Is a 600 Credit Score Bad?

A 600 credit score is good enough to give you access to many types of credit. At the same time, it also leaves room for improvement. 

Taking steps to improve your credit score can give you a variety of benefits. These include easier access to credit, more credit choices and perhaps best of all, cheaper credit.

How can you improve your credit score? A 600 score just means that, like many people, you have some negative information in your credit report. There are all kinds of reasons that can happen.

Things that may have damaged your credit include late payments and too much debt. There also may be errors on your credit report. Improving your credit score starts with understanding what's dragging your score down. Then you can work on addressing those problems. 

For example, better payment strategies can help you start building a record of on-time payments. If you have too much debt to handle, choosing a debt relief strategy can help you get rid of some of those debts. That way you can start rebuilding your credit sooner. 

Taking control of your credit score is one of the best things you can do to empower yourself financially. Find out what a 600 credit score means and how it affects you. Then you can learn about options for improving that score, and how that might benefit you. 

Freedom Debt Relief is not a credit repair organization and doesn't provide or offer services or advice to repair, modify, or improve your credit.

What Does it Mean if You Have a 600 Credit Score?

In general, a 600 credit score is high enough to qualify for popular forms of credit like a mortgage, auto loan, or credit card. Improving your credit score—which may be easier than you think—could open the door to more options and better credit terms. In other words, you could pay less to use credit. 

A credit score is a number based on a formula designed to show how risky it is to lend you money. It reflects your past experience with credit accounts, and how you’re using credit now. If you apply for a mortgage, auto loan or credit card, your credit score is likely to come into play. Lenders not only use it to decide whether to approve your application. They also rely on credit scores to determine how much to lend you and what interest rate to charge.

It's not just lenders who look at your credit score. Landlords might consider it when deciding whether to rent to you.

A 600 credit score is not in the lowest tier of credit scores. It can be good enough for many situations. However, it’s also not in the highest tiers of credit scores, and that gives you room to grow. 

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What Impacts a 600 Credit Score?

Credit scores range from a low of 300 to a high of 850. Relatively few people have perfect credit scores. Somewhere along the line, it's only natural that things happen to detract from your credit score. 

Nearly 18% of Americans have credit scores below 600. So, if you have a 600 credit score, it certainly could be worse. On the other hand, most people have scores above 600. The average credit score as of early 2025 was 715. A 600 credit score means there may be a few things on your credit record that are hurting that score. 

So what's hurting your credit score? To understand that, consider the factors that go into a credit score. Then look at your credit report to see what it says about these factors.

Here are the factors that determine credit scores, and how your history might be impacting them:

1. Payment history. This is the most important factor in credit scores. 35% of your credit score is based on payment history. If you have late payments on loans or credit cards, it's probably dragging your score down. Showing a pattern of on-time loan and credit card payments can improve your score over time.

2. Amounts owed. How much you owe determines 30% of your credit score. Amounts owed are looked at in dollar terms and also as a percentage of the amount of credit you have available. That percentage is known as credit utilization. If it's too high, it can hurt your credit score. Both the total amount owed and the amount owed on individual accounts matters. So does the amount repaid so far. Paying down balances and limiting future borrowing can improve your score. If you can't afford to pay down balances, debt consolidation or a debt relief program may make those balances more manageable.

3. Length of credit history. This determines 15% of your credit score. The longer you've had credit accounts open, the more it counts in your favor. That's why you should think twice before closing an old account, especially if there is no ongoing cost associated with it.

4. New credit. This determines 10% of your credit score. It makes lenders nervous when you open too many new credit accounts in a short period of time. Even applying for credit can raise red flags. So, don't jump at every new credit offer you get. Pace yourself, and only open accounts if they offer an advantage you don't already have.

5. Credit mix. Lenders are interested in how you handle different types of credit. This makes up 10% of your credit score. There are two major types of credit. Installment credit includes loans where you borrow an amount up front and then pay it down with scheduled payments over time. Mortgages, car loans and student loans are all examples of installment debt. Revolving credit is borrowing where you draw on a line of credit when needed. Credit cards and home equity loans are examples of revolving credit. It helps your score if your credit history shows success using both types of credit. 

