How much credit do you start with?
There isn't a set credit score that each person starts out with. Instead, if you don't have any credit history, you likely don't have a score at all.
At face value, "What does your credit score start at?" can be a trick question. Turns out, you don't actually start with a credit score at all. You're born outside the system. Even when you turn 18, you aren't automatically assigned a credit score.
Instead of starting from the bottom, you'll actually start with no credit score instead — and that's not as bad as you might think.
Most people's initial credit scores are between 500 and 700 points, depending on the steps taken when establishing credit. However, you won't have a credit score to report if you've never opened a credit account. Read on to learn more about your starting credit score and how to build your credit over time.
Starting with zero credit history, you can establish credit in as little as six months. Achieving a "good" credit score of 700 or better usually requires making timely payments for at least 18 months to two years, but it's possible to find shortcuts.
The time it takes to raise your credit score from 500 to 700 can vary widely depending on your individual financial situation. On average, it may take anywhere from 12 to 24 months of responsible credit management, including timely payments and reducing debt, to see a significant improvement in your credit score.
According to credit bureau Experian, a good credit score is 700 or above. But if you're in your 20s and just starting out, a score of 700 or higher may be tough as you're just establishing your credit history.
Highlights: 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.
Key takeaways. Having no credit history typically means you don't have a credit score at all. This is different from having a low credit score, which can stem from having limited credit history or negative reporting on your credit reports.
If you have no credit score, there are options available specifically to help you start a credit file so you can get new credit in the future. You can get a secured credit card, a credit-builder loan, join another person's credit card account as an authorized user and more.
What is a normal starting credit line?
Many starter credit cards have credit limit ranges between $200 and $1,000. In that case, you could consider a limit of $500 or more to be a fairly good starting limit.
Average credit limits
Because many consumers apply for store cards as their first credit card, your first credit limit is generally going to be on the low end. Though Equifax notes these retail cards averaging between $2,000 to $2,500, credit limits can be much less than that — in some cases below $1,000.
At-A-Glance. Having good credit means having a good credit history. History isn't instant. If you haven't used credit before, it usually takes at least six months to generate a credit score – and longer to earn a good or excellent score.
How rare is an 800 credit score? An 800 credit score is not as rare as most people think, considering that roughly 23% of adults have a credit score in the 800-850 range, according to data from FICO. A score in this range allows consumers to access the best credit card offers and loans with the most favorable terms.
Yes. Assuming the rest of your finances are solid, a credit score of 700 should qualify you for all major loan programs: conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans all have lower minimum requirements, and even jumbo loans require a 700 score at minimum.
The credit score required and other eligibility factors for buying a car vary by lender and loan terms. Still, you typically need a good credit score of 661 or higher to qualify for an auto loan. About 69% of retail vehicle financing is for borrowers with credit scores of 661 or higher, according to Experian.
Credit scores can drop due to a variety of reasons, including late or missed payments, changes to your credit utilization rate, a change in your credit mix, closing older accounts (which may shorten your length of credit history overall), or applying for new credit accounts.
The minimum credit score needed for most mortgages is typically around 620. However, government-backed mortgages like Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans typically have lower credit requirements than conventional fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs).
Using more of your credit card balance than usual — even if you pay on time — can reduce your score until a new, lower balance is reported the following month. Closed accounts and lower credit limits can also result in lower scores even if your payment behavior has not changed.
| Credit Score | Tier | Percentage of Americans |
|---|---|---|
| 720 – 850 | Excellent | 38.12% |
| 660 – 719 | Good | 17.33% |
| 620 – 659 | Fair/Limited | 13.47% |
| 300 – 619 | Bad | 31.08% |
What should a 19 year old's credit score be?
Consider yourself in “good” shape if your credit score is above the average for people in your age group. Given that the average credit score for people aged 18 to 25 is 679, a score between 679 and 687 (the average for people aged 26 to 41) could be considered “good”.
Mississippi has the lowest average FICO credit score, with an average FICO score of 673.
Membership in the 800+ credit score club is quite exclusive, with fewer than 1 in 6 people boasting a score that high, according to WalletHub data.
And when people talk about achieving the “highest” credit score possible, they're usually talking about the ever-elusive 850 FICO® Score. Earning a perfect 850 FICO Score isn't common, but it's certainly possible.
