FICO Score and
Credit Tier Breakdown

How Auto Lenders See You

Your FICO Score can be the key that opens the door to approvals with low rates or the key that completely locks you out...

Your all important FICO score will range from roughly 0-877 (depends on the credit bureau version) and is the major factor in determining what credit tier most lenders will place you in.

Like the scales of justice, a lower score will equal higher interest rates and a higher score will equal much lower rates. Overall this can equal thousands of dollars in interest charges!

It's well worth it to pay attention to yours as a big score is like a master key that opens many doors to many lenders, while a low score opens far fewer doors...

Your FICO score is the first thing that most auto lenders will look at to determine:

If they want to loan you money
What credit tier you will fall into
What rates you will qualify for
What terms they will give you
How much they will let you borrow
How much down payment, if any, you may need

The first thing you'll want to know when determining, or understanding, what credit tier you fall into (below) is how most lenders scoring models work. In other words, How Lenders See You!

All auto lenders are not created equal, but share some common traits. The three main credit factors (besides score) all auto lenders look at when determining if they'll give you a loan and what credit tier you'll fall into are your:

Ability
Stability
Past Credit History

Don't pass the lenders minimum requirements in one of these categories and it doesn't matter what your FICO score is...You're not getting a loan!

If you do pass those requirements, then your score is key to you getting the best rates. Keep in mind...

A Higher FICO Score =
Lower Monthly Payments!

How’s your credit score? 700 US Average; 775+ Excellent.
Find out your score now FREE with enrollment at CreditReport.com!

FYI: The term FICO score is a general term used to describe your credit score. It's an abbreviation for Fair Isaac Corp. and most all credit reporting agencies determine your credit score using their risk model.

If Equifax (one of the three major credit bureaus) is primarily used in your region of the country than BEACON score may be more commonly used than FICO score.

If TransUnion (another of the three) is primarily used, then EMPIRICA may be the most common term used.

Six Main Auto
Lenders Credit Tiers

A+ Credit Tier

The typical FICO score for the A+ credit tier is
740 - 877 and is also referred to as:

0 Tier Credit (Ford Motor Credit)
S Tier (GMAC Financial)
Diamond Tier
Tier 1+ Credit (Auto lenders that don't use lettered credit tiers)

Customers that fall into the
A+ Credit Tier will qualify for:

The best auto loan rates
No money down loans
Larger loans to value
(borrow more money against the value of the vehicle)
and May choose extended terms
(72, 84 and 96 month loans)

To qualify for the
A+ Credit Tier you'll typically need:

5 years of well paid credit history
5 or more trade lines
A well paid mortgage is preferred (but not necessary)
A prior or current well paid auto loan(s)
A 24 month history for either or both a mortgage or an auto loan
Low balances on revolving credit (under 35%)
Low total debt to income (includes mortgage, rent, loans, credit cards, etc.) under 50% DTI
Have a payment to gross monthly income under 25%

Lenders do
not want to see:

Prior foreclosures
Prior bankruptcy
Charged off accounts
Collection accounts
Slow paid accounts

The A+ Credit Tier is certainly the benchmark for anyone aspiring to have an excellent credit rating. It is well worth it to pay bills in a timely fashion and to not get in over your head with too much debt.

A+ Credit Tier customers will qualify for special car buying promotions like 0% financing with no doc loansoac. With both the savings from low APR financing and the convenience of no doc loans, this is definitely the Tier you want to be in.

Here are 4 keys on How To Get Good Credit. There are some common traits people with high FICO scores with excellent credit files share. If you want to learn what it takes, then this is for you.

A 740 FICO score is considered great and a 780 or higher score is considered excellent.

A Credit Tier

The typical FICO score for the A credit tier is
700 - 739 and is also referred to as:

1 Tier Credit (Ford Motor Credit)
A Tier (GMAC Financial)
Platinum Tier
Tier 1 Credit (Auto lenders that don't use lettered credit tiers)

Very similar to an A+ Tier customers with regards to the positives needed. Typically what causes someone to fall into the A Tier as opposed to the A+ Tier is simply a lower FICO score.

Credit scores for
A Tier customers drop when:

There may be too much new credit reporting on you credit file.
If there a multitude of new credit inquiries.
Your revolving balances (credit cards) have gone over 35% of your available credit limit.
A small (under $300) collection is reporting as unpaid.

The items auto lenders do not want to see is similar to A+ Tier, with a little, I stress a little, more flexibility for slow paid accounts or small collections.

The allowance for slow paid accounts does not include any slow paid mortgage or auto loan accounts within the last two years.

It's fairly simple to fall from the A+ Tier into A Tier. Small things like going a few percentage points over your balance to limit ratio on credit cards, new inquiries, new accounts, etc.

There are also some myths surrounding a 700 Credit Score. Let me tell you, it ain't what it used to be! Don't be tricked into thinking a 700 FICO score means an instant, easy approval.

If you want to keep your A tier credit rating, or even move up to an A+ tier credit rating, then you'll want to stay on top of your credit. What does your credit report say about you?

B Credit Tier

The typical FICO score for the B credit tier is
660 - 699 and is also referred to as:

2 Tier Credit (Ford Motor Credit)
B Tier (GMAC Financial)
Gold Tier
Tier 2 Credit (Auto lenders that don't use lettered credit tiers)

Very similar to an A Tier customer with regards to the positives needed.

Credit scores for
B Tier customers drop when:

There may be too much new credit reporting on you credit file.
If there a multitude of new credit inquiries.
Your revolving balances (credit cards) have gone over 50% of your available credit limit.
A small (under $300) collection or multiple small collections are reporting as unpaid.
There are slow pays reporting in the recent past (credit cards, etc.).

