Why is my FICO score so much lower than my VantageScore?

Asked by: Jonas Aufderhar  |  Last update: February 9, 2022
Score: 4.4/5 (20 votes)

If you've had late payments on your credit cards, they will have about the same impact on both your FICO and your VantageScore. But if you've had late payments on your mortgage, you might find you have a higher FICO score than VantageScore.

Why is my VantageScore higher than FICO?

VantageScore counts multiple inquiries, even for different types of loans, within a 14-day period as a single inquiry. Multiple inquiries on your reports for the same type of loan or credit, spanning more than a 14-day period, may have a greater impact to your VantageScore® credit scores than to your FICO® scores.

Do lenders look at FICO or Vantage?

Mortgage lenders typically use FICO Scores 5, 2 and 4 when determining whether or not to approve a loan. Additionally, one type of credit score to keep an eye on moving forward is the VantageScore, a score that was developed by the three main credit bureaus and currently serves as a competitor to FICO.

Which is more accurate FICO or Vantage?

At first, VantageScore credit scores featured a different numerical scale (501 to 990). However, VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0 adopted the same 300 to 850 scale that FICO uses. With both FICO and VantageScore models, higher scores are better.

Do car dealers use FICO or Vantage?

VantageScore. The FICO credit scoring model is the most commonly used credit scoring model by auto lenders and car dealerships, and is also the oldest and first-ever credit scoring model. It's estimated that 90% of auto lenders use the current FICO Score 8 model when making lending decisions.

Why your credit scores are different from each other - How so many FICO, VantageScore scores happen

22 related questions found

Do any lenders use VantageScore?

A 2019 third-party market study found that VantageScores are widely used by credit card issuers, and secondly by both installment loan and fintech lenders. According to the study, nine of the 10 largest banks and 29 of the 100 largest credit unions used VantageScore credit scores in one or more lines of business.

What is a good FICO score to buy a house?

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 payments.

Why is my credit score different than what the bank pulls?

The credit score you see and the one your lender uses may be different for several reasons. ... Another reason the scores differ might be because there's more than one credit scoring model, and there's no guarantee the one you're using to check your own credit is the same one your lender relies on.

Does Credit Karma use FICO?

Though Credit Karma does not currently offer FICO® scores, the scores you see on Credit Karma (VantageScore 3.0 credit scores from TransUnion and Equifax) provide valuable insight into your financial health. It's important to keep in mind that no one credit score is the end-all, be-all.

Are Vantage scores accurate?

Many consumers are more familiar with FICO scores, as VantageScore is a more recent development, so you may be wondering if a TransUnion credit score is accurate. TransUnion VantageScore is, in fact, accurate — based on that credit score model.

Does Navy Federal use FICO or VantageScore?

Navy Federal uses all three bureaus. They HP EQ FICO 9 when evaluating auto and lines of credit, HP TU FICO 9 for credit card apps, and they SP EX as well.

Is a 3.0 VantageScore good?

What Is a Good VantageScore? VantageScore's first two credit scoring models had ranges of 501 to 990. The two newest VantageScore credit scores (VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0) use a 300 to 850 range—the same as the base FICO® Scores. For the latest models, VantageScore defines 661 to 780 as its good range.

Why is my FICO score so low?

Maxing out credit cards, paying late, and applying for new credit haphazardly are all things that lower FICO scores. More banks and lenders use FICO to make credit decisions than any other scoring or reporting model.

Why is Credit Karma so far off?

Credit Karma receives information from two of the top three credit reporting agencies. This indicates that Credit Karma is likely off by the number of points as the lack of information they have from Experian, the third provider that does not report to Credit Karma.

What is a good VantageScore?

What Is a Good VantageScore? A score from 750 to 850 is considered to be excellent or super prime, while scores between 700 to 749 are considered to be good. Scores between 650 and 699 are viewed as fair, scores in the 550 to 649 range are poor, and 300-549 are very poor scores.

Why did my credit score go down when nothing changed?

Why did your credit score go down when nothing changed? If you didn't change the amount you owe, perhaps your credit card company has increased or decreased your total credit limit. If your spending habits remain the same, a decrease in your credit limit would increase your credit utilization ratio and harm your score.

Why is Credit Karma score lower than FICO?

Why your Credit Karma credit score differs

Your score can then differ based on what bureau your credit report is pulled from since they don't all receive the same information about your credit accounts. ... Your VantageScore® 3.0 on Credit Karma will likely be different from your FICO Score that lenders often use.

Is Experian usually the lowest score?

Credit scores help lenders evaluate whether they want to do business with you. 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.

What should my credit score be to buy a car?

The recommended credit score needed to buy a car is 660 and above. This will typically guarantee interest rates under 6%.

Is a FICO score of 8 good?

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.

Which credit bureau is most accurate?

What is the Most Accurate Credit Score? Although there are many different scores and scoring models, there is a light at the end of this confusing tunnel. Among all the credit score models, the FICO credit score is used by more than 90% of major U.S. lenders.

What is a fair VantageScore?

Fair credit scores fall at the lower end of the credit-scoring spectrum. For FICO, they generally range from the upper 500s to the mid-600s. Fair VantageScore® credit scores fall in the low- to mid-600s.

Is Experian VantageScore accurate?

Is Experian Accurate? ... If it is, your Experian credit scores are accurate. If your credit report is not accurate, you'll want to look into your credit repair options. Our free Credit Report Card offers the Experian VantageScore 3.0 so you can check it regularly.

Who actually uses VantageScore?

It is used by lenders and landlords. A VantageScore is a credit score jointly developed by the three major credit bureaus to predict how likely you are to repay borrowed money. It is used by lenders, landlords and financial institutions to evaluate creditworthiness.

Why is my credit score going down if I pay everything on time?

There's a missed payment lurking on your report

A single payment that is 30 days late or more can send your score plummeting because on-time payments are the biggest factor in your credit score. Worse, late payments stay on your credit report for up to seven years.