What does a 740 credit score mean?

Written by: Tim Devaney

A 740 credit score is considered a good credit score by many lenders.

Percentage of generation with 700–749 credit scores

A credit score is a number that lenders use to help assess how risky you might be as a borrower. Credit scores are based on credit reports, which contain information about your credit history. Generally, a good credit score can signal to lenders that you’re more likely to pay back money you borrow.

Having good credit can be a game-changer. It can mean you’re more likely to be approved when you apply for a credit card or loan. Good credit can also help you qualify for lower interest rates and better loan terms.

It’s not quite as simple as that though. You don’t have just one credit score. Here’s why. Scores can be calculated using different scoring models, like the ones created by FICO and VantageScore. These credit-scoring models use several factors to generate your scores, drawing on data from different sources, namely the three main consumer credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). So there are actually many different versions of your credit scores.

With so many different credit scores out there, what counts as a “good” credit score can vary. What one model or lender defines as good could be different from what other models or lenders define as good.

So what does this mean when you’re shopping for a loan or credit card? While knowing roughly how good your credit scores are can be a helpful gut check, a good credit score is not a guarantee that you’ll be approved for the loan or credit card you want.

Here’s what you need to know about building and maintaining a good credit score — and, if you’re aiming higher, how you can eventually take that score from good to excellent.

• How to get a 740 credit score
• Mortgage rates for good credit
• Auto loans for good credit
• Can I get a credit card with a 740 credit score?

How to get a 740 credit score

While there’s no exact formula to achieve a specific score, you can aim to get within a general score range. Even taking the different credit scores and definitions of good credit into account, there are general principles that can help you build and maintain healthy credit. Sticking to these principles over time can raise your scores, making you a better credit risk in lenders’ eyes.

Here are some actionable tips to help you stay on top of the important factors that can affect your credit.

1. Keep your credit utilization rate low

Your credit utilization rate is the percentage of your available credit that you use. The usual recommendation is to keep your credit utilization rate below 30% — in other words, using less than 30% of your available credit at any given time. Generally speaking, the less available credit you use (while still maintaining consistent use to help keep the card active), the better.

If you check your credit reports and find that you have a credit utilization rate higher than 30%, you have options to lower it, such as paying down debt or increasing your credit limits. To increase your credit limits, you’ll need to ask your current lenders for a limit increase — but be aware that this could result in lenders doing a hard inquiry on your credit when they make their decision.

2. Pay on time

Your payment history, or the record of your on-time payments, can be a significant factor in your credit scores. How much a late payment can affect your scores varies depending on how late the payment is and how recently the payment was missed.

But on the flip side, consistently paying on time can help you build your credit, which could increase your likelihood of being approved for more credit if you need it in the future.

3. Build your credit mix

We generally don’t recommend taking out a potentially expensive loan just to build your credit scores. But it’s true that having a mix of different types of credit can benefit your scores over the long term. Types of credit include revolving credit (like credit cards) and installment credit (like auto loans and mortgages).

But there’s a wrinkle: Applying for new credit can lead to a hard inquiry on your credit reports, which can have a negative impact on your scores. While this impact is typically minor, too many hard inquiries in a short time period can be a red flag to lenders. That’s why it’s important to have a general sense of how likely it is that you’ll be approved before you apply for a credit card or loan.

4. Give it time

The age of your credit history, or how long your active accounts have been open, can also affect your credit scores. A longer credit history can indicate to lenders that you have more experience using credit.

If you have an expensive line of credit open (like a credit card with a high annual fee), you may be looking to close it. But closing a credit card can affect important credit factors like the age of your credit history, so carefully consider your options when you’re looking to cancel a credit card.

Age of open accounts by credit score range

Mortgage rates for good credit

Your credit scores are just one factor to consider when you’re looking to get a great mortgage rate. Having good credit can help you get a better rate, but so can factors such as …

• The type of mortgage loan you’re looking for
• The total cost of your home
• Your debt-to-income ratio
• The size of your down payment

The average credit score it takes to buy a house can also vary greatly by location.

Once you have a general picture of your overall credit — as well as how much house you can afford and the type of loan you want — it’s a good idea to shop around. This can give you a better idea of what different lenders could offer you.

Compare your current mortgage rates on Credit Karma to learn more.

Auto loans for good credit

The best rates for auto loans are typically available to people with good-to-excellent credit, but what “good” credit means to auto lenders can vary. Beyond the base credit-scoring models like FICO and VantageScore, there are also industry-specific scores that lenders could check, such as FICO® Auto Scores.

Even though you may not know which specific score a lender will use, it’s still a good idea to have an understanding of your overall credit health when shopping around. You can check your credit from Equifax and TransUnion for free on Credit Karma. You can also periodically get a free credit report from each of the three main consumer credit bureaus from annualcreditreport.com.

And yes, it’s important to shop around! Take some time to compare offers to find the best terms that could be available to you. In particular, the rates offered at car dealerships may be higher than rates you might be able to find at a bank or credit union, or with an online lender.

If you’re shopping around for auto loan rates, consider getting preapproved to boost your negotiating power when you’re at the dealership. A preapproval letter can be a great way to show car dealers you’ve done your homework and won’t accept a subpar financing offer. Just be aware that it can result in a hard inquiry, which can temporarily ding your credit.

And if you already have a car loan but you’ve improved your credit since you first got it, you might be able to find a better rate by refinancing.

Compare car loans on Credit Karma to explore your options.

Can I get a credit card with a 740 credit score?

With good credit scores, you might qualify for credit cards that come with enticing perks like cash back, travel rewards, or an introductory 0% APR offer that can help you save on interest for a period of time.

Still, the very best and most-exclusive credit cards may be out of reach to those with “merely” good credit. You may need excellent credit to be approved for these cards, so there’s still room for improvement if that’s your goal.

Of course, your credit scores are only one piece of the puzzle. A credit score can be a helpful gauge in measuring your progress, but issuers may also consider other factors before making a lending decision.

For example, an issuer may consider eligibility requirements not accounted for in your credit scores, like your job status or income. Or they may give more weight to one aspect of your credit reports than another. This means it’s possible that two people with similar credit scores may not be approved for the same offer — and even if they’re both approved, their rates and terms may be different.

This can make it difficult to understand why you’re not approved — but lenders are required to tell you why you were denied credit if you ask. It’s illegal for lenders to discriminate against you, and getting an answer as to why you weren’t approved can be a first step to protecting your rights when it comes to credit and lending.

Compare offers for credit cards for good credit on Credit Karma to learn more about your options.

Next steps

Having good credit can mean having more access to credit products with better terms — but the very best rates and products tend to be reserved for those with excellent credit.

Knowing how to read and understand your credit scores and credit reports is the first step in taking your credit from good to excellent.