Why you don't have a credit score. There's no such thing as a zero score. Having “no score” simply means you don't have any number tied to your credit profile. You can be absent from the scoring model if you've never had a credit card or loan, or if you haven't used credit in a long time.
If you haven't started using credit yet, you won't have a credit score. You begin to build your credit score after you open your first line of credit, such as a credit card or a student loan. At that point, your credit score is determined by the way you use that initial credit account.
Generally, having no credit is better than having bad credit, though both can hold you back. People with no credit history may have trouble getting approved for today's best credit cards, for example—while people with bad credit may have trouble applying for credit, renting an apartment and more.
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.
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.
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.
If you have no credit, it means creditors don't have a good way to predict how likely you are to pay your bills as agreed. It's not the same as bad credit, which means you have a credit history with major blemishes.
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.
Having “no score” simply means you don't have any number tied to your credit profile. You can be absent from the scoring model if you've never had a credit card or loan, or if you haven't used credit in a long time. It's also possible that your new line of credit hasn't been reported yet.
Starting with no credit score doesn't mean your score is zero. Rather, your score simply doesn't exist. That's because your credit score is calculated only at the moment that a lender, credit card issuer or other entity requests it to check your creditworthiness.
Age well for best results
While six months is the minimum age before you're fully scorable, that's the bottom of the range -- way at the bottom. Most lenders (and scoring models) consider anything less than two years of credit history to be little more than a decent start.
Without an established history, your credit report and credit score don't magically appear when you turn 18, despite many common misconceptions. Once you have established credit, your first credit score could range anywhere from lower than 500 to well in the 700s, depending on your initial financial performance.
It is possible to get a loan with no credit, but there are some potential pitfalls to be aware of. Lenders may require you to put up property (such as a car or a home) as collateral to secure the loan, and loans for people with no credit may come with high interest rates and fees.
You do not earn credit for the course. You do not fulfill any graduation or major requirement for the course. An NC grade will appear on your transcript for that course.
Generally speaking, you'll need a credit score of at least 620 in order to secure a loan to buy a house. That's the minimum credit score requirement most lenders have for a conventional loan. With that said, it's still possible to get a loan with a lower credit score, including a score in the 500s.
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.
While you can't get an excellent credit score overnight, you can establish one from scratch within three to six months. Read on to learn about the fastest ways to build credit so you can access your best terms on credit cards, mortgages and other financial products.
Depending on how responsibly you use your card, your first score could be anywhere from bad to good. If you pay your bill on time and otherwise manage your finances responsibly, you can rebuild from a bad credit score (300-639) to a fair credit score (640-699) in approximately 12-18 months.
You don't need a credit card to have a credit score. Car loans, student loans, rent payments and even utility payments can help demonstrate your creditworthiness.