Which is better Equifax or TransUnion?

Asked by: Murphy Jast  |  Last update: December 18, 2022
Score: 4.8/5 (27 votes)

Neither score is more or less accurate than the other; they're only being calculated from slightly differing sources. Your Equifax credit score is more likely to appear lower than your TransUnion one because of the reporting differences, but a “fair” score from TransUnion is typically “fair” across the board.

Is Equifax more important than TransUnion?

Is TransUnion more important than Equifax? The short answer is no. Both TransUnion and Equifax are reliable credit reporting agencies that compile reports and calculate your credit scores using different scoring models.

Do lenders look at Equifax or TransUnion?

Answer provided by. “In general, lenders have a preferred credit report between Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. However, they may pull more than one credit report if they can't determine if you qualify for a loan based on one.

Which credit report is most accurate?

The most accurate credit scores are the latest versions of the FICO Score and VantageScore credit-scoring models: FICO Score 8 and VantageScore 3.0.

What's difference between Equifax and TransUnion?

TransUnion uses most of the same personal information that Equifax does in scoring your credit; however, TransUnion may find certain aspects of your credit history more important than Equifax does. For example, TransUnion credit reports feature a more extensive employment history section.

Why Equifax, Experian, and Transunion Have Different Scores

22 related questions found

Why do I have an Equifax score but not TransUnion?

Because there are varied scoring models, you'll likely have different scores from different providers. Lenders use many different types of credit scores to make lending decisions. The score you see when you check it may not be the same as the one used by your lender.

Do car dealerships use Equifax or TransUnion?

While Experian and Equifax are the most popular bureaus among auto lenders and car dealers, TransUnion can also be used for auto loan decisions. And the truth is, the credit bureau lenders use when evaluating your auto loan application probably will not influence their decision too much.

Why is there a 100 point difference between TransUnion and Equifax?

This is because there are 3 credit bureaus and dozens of different scoring models. Differences in which report is pulled, which scoring model is used, and what information is reported to whom and when, can all have an impact on the credit score you are viewing.

What is a good Equifax credit score?

Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.

Which of the 3 credit scores is most important?

Payment History Is the Most Important Factor of Your Credit Score. Payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO® Score.

What score is used to buy a house?

The scoring model used in mortgage applications

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)

Which credit score is usually the lowest?

Here are the credit score ranges for each category:
  • Very poor: 300 to 579.
  • Fair: 580 to 669.
  • Good: 670 to 739.
  • Very good: 740 to 799.
  • Excellent: 800 to 850.

Which credit is most used?

While there's no exact answer to which credit score matters most, lenders have a clear favorite: FICO® Scores are used in over 90% of lending decisions.

Which credit agency is used the most?

Experian is the largest credit bureau in the United States. Still, it's not the only entity that houses consumer financial data. Equifax and TransUnion are the other major credit reporting agencies lenders, and creditors turn to for credit reports and scores used to make lending decisions.

Why is my Equifax score so low?

Your payment history on loan and credit accounts can play a prominent role in calculating credit scores; depending on the scoring model used, even one late payment on a credit card account or loan can result in a decrease. In addition, late payments remain on your Equifax credit report for seven years.

What is a good TransUnion score?

A good score with TransUnion and VantageScore® 3.0 is between 720 and 780. As your score climbs through and above this range, you can benefit from the increased freedom and flexibility healthy credit brings. Some people want to achieve a score of 850, the highest credit score possible.

Is a 712 credit score good?

A 712 FICO® Score is Good, but by raising your score into the Very Good range, you could qualify for lower interest rates and better borrowing terms. A great way to get started is to get your free credit report from Experian and check your credit score to find out the specific factors that impact your score the most.

Is 650 a good credit score?

A FICO score of 650 is considered fair—better than poor, but less than good. It falls below the national average FICO® Score of 710, and solidly within the fair score range of 580 to 669.

How many points is Credit Karma off?

Credit Karma touts that it will always be free to the consumers who use its website or mobile app. But how accurate is Credit Karma? In some cases, as seen in an example below, Credit Karma may be off by 20 to 25 points.

Is 700 a good 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.

What score is used to buy a car?

Auto lenders use a special reporting system called FICO® Auto Score when determining the creditworthiness of a potential customer. The three credit reporting bureaus that contribute information to your FICO Auto Score are TransUnion®, Experian™ and Equifax®.

Is the score from Credit Karma accurate?

The credit scores and reports you see on Credit Karma should accurately reflect your credit information as reported by those bureaus. This means a couple of things: The scores we provide are actual credit scores pulled from two of the major consumer credit bureaus, not just estimates of your credit rating.

What is a decent credit score to buy a car?

In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.

Which credit score do banks use?

They are Experian, Equifax and CIBIL. CIBIL is quite popular as it has been in the business for a long time. Non-Banking Financial Companies and banks use the credit score provided by CIBIL, Experian and Equifax to determine the potential risk of lending to a customer.