely used base score by lenders, meaning that, while you may have a better credit score from the FICO® Score 9 model, lenders are more likely to still use the previous version.
While the FICO® 8 model is the most widely used scoring model for general lending decisions, banks use the following FICO scores when you apply for a mortgage: FICO® Score 2 (Experian) FICO® Score 5 (Equifax) FICO® Score 4 (TransUnion)
Your credit score is crucial to determine your eligibility for a no down payment car loan. Most lenders require a FICO credit score of at least 680 before you can qualify. If your credit score falls below 680, improve your credit score before you apply to help you qualify in the future.
To buy a $50,000 car and get favorable auto loan options, it's best to have a credit score in the prime or super prime categories. Prime borrowers are those with a credit score within the 661-780 range, while super-prime borrowers fall within the 781-850 range.
A credit score of 700 is good enough for you to negotiate the best interest rates. Dealerships prefer that customers buy new vehicles instead of old ones and the interest rates for financing a new car are much better than the interest rates for buying a used car.