Where Can I Check My Credit Score for Free?

Before applying for any type of credit like car finance, it’s a good idea to check your credit score.

Your score plays an important role in whether you’ll get accepted for finance, how much you can borrow, and the interest rates you’ll need to pay on top of any amount borrowed.
The good news is accessing your credit report and understanding your credit score doesn't have to cost you anything. In fact, there are plenty of places where you can view it for free. 
Here we’ll show you the best places to get a free credit check, why it’s important, and what to look out for.

Got a specific question? Why not jump to:

• How can I check my credit score for free?
• What is a credit score?
• How does it work?
• What you should check and why
• What does a good credit score look like?

How can I check my credit score for free?

Keeping tabs on your credit score doesn’t have to cost you. While some services do charge, there are ways to access it without paying a penny.

If you want to check your credit score for free, we recommend starting with the three major credit bureaus:

Experian

Experian makes it simple to view your credit score for free. By signing up for an account, you gain access to your FICO score, which is updated every 30 days. 

This service doesn't just let you see your score; it also provides insights into the factors that influence it. 

This can help you understand not just where you currently stand, but any improvements you could make to give your score a boost.

Transunion

TransUnion offers a similar free service through its website. 

Registering for an account gives you access to your credit score, along with a detailed view of your credit report. 

This can be a valuable tool for monitoring changes and spotting any potential issues early on.

Equifax

Equifax also offers free access to your credit score through its website through a 30 day free trial which you can cancel at any time. By creating an account, you can regularly review your score but beware you will be charged when this 30 day trial period lapses.

They also provide explanations of the various factors affecting your score, giving you the chance to work on improving your score if you need to.

You may notice that each of these agencies presents a different credit score. This is totally normal and happens because they use different methods to calculate your score.

As well as these credit reference agencies, you can also check your score for free through third party apps and websites like ClearScore and CreditKarma.

ClearScore was set up in 2014, providing users with free access to credit scores, reports, and affordability scores. It also lets you find the best finance offers based on your circumstances.

CreditKarma was founded in 2017, and it also provides free access to credit scores, reports, and affordability scores.

It’s free to sign up and you can compare loan offers without hurting your score.

Both ClearScore and CreditKarma give you access to your credit score, but they use different credit reference agencies to get your data.

ClearScore pulls its information from Equifax, while CreditKarma provides scores based on TransUnion data.

What is a credit score?

A credit score is a three-digit number lenders use to judge how reliable you are when borrowing money. 

Your score plays a role in whether a lender will give you credit and how much they will let you borrow. It also impacts the terms (such as the length of your agreement) and the interest rates you'll end up paying.

How does it work?

Your score is based on your credit history, including how you've handled previous loans and debt repayments. 

Where it gets slightly confusing is that each credit reference agency calculates your score differently. 

However, while Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax may have their own ways of crunching the numbers, they're all looking at the same things:

• Your payment history
• Credit utilisation
• How long you've been using credit
• The types of credit you have

Now some of these factors influence your score more than others. 

For example, repaying your debts on time and keeping your credit card balances low tend to have the biggest impact.

The higher your score, the less of a gamble you seem to lenders, which can open up access to a broader range of deals.

What you should check and why

Keeping tabs on your credit score is a sensible idea for a few reasons. For starters, it helps you better understand your chances of getting approved for credit and the rates you’ll pay.

Making a habit of checking your credit report can also help you spot any errors or potential fraud early on. 

This gives you a shot at fixing the problem earlier and reducing the potential impact on your score.

When you're going through your credit report, zero in on the essentials like your personal info to make sure everything is correct. 

Dive into the details of your credit accounts too to check that your balances and payments are correctly recorded.

Most importantly, look out for any major issues that could be dragging your score down. This includes late payments, high credit utilisation, and defaults on payments.

What does a good credit score look like?

A good credit score can get you access to a broader selection of loans, but what exactly constitutes a "good" score?

The truth is it depends which credit reference agency you use as they each have their own grading system.

Here’s what each agency considers to be a good score:

Scores within this range indicate to lenders that you're a reliable borrower.

Remember, if you check your score and you don’t like what you see, there are plenty of ways to improve it.

By taking steps to improve your credit score before applying for car finance, you’ll gain access to a range of broader deals.