Which credit score matters the most? (2024)

Which credit score matters the most?

Although Experian is the largest credit bureau in the U.S., TransUnion and Equifax are widely considered to be just as accurate and important. When it comes to credit scores, however, there is a clear winner: FICO® Score is used in 90% of lending decisions.

Which credit score is most accurate?

Simply put, there is no “more accurate” score when it comes down to receiving your score from the major credit bureaus.

Which credit score matters more TransUnion or Equifax?

Neither your TransUnion or Equifax score is more or less accurate than the other. They're just calculated from slightly differing sources. Your Equifax credit score is likely lower due to reporting differences. Nonetheless, a “fair” score from TransUnion is typically “fair” across the board.

What credit score is the most important?

FICO scores are generally known to be the most widely used by lenders. But the credit-scoring model used may vary by lender. While FICO Score 8 is the most common, mortgage lenders might use FICO Score 2, 4 or 5. Auto lenders often use one of the FICO Auto Scores.

Which credit score do most creditors look at?

FICO ^® Scores are the most widely used credit scores—90% of top lenders use FICO ^® Scores. Every year, lenders access billions of FICO ^® Scores to help them understand people's credit risk and make better–informed lending decisions.

Is a FICO score of 8 good or bad?

FICO 8 scores range between 300 and 850. A FICO score of at least 700 is considered a good score.

Do banks use TransUnion or Equifax?

When you are applying for a mortgage to buy a home, lenders will typically look at all of your credit history reports from the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. In most cases, mortgage lenders will look at your FICO score. There are different FICO scoring models.

Is FICO or TransUnion more important?

The Three Bureaus and FICO

For example, an apartment manager who checks your credit may only look at Experian while a credit card company might only look at TransUnion. FICO was developed as an alternative to these bureaus. Many lenders prefer FICO because it paints a more holistic picture of the potential borrower.

Why is my FICO score 100 points lower than Credit Karma?

Why is my FICO® score different from my credit score? Your FICO Score is a credit score. But if your FICO score is different from another of your credit scores, it may be that the score you're viewing was calculated using one of the other scoring models that exist.

Do car dealers use Equifax or TransUnion?

What credit score do auto lenders look at? The three major credit bureaus are Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. The two big credit scoring models used by auto lenders are FICO® Auto Score and Vantage.

What are the top 3 credit scores?

The three major credit bureaus are Equifax®, Experian® and TransUnion®. Credit bureaus are different from credit-scoring companies, such as VantageScore® and FICO®. Credit reports contain information about people's identity, credit history and credit activity as well as information from public records.

What is a good credit 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 mortgage payments.

What is the average credit score for Americans?

The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.

What credit score is needed for a 300k house?

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans need at least a 580 FICO Score with at least a 3.5% down payment (which amounts to $10,500 on a $300,000 home). Conventional loans require a minimum FICO® Score of 620 along with a 3% down payment (which amounts to $9,000 on a $300,000 home).

What is a good credit score by age?

What is a good credit score to buy a car?

Your credit score is a major factor in whether you'll be approved for a car loan. Some lenders use specialized credit scores, such as a FICO Auto Score. In general, you'll need at least prime credit, meaning a credit score of 661 or up, to get a loan at a good interest rate.

Does anyone have a 900 credit score?

While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.

Do dealerships look at FICO score 8?

The base FICO score is also called FICO Score 8 or 9. It's not designed specifically for auto loans, but many lenders use it. It's a number between 300 and 850, and a higher score means that a person is more likely to make loan payments on time.

What is a good FICO 8 score to buy a house?

Generally speaking, you'll likely need a score of at least 620 — what's classified as a “fair” rating — to qualify with most lenders. With a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, though, you might be able to get approved with a score as low as 500.

Which credit score is used for car loans?

Credit-scoring models from FICO and VantageScore are most commonly used for auto loans, but lenders may also use the industry-specific FICO^® Auto Scores. With the FICO Auto Scores, FICO first calculates your “base” scores — your traditional FICO scores — then adjusts the calculation based on specific auto risks.

Is age a factor in someone's FICO score?

Factors like your age, state, and income level don't actually affect your credit score.

Why is my Equifax score 100 points lower than TransUnion?

Scoring Models: Both agencies use slightly different scoring models to calculate credit scores. This means that the same credit activity can have different impacts on the scores calculated by each agency. They each also consider certain factors more heavily than others when calculating scores.

Why is my FICO score so much higher than TransUnion?

Credit scoring models can weigh certain information in your reports more heavily than other credit score factors. For example, one scoring model may put more emphasis on total credit usage than others. Because there are varied scoring models, you'll likely have different scores from different providers.

How close is Equifax score to FICO?

Since the information on your credit reports at each bureau can differ, your Equifax credit score and FICO score can differ depending on which credit report is used to calculate the score. The Equifax credit score model uses a numerical range between 280 and 850, and FICO score models use a range between 300 and 850.

Is TransUnion usually the lowest credit score?

Is TransUnion always the lowest score? No, TransUnion credit scores are not always the lowest score. However, as users report, it is often lower than most other credit scores they have. Depending on the credit bureau and the scoring algorithm, your credit scores may change.