Your age
When you’re younger, you’re not likely to have a credit history due to age limits on credit cards (typically 18) and other types of borrowing.
COMPARE CREDIT CARDS WITH NO CREDIT HISTORY
Searching won’t harm your score
We work with a wide range of specialist credit card providers including:
See if you’re pre-approved, then apply with confidence
Start with a credit limit of £250-£1,200 and you could get an increase after four months. Credit limit and interest rate depends on personal circumstance
0% for 6 months on balance transfers made in the first 60 days, 34.95% p.a. (variable) after the interest-free period. 3% fee, minimum £3
Available to new Aqua cardholders only. You can’t get this card if you've opened a Marbles, Fluid or Opus account issued by NewDay in the last 12 months, had a CCJ in the last 12 months or been declared bankrupt in the last 18 months. You must be 18+ and a UK resident
Representative Example: If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 34.95% (variable) p.a. your representative APR is 34.9% APR (variable).
You may still be able to get a credit card even if you have no credit history or score. The type of card you might be able to get include:
Credit builder credit card. You’ll be given a lower credit limit, and the card is likely to have a higher interest rate. But if you show you can borrow responsibly and clear your balance in full every month, your credit score should start to rise.
Student credit card. Designed specifically for those in higher education, and who won’t yet have built up a credit score. You’ll have a lower credit limit than other credit cards and you’ll have to meet criteria such as studying in the UK.
Representative 34.9% APR
Naturally, neither situation is ideal. Whether you’ve got a bad credit rating or no credit rating, you’re less likely to be able to access credit for loans, mortgages or credit cards.
If you’ve got an impaired credit rating of any kind, you can improve it with a credit-builder credit card. Or if you’re student, you might want to consider a student credit card that’s tailored to people in higher education whose age means they haven’t yet built up a credit score.
Both options will allow you to build a credit score, by demonstrating to lenders that you can be trusted with credit.
Credit ratings can be a tricky topic to get your head around. There could be a number of reasons why you have no credit history, including:
When you’re younger, you’re not likely to have a credit history due to age limits on credit cards (typically 18) and other types of borrowing.
Maybe you’ve never needed to borrow money or take out a loan before, or your family’s finances are in your partner’s name.
If you’ve recently moved to the UK, your former credit record may be overlooked as credit agencies don’t share data overseas.
Applying for a credit card can sometimes feel daunting, because it’s not always clear what deal you’ll get, or if you’ll be accepted. But when you’re pre-approved for a credit card you can relax, because you know the deal you see is the deal you’ll get. You’ll know where you stand, with the facts at your fingertips to help you make the right choice for you.
When you’re pre-approved, the interest rate, interest-free period and fee (if there is one) are all confirmed – the only thing not guaranteed is your credit limit.
You’ll see your unique, personalised chance of being approved for all credit cards, so you can easily compare all your options at a glance.
Knowing all this upfront puts you in the driving seat. You’re less likely to be turned down when you apply, so your credit score is protected.
You can’t get a credit card in the UK without having a credit check. This is when the lender looks at your detailed credit report and your credit score.
But with MoneySuperMarket's credit card eligibility checker we can show you your chance of being accepted for different card deals, as well as any cards you're pre-approved for – without affecting your credit score in any way. This is because we use a ‘soft search’ - so there is no mark on your credit file.
When you compare credit cards in this way you know where you stand – then you can apply in greater confidence.
There are some simple ways you can start building credit to boost your chance of getting a credit card. By ticking off these steps, you could be closer to a stronger credit score...
Making repayments on credit and paying your household bills on time will let lenders know you can manage your finances.
If your name isn’t on the electoral roll – the list which shows you’re eligible to vote – you may find it harder to get credit.
Lenders like stability and tend to prefer borrowers who have been at the same address for a good period of time
With our free Credit Monitor service you can monitor your score and get helpful tips on how to boost it.
If you think a credit card could be right for you but you have no credit history, the next step is to use our eligibility checker to see what cards are available – and your chances of being approved:
We'll ask you a handful of simple questions about you and your financial circumstances, and what you need from a credit card
We'll sift through dozens of credit cards offers from across the market, and show you the cards we think will suit you best
You'll be shown a range of credit cards, which you'll be able to sort according to APR, features and your chances of being approved
Being unemployed won’t mean an instant ‘no’ to getting a credit card. There are still credit card options available for those with a low income and if you are unemployed, such as credit-builder credit cards which come with a lower credit limit than standard cards.
That said, if you are out of work, weigh up why you’ll need the card and what it would be used for. Bear in mind that if you don’t pay off the balance each month, you’ll need to pay more interest on the money you’ve borrowed. You could slip into problem debt if things go wrong.
If you have no credit history, the APR applied to your credit card will depend on your financial circumstances. A personal APR is the interest rate (plus any charges) you’re offered by a credit card provider. It is determined by your credit score and financial situation, including things like your household income and spending.
Your credit limit will be decided by the lender after it has assessed your credit score and financial circumstances. Lenders will look at your income and decide what level of credit it thinks is affordable for you. Often, if you can demonstrate over time that you can handle credit responsibly, your credit limit may increase.
Having poor credit generally means that you have a low credit score, perhaps because you have consistently made late payments on bills or a loan. It could also just be that you have only applied for minimal borrowing in the past, so you have weak or bad credit. Having ‘no credit’ usually means you’ve never borrowed on a credit card or loan before so there is no information or data on your credit file. This will usually also mean your credit score is low. This could be the case if you’ve recently moved to the UK or are just turning 18.
Credit cards tailored for people with no credit rating generally don’t feature an annual fee This is because annual fees typically apply when a credit card features customer rewards or a 0% rate on purchases.
These kind of sweeteners are usually absent from cards for consumers with no credit, so in turn you’re not charged to cover their cost.
Credit reference agencies, such as Experian and TransUnion, use your credit score to determine what loans, cards and mortgages you can take out. The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to be offered a loan with a low interest rate and a higher credit limit on a credit card.
You’ll also be able to access more competitive mortgage offers and will be a more attractive prospect to mortgage providers. This is because lenders perceive that you’re a lower risk and a better bet for credit.
To apply for a credit card you’ll need to show that you are at least 18 years of age and a UK resident – although some providers only accept applications from those over 21.
You'll typically need to show that you’re in employment or have an income. If you’re applying for a student credit card, you’ll need to provide evidence of where you are studying.
If you’re applying for a credit card, you might be able to find a better deal if you look through offers from different providers before taking one out. With MoneySuperMarket you’ll be able to search through multiple credit cards and compare them by a range of factors, including their interest rates and any benefits and rewards they come with.
All you need to do is answer a few questions about yourself and your financial situation, and our Eligibility Checker will show your chances of being accepted for different credit cards. This won’t affect your credit score, so you can run a check without any worries.
Once you know which card you want, you can normally apply by phone, online, or in person if the provider has a high street branch. However, when you do apply, the provider will usually run a hard credit check – which will show up on your credit report – to confirm whether they’ll give you the card. If you’re accepted they’ll tell you your credit limit and interest rate, and soon you’ll be ready to start using your credit card.
MoneySuperMarket gives you lots of clever ways to save a lot, by doing very little.
Take control of your credit score by checking and improving it for free with Credit Monitor
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We commit to providing you with clear and informative answers on all points such as this, so we have gathered the relevant information on this page.