Know Your FICO Scores and Credit Reports | myFICO (2024)

FAQs

How do I know myFICO credit score? ›

You can check your FICO Score for free by accessing your credit report from one of the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) once per year. Some credit card issuers and financial institutions also offer their customers free access to FICO Scores.

A credit score is a three-digit number that measures your financial health and how well you manage credit and debt. FICO scores are a specific type of score that lenders can use when making borrowing decisions. The FICO credit scoring system is the most widely used credit score.

You can check your credit score as often as you want without hurting your credit, and it's a good idea to do so regularly. At the very minimum, it's a good idea to check before applying for credit, whether it's a home loan, auto loan, credit card or something else.

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.

The main benefit of using myFICO is that it's a one-stop shop that shows your scores and reports from all three bureaus. Also, as the official consumer division of FICO, myFICO uses the industry standard credit scores, which are the most accurate way of tracking your current credit status.

If you just want to monitor your credit score, there are plenty of free ways to do so. Even if you're only after a credit report for annual error checks, keep in mind that you are entitled to one free report from each bureau every year. In those instances, myFICO isn't worth the cost.

FICO Scores are trusted to be a fair and reliable measure of whether a person will pay back their loan on time. By consistently using FICO Scores, lenders take on less risk, and you get faster and fairer access to the credit you need and can manage.

Some types of mortgages have specific minimum credit score requirements. A conventional loan requires a credit score of at least 620, but it's ideal to have a score of 740 or above, which could allow you to make a lower down payment, get a more attractive interest rate and save on private mortgage insurance.

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.

How rare is an 800 credit score? ›

According to a report by FICO, only 23% of the scorable population has a credit score of 800 or above.

If you've ever wondered what the highest credit score you can have is, it's 850. That's at the top end of the most common FICO® and VantageScore® credit scores.

With myFICO, you can view and monitor your FICO Scores and credit reports right from your fingertips.

In addition to base FICO Scores, there are also industry-specific FICO Scores such as the FICO Auto Score and the FICO Bankcard Score. The FICO Scores made available on myFICO.com are calculated from versions of the base and industry-specific FICO Score models.

FICO, Experian, and Equifax all provide information on individuals' credit habits for the use of lenders. FICO provides just a numerical credit score, based on an individual's payment habits and the amount of debt that they carry. Credit bureaus like Experian and Equifax offer detailed credit histories on individuals.

Consumers can access their FICO auto scores via a paid FICO subscription or from a major credit bureau.