{"id":358056,"date":"2022-10-05T13:55:11","date_gmt":"2022-10-05T19:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.creditrepair.com\/blog\/?p=358056"},"modified":"2022-10-05T13:55:13","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T19:55:13","slug":"what-credit-score-do-you-start-with","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creditrepair.com\/blog\/credit-score\/what-credit-score-do-you-start-with\/","title":{"rendered":"What credit score do you start with? + how to improve it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"What<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Disclosure regarding our editorial content standards<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the most popular credit scoring models start at 300, your starting credit score will likely be at least 300. However, practicing healthy credit habits like making payments on time and keeping your utilization rate low can help build your starting score to around 500.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Credit scores aren\u2019t magical three-digit numbers that materialize as soon as you start using a credit card. The reality is that it takes between three to six months of account activity, such as from a student loan or credit card payments, for you to build up enough credit information to comprise your first credit score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lowest credit score calculated by most credit bureaus is 300. However, if you\u2019re diligent about payments within your first six months, your first credit score will likely be much higher than the minimum. After the first few months of building credit, most people will have a \u201cstarting\u201d credit score between 500 and 700.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, we dive into how your starting score is calculated and offer tips for how to start off your credit journey on the right foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is your starting credit score?
<\/strong>After the first few months of credit activity, most people will start at a credit score of around 500. This is calculated based on your credit behavior for each of the FICO\u00ae scoring factors<\/a> during that six-month period. If you opened just one line of credit and have been paying it on time each month, you will likely have a decent starting credit score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to note that credit scores may differ depending on each person\u2019s unique financial situation. Even if you pay your bills on time every month, you may have a lower starting credit score than a peer who, say, has less student loan debt than you do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Does your credit score start at 0?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Contrary to popular belief, credit scores do not start at 0. Zero is actually lower than any credit scoring model will go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lowest starting credit score for both FICO and VantageScore is 300. However, it\u2019s unlikely that your starting score will be as low as 300 if you manage your credit accounts well by paying on time and keeping your credit utilization rate low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>How is your starting score calculated?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Credit scores are calculated using information from your credit reports. This information is summarized into a three-digit score that lenders can use to determine your financial trustworthiness.

In the U.S., most credit scores are created by FICO or VantageScore Solutions<\/a>. While both scoring methods include a score range, the two methods weigh certain credit factors a bit differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>FICO credit scoring model<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

FICO Scores range from 300 to 850 and are compiled from five main data points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n