: Having a variety of account types, such as credit cards and installment loans (car loans or mortgages), can improve your score.
Most scoring models, like , use five key factors from your credit history: credit scores explained
: The age of your oldest and newest accounts. Longer histories generally result in higher scores. : Having a variety of account types, such
Higher scores suggest you are a lower risk to lenders, often leading to better interest rates and loan terms. While ranges vary by model, a general breakdown includes: : Exceptional 740–799 : Very Good 670–739 : Good 580–669 : Fair 300–579 : Poor 3. The Three Major Bureaus A guide to understanding your credit score Higher scores suggest you are a lower risk
: Also known as credit utilization . It compares how much you owe to your total available credit limit. Lower percentages (ideally under 30%) are better.