How to Qualify for New Credit With No Credit Score

Businessman working on laptop at office

Experian, TransUnion and Equifax now offer all U.S. consumers free weekly credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com.

If you have no credit score, there are options available specifically to help you start a credit file so you can get new credit in the future. You can get a secured credit card, a credit-builder loan, join another person's credit card account as an authorized user and more.

When choosing the best way to build a credit score from scratch, consider your budget and your comfort level with using credit for the first time. Some products, like credit-builder loans, come with little risk for building up debt, while others—like retail credit cards—require more careful management.

Here's how to get started with credit when you don't yet have a credit score.

What Is a Credit Score?

A credit score is a three-digit number that's calculated using information in one of your three credit reports from the national consumer credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Your credit report includes credit accounts you've opened, plus your payment history on those accounts. Lenders use your credit score to decide, based on your past experience with credit, whether to work with you and what interest rates and terms to offer. Without a credit score, you'll likely have difficulty getting certain types of credit because lenders have no way to evaluate your creditworthiness.

Credit scores fall into a range. The higher the score, the less of a lending risk you present. FICO® Scores and VantageScores® are two of the main types of credit scores, and in the newest models of both, scores range from 300 to 850. A score of 700 or above is generally regarded as good. The average FICO® Score in Q2 2023 was 716, according to Experian data.

Why Don't I Have a Credit Score?

You may not have a credit score if you don't have much activity with credit, either recently or at all. Here are the circumstances when you likely won't have a credit score:

  • You have a thin credit file. If you have fewer than five credit accounts listed on your credit report, the credit bureaus may not be able to calculate a score because there's not enough information available. You might have a thin credit file if you are young and haven't established any credit, or if you recently moved to the U.S.
  • There's little recent activity on your credit reports. If you haven't applied for new credit in a long time, or you haven't used credit in more than six months, credit scoring models may not be able to calculate a score. If you choose not to use credit regularly, consider making a charge with a credit card at least every few months, even if it's a small purchase you pay off right away, to keep your credit file current.

What Are My Credit Options With No Credit Score?

To get new credit, you'll first need to establish credit. With no credit score, you can choose one of the following routes:

Secured Credit Card

Secured credit cards are cards that require you to provide a deposit as collateral for the card. That deposit usually serves as your credit limit. So if you deposit $300, you can spend up to that amount on the card. The deposit reduces the risk for the card issuer, making secured cards easier to qualify for than many other credit cards. A secured credit card is a low-risk way to build your credit that can set you up to use a traditional card down the line.

Store Credit Card

Store cards are credit cards offered by a specific retailer. Some can only be used to buy items at that store. Retail credit cards typically come with a lower credit limit and a higher annual percentage rate APR than other credit cards, though they can be easier to qualify for with no or poor credit. Since store credit cards often come with perks and discounts that can lead to higher spending, they're likely a riskier bet for those new to credit than secured cards.

Getting a Loan Cosigner

If you're applying for a private student loan or car loan, for example, you can ask a loved one to cosign. The cosigner must have strong credit, which will likely make it possible for you to qualify for the loan, and at better interest rates and terms than you would get otherwise. Once the loan is on your credit report and you make regular payments toward it, your credit file will grow. Cosigning does have risks, since failing to make payments on the loan means your cosigner becomes responsible for it.

Becoming an Authorized User

As an authorized user on a relative's or friend's credit card account, you can use the credit card without taking responsibility for making payments on the account. The card's account history and activity will be added to your credit file, which will help you get a credit score. But it may not give you strong enough credit to get credit in your own name. For that, additional credit history, such as through a secured credit card or credit-builder loan that only you are responsible for, will help.

How to Build Credit for the First Time

Once you've decided on the path you'll use to build credit, it's important to follow certain best practices to strengthen your score as much as possible. Try these strategies for building credit with no credit history:

  • Consider a credit-builder loan. Unlike a traditional loan you can use to make a purchase, such as a car loan or mortgage, a credit-builder loan is specifically for establishing credit. The lender will hold the total loan amount in a savings account while you make payments on it. Once you've paid off the credit-builder loan, you receive access to the funds. Used in tandem with other credit-building products mentioned above, it will help you build a more substantial credit file. Just make sure the lender you're considering reports payments to all three credit bureaus.
  • Make all payments on time. Payment history is the most significant factor that goes into calculating your credit scores, so no matter which route you choose for building credit, take all precautions to ensure you pay your bill on time each month.
  • Try Experian Go™. Experian Go creates an Experian credit report for you for free, even if you don't have any credit accounts. You'll also get suggestions on how to jump start your credit history and add more accounts to build your credit profile.
  • Add more payment history to your credit report. Some services allow additional payments not typically included in your credit report to contribute to your score. Rent reporting services, for example, may add on-time rent payments to certain credit reports—for a fee, which makes it crucial to understand all terms beforehand. Experian Boost®ø can also add eligible rent, utility, insurance and other monthly payments to your Experian credit report for free, which could improve your FICO® Score.
  • Track your progress. Check your score and credit report regularly to make sure all information is accurate and you're making the best use of any accounts or services you're using to build credit. You can access your credit reports from each of the three credit bureaus for free through AnnualCreditReport.com. Check your credit scores for free through the credit bureaus, card issuers and lenders where you have accounts or a free credit score website.

