That's because your credit score doesn't start at zero. In fact, the lowest possible score from FICO® or VantageScore® is 300.
This is an important first step toward a secure financial future. Fortunately, there are some simple tips that you can use to make sure that you get off on the right track. The average credit score for 18-year-olds is 631.
Some people wonder whether the starting credit score is zero, for example, or whether we all start with a credit score of 300 (the lowest possible FICO score). The truth is that there's no such thing as a “starting credit score.” We each build our own unique credit score based on the way we use credit.
Does your child have a credit score? Typically, only people over the age of 18 have a credit score — but it is possible for minors to have a credit report. A person under 18 can have a credit report if : ... An adult added the minor as an authorized user or opened a joint account in the minor's name.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 580 to 669, considered Fair. A 600 FICO® Score is below the average credit score. Some lenders see consumers with scores in the Fair range as having unfavorable credit, and may decline their credit applications.
For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750.
It will take about six months of credit activity to establish enough history for a FICO credit score, which is used in 90% of lending decisions. 1 FICO credit scores range from 300 to 850, and a score of over 700 is considered a good credit score. Scores over 800 are considered excellent.
A perfect credit score of 850 is hard to get, but an excellent credit score is more achievable. If you want to get the best credit cards, mortgages and competitive loan rates — which can save you money over time — excellent credit can help you qualify. “Excellent” is the highest tier of credit scores you can have.
The short answer is that 18 is the minimum age for financial products such as loans and credit cards. But anyone can potentially start building credit before 18 if they're an authorized user on an account.
Teens can begin building credit at a young age by becoming authorized users on their parents' credit cards. At 18, teens can apply for a credit card in their own name. The best teen credit cards have low credit requirements and keep costs to a minimum.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 580 to 669, considered Fair. A 630 FICO® Score is below the average credit score. Some lenders see consumers with scores in the Fair range as having unfavorable credit, and may decline their credit applications.
Depending on where you're starting from, It can take several years or more to build an 800 credit score. You need to have a few years of only positive payment history and a good mix of credit accounts showing you have experience managing different types of credit cards and loans.
You can begin building your child's credit whenever you want to by making him or her an authorized user on your credit card. Usually, you have to be at least 18 and have an income to take on a credit card or loan, which are the conventional ways that people start building credit.
A credit score of 900 is either not possible or not very relevant. ... On the standard 300-850 range used by FICO and VantageScore, a credit score of 800+ is considered “perfect.” That's because higher scores won't really save you any money.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 740 to 799, that is considered Very Good. A 763 FICO® Score is above the average credit score. Consumers in this range may qualify for better interest rates from lenders. 25% of all consumers have FICO® Scores in the Very Good range.
A 784 credit score is Very Good, but it can be even better. If you can elevate your score into the Exceptional range (800-850), you could become eligible for the very best lending terms, including the lowest interest rates and fees, and the most enticing credit-card rewards programs.
The average mortgage loan amount for consumers with Exceptional credit scores is $208,977. People with FICO® Scores of 800 have an average auto-loan debt of $18,764.
According to Experian, one of the major credit bureaus, it takes between three and six months of regular credit activity for your file to become thick enough that a credit score can be calculated. How thick your file becomes depends on how many loans you get during this time, and on how often you use credit.
Your 850 FICO® Score is nearly perfect and will be seen as a sign of near-flawless credit management. ... An Exceptional credit score can mean opportunities to refinance older loans at more attractive interest, and excellent odds of approval for premium credit cards, auto loans and mortgages.
A FICO® Score of 670 falls within a span of scores, from 670 to 739, that are categorized as Good. ... 21% of U.S. consumers' FICO® Scores are in the Good range. Approximately 9% of consumers with Good FICO® Scores are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.
A 680 credit score is considered fair, but it is very close to good credit territory. Your credit score helps lenders determine whether you qualify for products like credit cards and loans, and what interest rate they should charge you.
You can sign up for Credit Karma if you're 18 or older. ... If you're new to credit, you may want to read up on how to build credit from scratch. If you're under 18 or a parent looking to protect your child's identity, you can read more about reducing your child's risk of identity theft.