What is a good credit score?
Whether you’ve got a good or bad credit score, your score will differ depending on what credit reference agency you are using. There are 3 main different credit agencies and they all use different ranges to represent a good or bad score. You can see below the credit score ranges that each agency use:
Experian – 0- 999
Equifax (ClearScore) – 0- 1000
TransUnion (Credit Karma) – 0 – 710
With all of the credit reference agencies varying it can be confusing to understand if you have a good or bad credit score, but also how to check your credit score. We would suggest, in order to understand fully what your score looks like, to have an account with all 3 credit reference agencies; Experian, ClearScore and Credit Karma. All 3 offer a free credit score check on their basic accounts, but Experian do charge for an upgraded CreditExpert account.
There are also a few key things you can do to increase your eligibility for a loan by improving your credit score. You might also find it useful to know what can affect your credit score, as well as how you can improve it.
Whether you’ve got a good or bad credit score, your score will differ depending on what credit reference agency you are using. There are 3 main different credit agencies and they all use different ranges to represent a good or bad score. You can see below the credit score ranges that each agency use:
Experian – 0- 999
Equifax (ClearScore) – 0- 1000
TransUnion (Credit Karma) – 0 – 710
With all of the credit reference agencies varying it can be confusing to understand if you have a good or bad credit score, but also how to check your credit score. We would suggest, in order to understand fully what your score looks like, to have an account with all 3 credit reference agencies; Experian, ClearScore and Credit Karma. All 3 offer a free credit score check on their basic accounts, but Experian do charge for an upgraded CreditExpert account.
There are also a few key things you can do to increase your eligibility for a loan by improving your credit score. You might also find it useful to know what can affect your credit score, as well as how you can improve it.
What is a good credit score?
What is a good credit score?
As the agencies reviewing your credit score rate their scores differently to each other, they also have their own understanding of what a good credit score looks like.
So, what is a good Experian credit score? As mentioned above Experian credit scores can range from 0-999, so with this in mind the credit scores listed as ‘fair, ‘good’ and ‘excellent’ are rated as:
‘Fair’: 721 – 880
‘Good’: 881 – 960
‘Excellent’: 961+
As the agencies reviewing your credit score rate their scores differently to each other, they also have their own understanding of what a good credit score looks like.
So, what is a good Experian credit score? As mentioned above Experian credit scores can range from 0-999, so with this in mind the credit scores listed as ‘fair, ‘good’ and ‘excellent’ are rated as:
‘Fair’: 721 – 880
‘Good’: 881 – 960
‘Excellent’: 961+
ClearScore is different and will show you what a good credit score is out of 1000. Their ‘good’ score sits much more in the middle of their scoring range which is different to Experian’s above. Their scores between fair and excellent are as below:
‘Fair’: 410- 519
‘Good’: 520 – 604
‘Very good’: 605- 724
‘Excellent’: 725+
ClearScore clearly advertise on their app that the average UK ClearScore credit score is 585, which puts most people in the ‘good’ bracket.
ClearScore is different and will show you what a good credit score is out of 1000. Their ‘good’ score sits much more in the middle of their scoring range which is different to Experian’s above. Their scores between fair and excellent are as below:
‘Fair’: 410 – 519
‘Good’: 520 – 604
‘Very good’: 605 – 724
‘Excellent’: 725+
ClearScore clearly advertise on their app that the average UK ClearScore credit score is 585, which puts most people in the ‘good’ bracket.
Credit Karma is different again to the 2 listed above and scores their customers between 0 -710. Their scores start off from a higher number than ClearScore as you will see below:
‘Fair’: 566 – 603
‘Good’: 604 – 627
‘Excellent’: 628+
Credit Karma is different again to the 2 listed above and scores their customers between 0 -710. Their scores start off from a higher number than ClearScore as you will see below:
‘Fair’: 566 – 603
‘Good’: 604 – 627
‘Excellent’: 628+
What is a bad credit score?
What is a bad credit score?
We now know what a good credit score is, but what is a bad credit score? The term ‘bad’ or ‘poor’ is a relative term based on how each credit score is calculated, but it gives a good indicator of how likely you are to be accepted for a loan.
We now know what a good credit score is, but what is a bad credit score? The term ‘bad’ or ‘poor’ is a relative term based on how each credit score is calculated, but it gives a good indicator of how likely you are to be accepted for a loan.