Starting Your Credit Journey

With no credit score, you have a unique opportunity to start fresh with credit. By choosing the best credit-building products for your circumstances and managing them well, you'll build a credit score that will reliably get you new credit when you need it. A good or excellent credit score will also allow you to take advantage of low rates and beneficial terms, saving you money in the long run.

How Good Is Your Credit Score?

300 credit score301 credit score302 credit score303 credit score304 credit score305 credit score306 credit score307 credit score308 credit score309 credit score310 credit score311 credit score312 credit score313 credit score314 credit score315 credit score316 credit score317 credit score318 credit score319 credit score320 credit score321 credit score322 credit score323 credit score324 credit score325 credit score326 credit score327 credit score328 credit score329 credit score330 credit score331 credit score332 credit score333 credit score334 credit score335 credit score336 credit score337 credit score338 credit score339 credit score340 credit score341 credit score342 credit score343 credit score344 credit score345 credit score346 credit score347 credit score348 credit score349 credit score350 credit score351 credit score352 credit score353 credit score354 credit score355 credit score356 credit score357 credit score358 credit score359 credit score360 credit score361 credit score362 credit score363 credit score364 credit score365 credit score366 credit score367 credit score368 credit score369 credit score370 credit score371 credit score372 credit score373 credit score374 credit score375 credit score376 credit score377 credit score378 credit score379 credit score380 credit score381 credit score382 credit score383 credit score384 credit score385 credit score386 credit score387 credit score388 credit score389 credit score390 credit score391 credit score392 credit score393 credit score394 credit score395 credit score396 credit score397 credit score398 credit score399 credit score400 credit score401 credit score402 credit score403 credit score404 credit score405 credit score406 credit score407 credit score408 credit score409 credit score410 credit score411 credit score412 credit score413 credit score414 credit score415 credit score416 credit score417 credit score418 credit score419 credit score420 credit score421 credit score422 credit score423 credit score424 credit score425 credit score426 credit score427 credit score428 credit score429 credit score430 credit score431 credit score432 credit score433 credit score434 credit score435 credit score436 credit score437 credit score438 credit score439 credit score440 credit score441 credit score442 credit score443 credit score444 credit score445 credit score446 credit score447 credit score448 credit score449 credit score450 credit score451 credit score452 credit score453 credit score454 credit score455 credit score456 credit score457 credit score458 credit score459 credit score460 credit score461 credit score462 credit score463 credit score464 credit score465 credit score466 credit score467 credit score468 credit score469 credit score470 credit score471 credit score472 credit score473 credit score474 credit score475 credit score476 credit score477 credit score478 credit score479 credit score480 credit score481 credit score482 credit score483 credit score484 credit score485 credit score486 credit score487 credit score488 credit score489 credit score490 credit score491 credit score492 credit score493 credit score494 credit score495 credit score496 credit score497 credit score498 credit score499 credit score500 credit score501 credit score502 credit score503 credit score504 credit score505 credit score506 credit score507 credit score508 credit score509 credit score510 credit score511 credit score512 credit score513 credit score514 credit score515 credit score516 credit score517 credit score518 credit score519 credit score520 credit score521 credit score522 credit score523 credit score524 credit score525 credit score526 credit score527 credit score528 credit score529 credit score530 credit score531 credit score532 credit score533 credit score534 credit score535 credit score536 credit score537 credit score538 credit score539 credit score540 credit score541 credit score542 credit score543 credit score544 credit score545 credit score546 credit score547 credit score548 credit score549 credit score550 credit score551 credit score552 credit score553 credit score554 credit score555 credit score556 credit score557 credit score558 credit score559 credit score560 credit score561 credit score562 credit score563 credit score564 credit score565 credit score566 credit score567 credit score568 credit score569 credit score570 credit score571 credit score572 credit score573 credit score574 credit score575 credit score576 credit score577 credit score578 credit score579 credit score