How to improve your credit score
There are many different ways to improve your credit score, including checking your credit reports for errors, paying your bills on time and reducing your credit utilization ratio, among others.
1. Review your credit reports for errors
The first step to improving your credit is to get copies of your credit reports and review them for errors. Federal law requires that the three main credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — provide consumers with one free credit report annually, though all three are currently available for free on a weekly basis. You can get a free copy of your credit report from each credit bureau at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Some errors to look for on your credit reports include:
- A closed account marked as open
- A collection agency pursuing a paid-off debt
- Someone else’s account listed on your credit report
How to dispute errors
Each major credit bureau allows consumers to dispute errors via an online portal, by phone or by mail. When disputing an error, identify the specific information you’d like to dispute and explain why it’s inaccurately represented in your credit report. If you have documentation to support your dispute, include it in your submission.
If you spot an error on your credit report, you have the right to dispute it with credit bureaus.
Upon receiving the dispute, the credit bureau will contact the creditor to investigate the information in question. The information will be removed or updated within 30 days if it is found to be inaccurate.
» MORE: Credit score vs. credit reports: What’s the difference?
2. Pay your bills on time
Payment history is the most important credit score factor for FICO scores and VantageScore, the two main credit scoring models. This factor looks at whether you pay your bills on time. Your payment history makes up 35% of your FICO score and 41% of your VantageScore 4.0 score.
Payment history makes up 35% of your FICO score and 41% of your VantageScore.
If you pay a bill late, or pay multiple bills late, it will affect your payment history, causing your score to drop. Negative marks like late payments will generally stay on your credit report for seven years, though their impact should lessen over time.
Set up autopay or reminders
Many people are accustomed to paying their bills manually each month. But if you forget a payment, you may be hit with late fees and negative marks on your credit. To avoid late payments, consider signing up for automated bill payments or setting reminders in your calendar or smartphone.
3. Lower your utilization ratio
Your credit utilization ratio is how much credit you’re currently using in relation to your overall credit limit. It factors in your balances on all revolving credit products, like credit cards or lines of credit. Your utilization ratio counts as 30% of your FICO score and 20% of your VantageScore.
Credit utilization makes up 30% of your FICO score and 20% of your VantageScore.
It’s generally recommended to maintain a credit utilization ratio under 30%, though the lower you can keep it, the better. If you’re able to keep your credit utilization below 30%, or even lower, you should see an immediate boost in your score. So, if you have a credit limit of $10,000, you should keep your balances under $3,000.
How to reduce credit utilization
There are two ways to reduce your credit utilization: pay down your balance or increase your credit limit. If you increase your credit limit, make sure you don’t add to your balance.
Keep in mind that your utilization ratio is usually based on the balance reported on your credit card statement each month. If you need to use more than 30% of your available credit, or if you want your statement to show a lower utilization ratio, you can pay your balance off or down.
4. Keep old accounts open
Having older credit accounts shows that you can use credit responsibly over long periods of time. For this reason, you should keep your oldest accounts open for as long as possible.
Your length of credit history makes up 15% of your FICO score and 20% of your VantageScore.
Your length of credit history makes up 15% of your FICO score and 20% of your VantageScore. Both scoring models consider factors like:
- The age of your oldest account
- The age of your newest account
- An average age of all your accounts
Young consumers and those just getting started with credit will have a lower average account age, while older consumers who have been using credit for years typically have a longer average age. Note that opening one or more new accounts in a short time frame can reduce your average age of accounts quickly.
Consider a product switch
You may be tempted to close an unused credit card, especially if it has an annual fee. Instead of closing the account, contact your bank and ask if the product can be switched to one that doesn’t have an annual fee. This lets you benefit from the account’s age but lets you stop paying for a card you no longer benefit from.
If you have an old credit card that doesn’t have an annual fee, there’s no harm in keeping it open. Just make sure you use it at least once a year to make sure it stays active, if applicable.
5. Limit hard inquiries
Every time you apply for credit, the lender will need to do a hard credit inquiry to check your credit, causing your score to drop by about five or 10 points. In comparison, if you prequalify for a loan or credit card, the lender will do a soft inquiry, which won’t affect your credit score.
New credit is 10% of your FICO score and 11% of your VantageScore.
New credit applications make up 10% of your FICO score and 11% of your VantageScore. Lenders find it risky if they see too many hard inquiries listed in your credit report during a short period of time. While hard credit inquiries stay on your credit report for up to two years, they usually only affect your credit score for up to one year.
Still, if you want to improve your credit score as much as possible, resist applying for too many new credit products within a short span of time. The exception to this rule is if you’re applying for a debt consolidation loan or balance transfer credit card to improve your financial situation.
6. Get a boost as an authorized user
Authorized users are additional account holders that can have access to some or all of a credit card’s credit line. By becoming an authorized user on another account, you can benefit from that account’s payment history, account age and credit utilization ratio.
Most banks don’t conduct a hard credit inquiry on authorized users, so becoming an authorized user can be an excellent option for consumers who have trouble getting access to credit independently due to a limited credit history or negative marks on their reports.
7. Use a service to report bills and rent
Unfortunately, rent and other bills you pay generally aren’t reported to the credit bureaus, so they don’t contribute to a positive payment history on your credit report. However, some new services have popped up that allow you to report common monthly bills like rent, utilities, phone and streaming services.
For example, Experian Boost tracks your payment history with the bills you report and records those payments to your Experian credit file. Your FICO score is then recalculated to reflect the newly-added payment history.
What to do if you’re struggling with debt
If you're having trouble making your monthly debt payments, you may benefit from reaching out to your creditors and explaining your situation to them. In light of financial hardship, many creditors might be willing to reduce your interest rate, extend your loan term or grant a payment deferral period.
You may be able to negotiate your debt payments if you can prove financial hardship.
Adjusting your debt payments can either make your monthly payment more manageable or give you time to get back on better financial footing, allowing you to gradually improve your payment history and your credit score.
You might also consider a credit counseling agency, which can help you review your finances and create a workable budget that includes your debt obligations. Counselors can also establish a debt management plan with your creditors that might reduce your interest rates and fees.
FAQ
How do you check your credit score?
You can typically check your credit score for free through your online bank account.
Does it hurt my credit score when I check it?
No, checking your credit score will not negatively affect your credit score. It’s a good idea to regularly check your credit score as you work to improve your credit.
How can I boost my credit score fast?
The fastest way to improve your score is to reduce your credit utilization ratio by paying down your revolving credit balances or by increasing your credit limits.
What is considered a good credit score?
A good credit score with FICO ranges from 670 to 739 while a good credit score with VantageScore ranges from 661 to 780. If your credit score falls below these ranges, it’s best to take steps to improve your credit. Make all payments on time, pay down credit card balances and avoid applying for new credit products.
Why is my credit score different on different sites?
Credit scores vary depending on the scoring model used. FICO and VantageScore also have multiple credit score versions, with the most recent versions being FICO Score 10 and VantageScore 4.0.
Bottom line
Some of the ways to improve your credit score can be completed quickly, while others will only yield results over time. Some quick steps you can take include correcting errors on your credit reports or paying down revolving balances.
But practicing responsible financial habits is key to maintaining a strong score in the long run. It’s best to make all of your minimum payments on time, or better yet, pay off your revolving balances in full each month to keep your credit utilization low.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- myFICO, “What's in my FICO Scores?” Accessed Jan. 31, 2026.
- VantageScore,"The Complete Guide to Your VantageScore 4.0 Credit Score." Accessed Jan. 31, 2026.
