Your credit score: it’s such an important part of your identity and lifestyle. It’s much more than a numerical expression of your creditworthiness. It’s the difference between getting the best interest rates on a new car, new home and credit cards and getting the worst. A good credit score empowers you to shop in nicer places and pay less overall for your purchases.
Both VantageScore and FICO consider the same factors when determining your credit score, including:
Age of credit history or how long you’ve had credit.
How many credit applications you’ve recently submitted.
Payment history. This includes late and on-time payments, collection actions, and judgments against you.
Credit utilization. This is the ratio of balances you owe versus how much you could charge if you were to max out every card.
Types of credit. How many accounts you have including installment loans, auto loans, credit cards, mortgages, etc.
Need a new car?
Consumers more often feel the force of a credit score when buying a vehicle. Let’s say you want to buy a new car but your credit score is only 580. This is considered “poor” and without a cosigner, it will be difficult to get that gorgeous new auto you’ve been eyeing. A score of 580 is considered high risk or subprime.
Subprime refers to interest rates for borrowers with poor credit who do not qualify for prime rate loans. Subprime rates are higher and cost the borrower more.
There are many auto sellers who deal specifically with this group of consumers, and they will sell you a car. The problem comes with the selection available and the interest you’ll pay.
In many cases, you’ll have to settle for an older model vehicle. You will pay way above what most people are paying for interest — sometimes an APR as high as 18%. In addition, you may be asked to put more money down on the car. The car dealership wants to collect as much in cash as possible right at the beginning your financial relationship with them.
For example, you find a great older car that runs well for $8,600, but the used car salesman tells you that your credit score is 580, and you’ll have to pay 15% interest on your purchase.
580 credit score: Monthly payment on $7,600 loan at 15% interest
Loan amount
$8,600
Interest rate
15%
Down payment
$1,000
Loan term
48 months
Monthly payment
$212
After four years at 15% interest, you will have paid $10,153 for your $7,600 loan ($8,600 less your $1,000 down payment). That’s $2,553 in interest over the life of the loan.
With an improved credit score, you’re eligible for a lower interest rate. For example, here’s the same transaction with a “excellent” credit score of 720.
720 credit score: Monthly payment on $7,600 loan at 3.29% interest
Loan amount
$8,600
Interest rate
3.29%
Down payment
$1,000
Loan term
48 months
Monthly payment
$169
Here, after four years at 3.29% interest, you will have paid $8,121 for your $7,600 loan — or $521 in interest over the life of the loan.
With poor credit, you’ll pay $43 more per month for the same car — more than $2,000 in interest over four years This is simply the cost of having a lower credit score. When you apply those same interest rates to a $300,000 house, you’ll be stunned at the differences in what you must pay.
Learn more: Compare auto loans
What’s a good credit score?
While the three major reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — vary in how they rate the quality of a credit score, scores run between 300 and 850, with 680 to 719 considered a “good” rating. A score in that range will get you the best interest rates on credit cards, mortgages, personal loans and auto loans.
Credit score ranges and ratings according to finder.com
Score
Rating
300–619
Poor
620–679
Fair
680–719
Good
720–850
Excellent
Why are there so many credit reporting agencies?
There are currently two types of credit scores. FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) is often used by lenders and considers anything above 670 as a good score; 800 and above is “exceptional.” The average credit score in America is currently between 600 and 750.
VantageScore is used by the three main credit bureaus. Its scoring method is similar to that of FICO in that scores range between 300 and 850. If you have a VantageScore of 700, then your credit is “good,” but 750 is “excellent.”
How do I get my credit score?
Better treatment in the showroom
Paying more for every financed purchase comes with another subtle but important factor. Walking into a car dealership with a 725 credit rating will get you the royal treatment. On the other hand, walk into that same dealership with a credit score of 540, and you may be treated differently. The dealer could tell you they might be able to sell you a car, but only from the used car lot. And by the way, they could extend a loan, but with your credit, they’ll charge 14% interest instead of 4%.
Though it’s unfair, people with good credit typically get treated better when making a big purchase. This includes homes, cars, furniture and appliances. Life can seem better if you have good credit. So what can you do to improve your credit rating?
Credit repair
Many companies today claim to be able to improve your credit score. However, these claims are often not legitimate.
Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix when it comes to credit repair. It can take months or even years to rebuild bad credit, but these tips can help:
Pay off accounts completely, instead of moving money around. Your overall credit score is determined by many variables including your credit utilization rate. This rate is calculated for all credit cards combined, so the rate wouldn’t change or improve simply by moving money around.
Try not to max out credit cards. Keep those balances as low as possible. Most experts believe that you should keep your ratio of how much credit you have versus how much you use below 30 percent.
Closing unused credit cards isn’t usually a good strategy. In fact, it can damage your credit utilization rate. If you must close an account, choose one with a higher interest rate.
Don’t open new charge accounts until your score begins to improve. Instead, wait until your credit score improves a bit so you can take advantage of better interest rates. Credit card companies never lower your rates even after your score improves.
Though credit agencies allow you to file a formal “protest” if you feel a past creditor has treated you unfairly, the process takes time and patience. If you can provide documentation to support your claim, you may be able to get a bad “ding” on your credit report removed.
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Why do credit scores matter?
Credit scores are so important in this country because a higher score generally indicates that you can wisely manage your finances. For instance, if FICO says that if you have a credit score between 670 and 739, you are less likely to become delinquent in your payments. Their research has confirmed that within this group, only 8% of consumers will become delinquent in the future. That makes you a “good” credit risk.
What’s the bottom line?
When it comes to credit, tread carefully. If you’re in college or even high school, don’t make frivolous purchases on the spur of the moment. It can take 3 to 10 years for a negative item to fall off of your credit report. Shop around, get advice from a trusted friend and sleep on it before making a big purchase like a motorcycle or car. It’s often a good idea to sit down before shopping and write out your expenses and income. Then you can decide on a payment that comfortably fits into your budget.
Remember: Into every life, a little rain must fall. You could lose your job. A sickness or injury could mean taking off several weeks or months from work. Divorce often adversely affects your credit. Take into account life events that could affect your ability to pay your bills on time. A responsible consumer understands the value of a great credit score.