What is the Lowest Possible Credit Score? | Chase (2024)

Let's be honest — not all of us have the best credit scores. That's okay! Your credit score is not a reflection of your value as a person, but rather a tool to help lenders measure your financial risk.

A poor credit score can impact your ability to make major financial decisions in your life. That's why understanding what it means can help you make proactive choices and think about ways you can improve it.

In this article, you will learn about:

  • The lowest credit score ranges for the two main scoring models
  • The disadvantages of having a poor credit score
  • The lowest credit score you can have to get a mortgage
  • The lowest credit score you can have to get a car
  • Improving your credit score with Chase Credit Journey®

Lowest credit score ranges

When it comes to credit score ranges, it's important to keep in mind there are many different scoring models, but the two most prevalent are VantageScore® and FICO® scores. Poor credit scores are further categorized into ranges below.

Poor VantageScore credit score ranges are:

  • Poor: 500 to 600
  • Very Poor: 300 to 499

Poor FICO credit score ranges are:

  • Fair: 580 to 669
  • Poor: 579 and below

The lowest score you can get with either model is 300, though past scoring models have gone lower (and aren't used so much today). According to FICO, an estimated 11.1% of Americans have a FICO score ranging between 300 and 549 as of 2019.

Disadvantages of having a poor credit score

Having a poor credit score can inhibit you from making major life choices or create more obstacles to getting what you want—whether that's a home, car, credit card or a major purchase. The following are a few disadvantages to having a poor credit score:

  • The inability to get a credit card, a line of credit, a personal loan, etc.
  • May affect your ability to rent an apartment
  • High APRs for loans you are eligible for
  • Hurt your chances of getting employed (if your potential employer runs a credit check)

Lowest credit score to get a mortgage

Having a poor credit score doesn't necessarily mean you can't take out a mortgage. However, it depends on the lender or financial situation. It's always important to check with your prospective lender, but generally, according to Experian™, most mortgages require about a 620 score. The lender may require a larger down payment to compensate for a low credit score.

According to Experian, other options for lower credit scores include the following loans:

  • Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan: a 500 credit score with 10% down payment or a 580 credit score with a 3.5% down payment
  • Veterans Affairs (VA) loan: a 620+ credit score
  • United States Department of Agriculture loan (USDA): a 580+ credit score

Lowest credit score to get a car

Similar to mortgages, your eligibility for a car loan and the rates you receive are heavily dependent on your lender and credit score. Some dealerships use a FICO auto score, which ranges between 250–900. Keep in mind this is different from other FICO scoring models, where the lowest score you can get is 300. Generally, the lower your credit score, the higher the annual percentage rate (APR).

To get a reasonable interest rate, you need around a credit score of 660 or higher. If you have a poor credit score (in the 300–500 range) you may be able to have a co-borrower help with getting you approved for a car loan. Having a co-borrower may show that there's an additional level of responsibility and usually reduces the risk for the lender.

Improve your credit score with Credit Journey®

As you can see, a low credit score has the ability to make it difficult for you when it comes to major life decisions. Whether you're taking out a mortgage, buying your first car or looking to take out a loan for a major purchase, a low credit score can hurt your chances of getting what you want.

That's why it's essential to be proactive about increasing your credit score with tools like Chase Credit Journey. This free online resource gives you the ability to regularly check your credit score (without hurting it) and personalized action plans provided by Experian™ to help improve your score.

What is the Lowest Possible Credit Score? | Chase (2024)

FAQs

What is the Lowest Possible Credit Score? | Chase? ›

The lowest score you can get with either model is 300, though past scoring models have gone lower (and aren't used so much today). According to FICO, an estimated 11.1% of Americans have a FICO score ranging between 300 and 549 as of 2019.

What is the lowest credit score possible? ›

The lowest score you can get with either model is 300, though past scoring models have gone lower (and aren't used so much today). According to FICO, an estimated 11.1% of Americans have a FICO score ranging between 300 and 549 as of 2019.

What is the lowest credit score limit? ›

Its scoring system is on a scale of 300 to 900, with 300 being the lowest and 900 being the highest. It also offers additional facilities like credit risk and fraud management, portfolio management, and industry diagnostics.

What is lowest bad credit score? ›

What Is a Bad Credit Score? On the FICO® Score 8 scale of 300 to 850, one of the credit scores lenders most frequently use, a bad credit score is one below 670. More specifically, a score between 580 and 669 is considered fair, and one between 300 and 579 is poor.

Is 512 a low credit score? ›

Your score falls within the range of scores, from 300 to 579, considered Very Poor. A 512 FICO® Score is significantly below the average credit score.

Who has a 0 credit score? ›

Fortunately, no one's credit score can equal zero – the range for FICO scores is 300-850 – and even people with poor or bad credit have a credit score of at least 300. A “no credit score” means there is insufficient information for a credit score calculator to compute a score.

Is there a 0 credit score? ›

First off, it's important to understand that credit scores of zero do not exist.

What is the lowest your credit score can be without being 0? ›

The two most widely used credit scoring models, FICO and VantageScore, range from 300 to 850, making 300 the lowest credit score possible. FICO and VantageScore give high credit scores to consumers deemed as lower-risk borrowers, and lower scores to high-risk borrowers.

How to borrow $500 quickly? ›

You can get a $500 loan via a personal loan, payday loan, payday alternative loan, cash advance app, or credit card cash advance. However, some options are better than others. Some small loans come with high costs that can cause financial hardship.

What is the easiest loan to get approved for? ›

The easiest types of loans to get approved for don't require a credit check and include payday loans, car title loans and pawnshop loans — but they're also highly predatory due to outrageously high interest rates and fees.

Can I pay someone to fix my credit? ›

Yes, it is possible to pay someone to help fix your credit. These individuals or companies are known as credit repair companies and they specialize in helping individuals improve their credit score.

Is a 900 credit score possible? ›

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.

What if you have a 480 credit score? ›

As mentioned, an 480 credit score is generally considered to be a poor credit rating. Depending on your other qualifications, such as income and employment, you may be able to qualify for certain types of loans (more on that in a bit).

How to raise your credit score overnight? ›

How to Raise Your Credit Score 100 Points Overnight
  1. Become an Authorized User. This strategy can be especially effective if that individual has a credit account in good standing. ...
  2. Request Your Free Annual Credit Report and Dispute Errors. ...
  3. Pay All Bills on Time. ...
  4. Lower Your Credit Utilization Ratio.

How bad is a zero credit score? ›

Lenders evaluate people based on how they've used credit in the past. An empty credit report with no evidence of a borrowing history signals to lenders that you're inexperienced. That makes lenders nervous and increases the chances they will deny you for credit like a car loan, credit card or mortgage.

Is it possible to have a credit score of 4? ›

A tier 4 credit score is generally considered lower-tier credit. Those who have fallen victim to predatory funding options, like easy payday loans, or those who have suffered other financial hardships may find themselves with tier 4 credit.

Is 493 a low credit score? ›

Your score falls within the range of scores, from 300 to 579, considered Very Poor. A 493 FICO® Score is significantly below the average credit score. Many lenders choose not to do business with borrowers whose scores fall in the Very Poor range, on grounds they have unfavorable credit.

Can you buy a house with a credit score below 500? ›

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures FHA loans, which allows mortgage lenders to accept a credit score as low as 580 with a 3.5 percent down payment, or 500 with a 10 percent down payment.

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