Like good credit scores, bad credit scores vary between different credit agencies, but a bad Experian credit score could fit into either of the 2 categories below:
‘Poor’: 561 – 720
‘Very poor’: 0 – 560
For ClearScore this looks a little different:
‘Poor’: 0 – 409
‘Very poor’: ClearScore removed this bracket in 2021
And if you’re using Credit Karma to look at your credit score you will see:
‘Poor’: 0 – 565
‘Very poor’: Credit Karma removed this bracket in 2021
Like good credit scores, bad credit scores vary between different credit agencies, but a bad Experian credit score could fit into either of the 2 categories below:
‘Poor’: 561 – 720
‘Very poor’: 0-560
For ClearScore this looks a little different:
‘Poor’: 0 – 409
‘Very poor’: ClearScore removed this bracket in 2021
And if you’re using Credit Karma to look at your credit score you will see:
‘Poor’: 0 – 565
‘Very poor’: Credit Karma removed this bracket in 2021
Getting finance with a poor or very poor credit score is unfortunately more difficult, and you will need to specifically look for lenders who help people with bad credit scores, as these lenders will be more likely to accept you.
In the eyes of a lender a bad credit score just means that there might be more risk in lending to that customer. This is often based off marks on their credit file from previous credit products but can also be from having no credit products, which means there’s no proof they can be trusted with credit.
Knowing you have a bad credit score can be a good thing as it gives you the opportunity to improve your credit score. There are lots of things you can do to better your credit score, and Experian, ClearScore and Credit Karma will all be able to give you guidance on how to improve your credit score.
If you are looking for vehicle finance Moneybarn might be able to help you, as we specialise in bad credit vehicle finance.
Getting finance with a poor or very poor credit score is unfortunately more difficult, and you will need to specifically look for lenders who help people with bad credit scores, as these lenders will be more likely to accept you.
In the eyes of a lender a bad credit score just means that there might be more risk in lending to that customer. This is often based off marks on their credit file from previous credit products but can also be from having no credit products, which means there’s no proof they can be trusted with credit.
Knowing you have a bad credit score can be a good thing as it gives you the opportunity to improve your credit score. There are lots of things you can do to better your credit score, and Experian, ClearScore and Credit Karma will all be able to give you guidance on how to improve your credit score.
If you are looking for vehicle finance Moneybarn might be able to help you, as we specialise in bad credit vehicle finance.
Why is my credit score different to people I know?
Why is my credit score different to people I know?
Everyone’s credit score is different, and just because you earn the same as someone or live in the same house as them, does not mean that your credit scores will be similar. Think of your school exam results, just because you are in the same class as someone doesn’t mean you will get the same mark. That’s why we would always suggest looking into your credit score on all 3 credit reference agencies websites or apps (Experian, ClearScore and Credit Karma) to fully understand what your personal credit score is. Things such as a CCJ or an IVA on your credit file can also negatively impact your score.
Credit reference agencies will give you different advice depending on what your score is, but to start with here are some basic tips to follow on increasing your eligibility as well as information on what affects your credit score.
Everyone’s credit score is different, and just because you earn the same as someone or live in the same house as them, does not mean that your credit scores will be similar. Think of your school exam results, just because you are in the same class as someone doesn’t mean you will get the same mark. That’s why we would always suggest looking into your credit score on all 3 credit reference agencies websites or apps (Experian, ClearScore and Credit Karma) to fully understand what your personal credit score is. Things such as a CCJ or an IVA on your credit file can also negatively impact your score.
Credit reference agencies will give you different advice depending on what your score is, but to start with here are some basic tips to follow on increasing your eligibility as well as information on what affects your credit score.
For a better road ahead
Moneybarn is a member of the Finance and Leasing Association, the official trade organisation of the motor finance industry. The FLA promotes best practice in the motor finance industry for lending and leasing to consumers and businesses.
Moneybarn is the trading style of Moneybarn No. 1 Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 04496573, and Moneybarn Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 02766324. The registered address for these companies is: Athena House, Bedford Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3LJ.
Moneybarn’s VAT registration number is 180 5559 52.
Moneybarn Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services reference No. 702781)
Moneybarn No. 1 Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services reference No. 702780)