The items auto lenders do not want to see are similar to A Tier, with more flexibility for slow paid accounts and/or small collections.

One or two slow pays on a mortgage and/or auto loans are usually acceptable, but typically must be over 12 months old and not regularly late.

One small medical collection, that you may not even know about, can quickly drop you from either A+ or A Tier credit. It's easy to move up from B Tier, but you'll need to stay on top of your credit...Dispute any inaccuracies and settle any legitimate collections quickly.

Mistakes and/or inaccuracies in your credit report can cost you. The difference in rates between A+ and B tier can be 4% points or more.

C Credit Tier

The typical FICO score for the C credit tier is
581 - 659 and is also referred to as:

3 Tier Credit (Ford Motor Credit)
C Tier (GMAC Financial)
Silver Tier
Tier 3 Credit (Auto lenders that don't use lettered credit tiers)

This is the hardest tier for me to give advice on without knowing more about your Ability, Stability and Past Credit.

Customers that fall
into the C Tier typically:

Less than 5 years credit history.
They maybe moved a little bit with their jobs or residence.
Have slowed paid on credit cards and maybe even auto loans a mortgage.
Have high balances on credit cards.
Have current collections (not totally out of control though).
Some, but limited charged off accounts.
Some, but not a lot of recent bad credit.
May have had a bankruptcy in the past (over two years old).

As mentioned just above, C Tier customers can go in either direction fairly quickly. If you make the small investment of time to check your credit for inaccuracies (dispute them) and/or pay any legitimate collection accounts, then you can be back on top in a rather short period of time.

Get that Collection Removed. When you are cleaning up your credit it's important to not just pay it, but remove it! This is very important to raising your FICO score, getting into the highest credit tier and overall improvement of your credit file.

You may also want to consider whether or not to File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Should you? There are many customers that would certainly be better filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, while others have only some simple clean up to do. What category do you fall in?

If you've already had to file bankruptcy and are looking at Buying A Car After Bankruptcy, then you'll want to follow that link to view some valuable questions and answers that may help you understand the process.

If you choose not to, then it is not too hard to slip into either the D or F tiers. It's ultimately up to you, but keep in mind the difference in rates between A Tier and F Tier can be 20% or more...Ouch!

D Credit Tier

The typical FICO score for the D credit tier is
520 - 580 and is also referred to as:

4 Tier Credit (Ford Motor Credit)
D Tier (GMAC Financial)
Bronze Tier
Tier 4 Credit (Auto lenders that don't use lettered credit tiers)

Customers that fall
into the D Tier typically:

Have no credit history or a bad credit history.
Have limited or no good credit.
Move job to job in short periods of time (three or more in a two year period).
Relocate frequently, state to state makes for a higher risk.
May have had a repossession and/or multiple slow pays.
May have had a bankruptcy in the recent past.
May have had a foreclosure (over three years old).
Have multiple collection accounts and possibly multiple charged off accounts.

If you feel that you may fall into the D Tier, Do Not Despair!

It is still very possible to get approved for an auto loan, but you'll just need the help of a special finance loan specialist. See my bad credit auto loans page for your approval details.

Don't let one dealership, or lender turning you down discourage you from getting the vehicle you need. You may also qualify for No to Limited Money Downoac* in this Tier.

Although you can still get approved for car loans it's in your best interest to try and repair your credit prior to buying. It can literally save you thousands of dollars in finance charges.

F Credit Tier

The typical FICO score for the F credit tier is
below 520 to 250 and is also referred to as:

5 Tier Credit (Ford Motor Credit)
E Tier (GMAC Financial)
Subprime Tier
Tier 5 Credit (Auto lenders that don't use lettered credit tiers)

Customers that fall
into the F Tier typically:

Have a substantially bad credit history.
Have very limited or no good credit.
Move job to job in short periods of time (three or more in a two year period).
Relocate frequently, state to state makes for a higher risk.
May have had one or more repossessions and/or multiple slow pays.
May have had one or more bankruptcies in the recent past.
May have had a recent foreclosure or are currently delinquent on a mortgage.
Have multiple collection accounts and multiple charged off accounts.
Have had major derogatory accounts after a bankruptcy.

If you feel that you may fall into the F Tier, as with D Tier, Do Not Despair!

It is still very possible to get approved for an auto, but you'll just need the help of a special finance loan specialist. See my bad credit auto loans page for your approval details.

By the way, your FICO score really don't have much of a bearing for an auto loan approval in the F Tier. Lenders are more interested in your ability to pay.

As with D Tier, don't let one dealership, or lender turning you down discourage you from getting the vehicle you need. No money down is probably not going to be an option here, but you may qualify for Limited Money Down or you may use the equity from a trade in.

National FICO Score Averages

Now that we've covered the different credit tiers and the typical FICO score for each, take a look and see how your credit stacks up to the rest of the country.

Credit score	Percentage
800-877	19 percent
750-799	20 percent
700-749	14 percent
650-699	13 percent
600-649	10 percent
550-599	10 percent
500-549	9 percent
499 and below	5 percent

What's your Credit Score?
Find out FREE with enrollment at CreditReport.com!!

It's interesting to note that the 2 levels of credit that have changed the most in recent years is the very highest level (increased 146%) and the lowest credit tier (increased 250%).

If you find that you are falling into one of those bottom tiers, it's time to do yourself a favor and start rebuilding your credit. Review your credit report, dispute any inaccurate information and start settling some of those collections today.

It's well worth the time and effort to clean up your credit, raise your FICO score and get into the top credit tiers...Trust me, it will save you thousands in the long run. Read Understanding Credit Report Score for more information.

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