What is a 500 credit score?

Asked by: Lauriane Smith  |  Last update: October 22, 2023
Score: 4.6/5 (27 votes)

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. Many lenders choose not to do business with borrowers whose scores fall in the Very Poor range, on grounds they have unfavorable credit.

Can you get approved with a 500 credit score?

A score of 500 is considered below average for VantageScore and FICO. It can be difficult to be approved for certain types of credit if your credit scores are below average. And if you are approved, you might pay extra fees, face higher interest rates for loans or have to put down a security deposit.

Is 600 a bad credit score?

According to FICO® Score, 15.5% of the population has a credit score below 600, while the average credit score sits at 716. Having a 600 credit score places you below the national average and into the “fair credit” category.

How can I raise my credit score from 500 to 700?

How to Bring Your Credit Score Above 700
  1. Pay on Time, Every Time. ...
  2. Reduce Your Credit Card Balances. ...
  3. Avoid Taking Out New Debt Frequently. ...
  4. Be Mindful of the Types of Credit You Use. ...
  5. Dispute Inaccurate Credit Report Information. ...
  6. Don't Close Old Credit Cards.

Why do I have a 500 credit score?

Events such as missed payments, foreclosure and bankruptcy all lead to a poor credit score. A FICO score or other credit score of 500 or below is considered very poor. The good news is, no matter the reason for your low number, there are things you can do now to raise your credit score.

Increase Your Credit Scores from below 500 to 800+ in Just a Few Weeks!

32 related questions found

How long does it take to rebuild credit from 500?

Average Recovery Time

For instance, going from a poor credit score of around 500 to a fair credit score (in the 580-669 range) takes around 12 to 18 months of responsible credit use. Once you've made it to the good credit zone (670-739), don't expect your credit to continue rising as steadily.

Is 300 a good credit score?

Your score falls within the range of scores, from 300 to 579, considered Very Poor. A 300 FICO® Score is significantly below the average credit score. Many lenders choose not to do business with borrowers whose scores fall in the Very Poor range, on grounds they have unfavorable credit.

Is 500 a good score on Clearscore?

The highest Clearscore score is 1000.

A score between 811 and 1000 places you in the Excellent Clearscore band.

What is the lowest credit score?

The FICO® Score , which is the most widely used scoring model, falls in a range that goes up to 850. The lowest credit score in this range is 300. But the reality is that almost nobody has a score that low. For the most part, a score below 580 is considered "bad credit." The average FICO® Score in the U.S. is 704.

How can I raise my credit score 200 points in 30 days?

How to Raise Your Credit Score by 200 Points
  1. Get More Credit Accounts.
  2. Pay Down High Credit Card Balances.
  3. Always Make On-Time Payments.
  4. Keep the Accounts that You Already Have.
  5. Dispute Incorrect Items on Your Credit Report.

Is 550 a Good credit score?

Your score falls within the range of scores, from 300 to 579, considered Very Poor. A 550 FICO® Score is significantly below the average credit score. Many lenders choose not to do business with borrowers whose scores fall in the Very Poor range, on grounds they have unfavorable credit.

What is a 700 credit score?

FICO credit scores, the industry standard for sizing up credit risk, range from 300 to a perfect 850—with 670 to 739 labeled “good,” 740-799 “very good” and 800 to 850 “exceptional.” A 700 score places you right in the middle of the good range, but still slightly below the average credit score of 711.

Is a 800 credit score Good?

Having a credit score over 800 isn't just good. According to the FICO credit scoring system, it's exceptional. Although both the FICO and VantageScore credit scoring systems go all the way up to 850, you actually don't need to hit 850 to reap the same benefits as those with a perfect credit score.

How can I borrow money with a 500 credit score?

How to Get Personal Loans for a Credit Score Under 550
  1. Get a secured personal loan. A secured personal loan requires collateral. ...
  2. Apply for an unsecured personal loan with a co-signer. ...
  3. Borrow from family/friends. ...
  4. See if local credit unions will consider you.

Can I improve my credit score?

Pay on time.

One of the best things you can do to improve your credit score is to pay your debts on time and in full whenever possible. Payment history makes up a significant chunk of your credit score, so it's important to avoid late payments.

How do I rebuild a 500 credit score?

10 Things to Do Now If You Have a 500 Credit Score
  1. 10 Things to Do to Raise Your 500 Credit Score. ...
  2. Make Payments on Time. ...
  3. Keep Your Credit Utilization Ratio Low. ...
  4. Pay Down Existing Debt. ...
  5. Avoid Using Your Cards With a 0 Balance. ...
  6. Create a Budget. ...
  7. Don't Open Unnecessary Credit Cards. ...
  8. Diversify Your Debt.

What is the lowest credit score to buy a car?

There is no set credit score you need to get an auto loan. If you have a credit score above 660, you will likely qualify for an auto loan at a rate below 10% APR. If you have bad credit or no credit, you could still qualify for a car loan, but you should expect to pay more.

What credit score do you start with?

The base credit scores of the most popular credit-reporting models start at 300. Starting with a score of around 300 is possible only if you've managed your finances poorly. You may start to build a credit history or improve your score without using any type of credit.

Is 500 a good credit score UK?

Equifax scores range from 0-700. 380-419 is considered a fair score. A score of 420-465 is considered good. A score of 466-700 is considered excellent (reference: https://www.finder.com/uk/equifax).

What is the lowest credit score UK?

They rate their scores as follows:
  • 0 – 560 Very Poor.
  • 561 – 720 Poor.
  • 721 – 880 Fair.
  • 881 – 960 Good.
  • 961 – 999 Excellent.

What is the UK average credit score?

The average credit score in the UK is 383 with Equifax and 759 with Experian. There are three main Credit Reference Agencies (CRA) in the UK: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each CRA uses a different scale to assign a credit score so it's important to know each one.

Can I get a car with a 450 credit score?

With a 450 credit score, you may not get approval for a car loan without going through a specialized lender. A 450 credit score is in the deep subprime range, and most banks and credit unions aren't willing to work with such a high-risk candidate.

What credit score does an 18 year old start with?

The truth is that we all start out with no credit score at all. Credit scores are based on the information in our major credit reports, and such reports aren't even created until we've had credit (e.g., a credit card or loan) in our names for at least six months.

Whats the worst credit you can have?

The lower your score is on each model, the harder it will be for you to qualify for financing. For FICO, the lowest credit score range is 300 to 579; the lowest credit score range for VantageScore is 300 to 499.