What are the 5 credit levels?
Tier 3 Credit: Considered good credit with scores typically ranging from 670 – 739. Tier 4 Credit: Considered fair or poor credit, with scores that can range from 300 – 669.
Credit Tier | Description | Credit Score Range |
---|---|---|
Tier 1 | Excellent Credit | 800 – 850 |
Tier 2 | Great | 740 – 799 |
Tier 3 | A Good Credit Score | 670 – 739 |
Tier 4 | Fair | 580 – 669 |
Tier 3 Credit: Considered good credit with scores typically ranging from 670 – 739. Tier 4 Credit: Considered fair or poor credit, with scores that can range from 300 – 669.
The highest score you can have on the most widely used scales is 850. According to data from FICO, about 1.7% of all FICO scores were at the coveted 850 as of April 2023.
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
The average FICO score in the tier 2 range typically falls between 670 and 739. This range is considered “Good” and reflects a solid credit history without major defaults.
Tier 2: A credit score of 690 to 719, which is considered “great.” It means you “use my credit wisely and never miss a payment.” Tier 3: A score of 670 to 689, and that's “very good.” This tier means you “have a positive credit history with no recent late payments.”
Most used auto loans go to borrowers with minimum credit scores of at least 675. For new auto loans, most borrowers have scores of around 730. The minimum credit score needed for a new car may be around 600, but those with excellent credit often get lower rates and lower monthly payments.
Generally speaking, you'll likely need a score of at least 620 — what's classified as a “fair” rating — to qualify with most lenders. With a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, though, you might be able to get approved with a score as low as 500.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 300 to 579, considered Very Poor. A 410 FICO® Score is significantly below the average credit score.
Does anyone have a 900 credit score?
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.
A target credit score of 661 or above should get you a new-car loan with an annual percentage rate of around 7.01% or better, or a used-car loan around 9.73% or lower. Superprime: 781-850.

Depending on the type of scoring model, a 900 credit score is possible. While the most common FICO and VantageScore models only go up to 850, the FICO Auto Score and FICO Bankcard Score models range from 250 to 900.
What is the average credit score? The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.
Recurring late or missed payments, excessive credit utilization or not using a credit card for a long time could prompt your credit card company to lower your credit limit. This may hurt your credit score by increasing your credit utilization.
It's generally recommended that you have two to three credit card accounts at a time, in addition to other types of credit. Remember that your total available credit and your debt to credit ratio can impact your credit scores. If you have more than three credit cards, it may be hard to keep track of monthly payments.
In FICO's scoring model, scores in the 800 to 850 range are considered exceptional, or best. A given lender, however, may consider scores in the 750 to 850 range as best and categorize those borrowers as tier 1.
Which is better: FICO score 8 or 9? FICO Score 9 is slightly more forgiving than FICO Score 8 since paid-off debt in collections no longer factor in, medical debts are treated differently, and consumers get more help with their credit when their rent payments are reported to the credit bureaus.
While most lenders use the FICO Score 8, mortgage lenders use the following scores: Experian: FICO Score 2, or Fair Isaac Risk Model v2. Equifax: FICO Score 5, or Equifax Beacon 5. TransUnion: FICO Score 4, or TransUnion FICO Risk Score 04.
The score range for the Auto Score is 250-900 (instead of the traditional 300-850). FICO promotes that Auto Score will help dealerships and lending institutions in five distinct ways: Increase regulatory compliance.
Do banks look at TransUnion or Equifax?
Mortgage lenders pull all three credit reports
According to Darrin English, a senior community development loan officer at Quontic Bank, mortgage lenders request your FICO scores from all three bureaus — Equifax, Transunion and Experian. But they only use one when making their final decision.
Toyota Financial Services requires you to have a score of at least 610 to qualify for an auto loan. And to nab Toyota's 0.00% interest deal (if it's available), you must have a credit score of at least 690.
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. Meanwhile, low-credit borrowers with scores of 600 or lower accounted for only 14% of auto loans.
In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.
Credit score: You might need a credit score of at least 740 to be considered for a 0% APR loan. The minimum credit score depends on the dealership and the car you're interested in purchasing.