Is 600 a good credit score?
Key takeaways
A credit score of 600 usually falls within the ‘fair’ range, which means it’s not considered ‘good’, it’s also not necessarily a bad credit rating
If you have a fair credit score, your credit options won’t be as limited as someone with a low score, but you won’t get the most competitive rates either
It takes time to improve your credit score but there are lots of things you can do to boost it
What is a 600 credit score?
A credit score of 600 sits in the middle of most credit scores, it’s not poor but also not excellent on most scales.
The three main credit reference agencies (CRAs) use different scales to determine credit scores.
At Experian a low score is between 0-640, a fair score is 641-860, a good score is 861-1,000, and an excellent score is between 1,001 and 1,250.
At Transunion, a poor score is anything up to 565, a fair score is between 566-603, a good score is between 604-627 and an excellent score is between 628 and 710. It is currently updating its credit scale, starting in September 2026, so the score may be different depending on where you check your report.
At Equifax, a poor score is up to 579, a fair score is 580-669, a good score is between 670-739 and a very good score is between 740 and 799.
The three main CRAs use different credit banding systems so a score of 600 will mean something different for each. Our Credit Score service at MoneySuperMarket uses TransUnion’s scoring system and 600 falls into the ‘fair’ category.
The table below shows where a 600 credit score is regarded by the main CRAs.
Credit reference agency | A 600 credit score with them is | Their credit score scale |
|---|---|---|
Experian | Poor | 0-1,250 |
Equifax | Good | 0-1,000 |
TransUnion | Fair | 0-710 |
Will I be eligible for a credit card or a loan with a 600 credit score?
You might be eligible for credit if you have a credit score of 600 but it depends on lots of things including the provider and also your own income.
Equifax defines a credit score of 600 as ‘good’ while TransUnion puts it as a ‘fair’ credit rating.
A good credit score shows you are a low-risk borrower and you may be eligible for some market-leading products. A fair credit score can be seen as being somewhere in the middle, which means your options for credit won’t be as limited as someone with a low credit score but you won’t be offered the most competitive rates like someone with a good credit score.
You may be approved for loans and credit cards with a fair credit rating, but you should probably expect smaller borrowing amounts and higher interest rates.
Credit providers don’t just rely on credit scores either when deciding if they will approve an application for credit. They will look at other factors including your income to decide if you can comfortably afford to make your repayments.
What does a good credit score mean?
A good credit score shows that you have a history of borrowing responsibly and managing your money well.
If you have a good credit score, you will be seen as a low-risk borrower to lenders. This means you can access more competitive credit deals, with lower interest rates. You may also be able to borrow larger sums of money than someone with a poor credit score.
Why do I have a 600 credit score?
Your credit score is made up of lots of elements and is an indicator of how well you manage your money and credit. Depending on which CRA has shown your credit score as 600, this might be because of consistent or occasional bad financial habits. It might be because of the following:
Not always making payments: You might have missed repayments on your payment history or made them late.
Frequent applications for credit: Every time you apply for credit, you leave a hard inquiry on your credit file which will bring your credit score down. It’s important to space out every time you apply for credit, because making multiple applications for credit in a short space of time will hurt your score.
Making only the minimum payment: It can be tempting to only make the minimum payment on your credit card, but doing so means you’ll pay more interest and accrue more debt, which can in the long run negatively affect your credit rating.
High credit utilisation: If you consistently use a lot of the credit available to you, this can have a negative impact on your credit score. Experian advises that you should aim for a score of 25% which means using no more than 25% of the available credit.
Low or no credit history: If you’ve never borrowed before, then lenders don’t have much to go on to determine if you’re a responsible borrower.
History of missed payments: Being creditworthy essentially means you’re trusted to pay back the money you’ve borrowed from the lender. If you regularly miss payments then you’ll be seen as high-risk borrower.
Financial difficulties: If you’ve been declared bankrupt in the past or have a County Court Judgement (CCJ) then this will hurt your credit rating. Bankruptcy will usually stay on your file for six years, or until you’re discharged from your debts but it can last longer in some situations. A CCJ will stay on your credit report for six years if you do not pay off the debt in full within a month of the judgement being passed.
How can I improve my 600 credit score?
There are lots of ways to improve your credit score, although most take some time. Here are some tips step up your credit score:
Register on the electoral roll: Being registered on the electoral roll verifies your address to lenders and can help boost your credit score.
Keep up with payments: Making timely payments in full shows lenders that you’re reliable to lend to. Setting up a direct debit payment is a good way to make sure you aren’t caught out.
Don’t use all available credit: Keep your credit utilisation low, ideally below 30%. For example, if your credit limit is £1,000, try not to spend more than £300 on your credit card. A high credit utilisation ratio indicates to lenders you’re overly reliant on credit.
Look out for any mistakes: Errors on your credit report could be hurting your credit score. Check your credit report regularly for any incorrect information or errors.
Can I get a mortgage with a 600 credit score?
Yes, you may be able to get a mortgage with a 600 credit score.
A 600 credit score is rated as fair by Equifax and TransUnion and this means although you may be approved for a mortgage you won’t benefit from the best rates.
However, if your 600 credit score is with Experian then you have a poor credit rating and you may be limited in your choices. There are specialist lenders who cater to borrowers in your situation, but be aware you’ll face higher interest rates and might need a larger deposit.
Lenders will also look at other factors, such as your income and savings, when approving a mortgage too.
Nurture your credit score with our Credit Score service
If you’re not happy with your credit score, you can always take steps to get it into shape. You can check your credit score and credit report whenever you want with our free Credit Score service. Credit Score will also send you hints and tips on how to get your credit score into shape.
Frequently asked questions
Do lenders look at my credit score or my credit report?
When you apply for credit, the lender will use information from your credit report to assess what kind of borrower you are. It won’t see your credit score but it will create its own score for you, based on the information in your credit report and its own systems.
Will my credit score fall if I regularly check it?
No, your credit score won’t be harmed if you look at it often. If you check your credit score with MoneySuperMarket’s Credit Score for example, your score will remain unaffected, as we use a ‘soft search’ which isn’t visible to lenders. It’s good practice to regularly check your credit score, so you’re aware of what products you’re likely to be eligible for and if you need to work on your credit rating.
What is the highest credit score possible?
The highest possible credit rating with Equifax is 1,000, for Experian it’s 1,250 and TransUnion’s top score is 710 (rising to 999 from September 2026).
The best credit score you can get will depend on which credit reference agency you’re checking your score with.
Author
Rebecca Goodman
Personal Finance & Insurance Expert
Rebecca is an award-winning financial journalist with over a decade of experience writing for print and online media. Her mission is to take the jargon out of personal finance and to help everyone...
Reviewer
Alan Cairns
Senior Content Editor
Alan breaks down money, home, and energy topics into plain English to help you save money. Ask him about pound cost averaging or Balkonkraftwerk.