If you have a 600 credit score, chances are you have both positive and negative history with some or all of the above factors. The goal should be to add more positive factors while phasing out the negative ones.

What Are Credit Tiers?

There are many kinds of credit scores, but the FICO® credit score is probably the most well-known. A FICO Score is a three-digit number that lenders use to decide whether you’re a risky borrower. It’s based on information in your credit report.

Lenders recognize that credit scores don’t precisely pinpoint which consumers are better users of credit than others. For example, a person with a 595 score isn’t necessarily a better credit customer than someone with a 585 score. So generally speaking, they separate credit scores into broad tiers that give a general feel for where scores stand. 

Each lender decides what credit scores to include in each range. Here’s how the tiers generally break down:

Under this classification system, a 600 score is neither good nor bad. There’s room to move up to a higher credit tier, but in many cases a 600 credit score is good enough to get you common types of credit.

What Does a 600 Credit Score Get You?

A 600 credit score is a tweener. It's good enough to qualify you for some types of credit. For example, under most conditions you should be able to get an auto loan, a mortgage or a credit card. However, it's not good enough to qualify you for all credit products or the best terms.

Credit conditions vary, so sometimes it's easier to get credit than at other times. For example, when the economy is booming, lenders are typically willing to extend credit to more borrowers. At such times, you may find it easier to find good deals on credit products.

When the economy is struggling, people with lower credit scores are viewed as more risky. At those times, you may have to shop a little harder to find credit.

You also may have to pay a little more with a 600 credit score. One way lenders make up for the risk of lower credit scores is to charge higher interest rates. This should be a motivation to work on your credit score, even if you're able to get credit. With a better score, you may be able to pay less when you use credit.

That shouldn't deter you from applying for credit with a 600 credit score. The best way to improve your score is to use credit responsibly. Just pick your spots, and only use credit when you have a plan for repaying it.

Is 600 a good credit score to buy a car?

Yes, you could get a car loan with a 600 credit score if you meet the lender’s other requirements. According to the Household Debt and Credit Report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, over the past 10 years, nearly three out of every 10 auto loans have been made to someone with a credit score below 620. 

Auto loans are secured by the vehicle being purchased. That gives the lender the right to repossess it if you don't repay the loan. That security makes lenders more willing to lend to people with lower credit scores. 

You should be able to get a loan with a 600 score. However, you probably won't be able to get the best rate. Interest rates on auto loans for people with 600 credit scores are about 6% to 10% higher than for people with scores of 720 or higher. That difference might get even wider in a weak economy.

Is 600 a good credit score to buy a house?

Yes, you could get a mortgage with a 600 credit score if you meet the lender’s other requirements. In particular, there are government programs designed to make mortgages available to people with credit scores in this range. 

• FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration. This insurance gives mortgage companies a financial safety net that lets them lend to people with lower credit scores. The minimum credit score for an FHA mortgage is 500.

• USDA loans are insured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA loans are for low-income and moderate-income borrowers buying an eligible home (usually in a rural area). The program has no minimum credit score, but individual lenders may require a 580 to 620.

If you have a 600 or similar credit score, your best bet may be to start by seeing if you qualify for one of the above types of mortgage. Once again though, you may pay more for a home loan than you would if you had a higher credit score. 

Is 600 a good credit score to get a credit card?

According to data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), there are dozens of credit cards offered to people with credit scores below 620, or even no credit score. 

If you have a 600 credit score, you might find credit card application denial less likely if you apply for a secured credit card. That’s a card that requires you to keep a deposit with the credit card issuer as collateral. However, there are also several unsecured credit cards marketed to people in this credit score range.

As with other forms of credit, expect to pay more with a 600 credit score. The CFPB survey shows credit card rates can be 10% or more higher for people with low scores than they are for people with high scores. 

How You Might Benefit from Improving Your 600 Credit Score

There are plenty of credit opportunities available to people with a 600 credit score. Still, you might benefit from raising that credit score. The higher your credit score, the greater your chances of getting approved for credit. That can open up more choices.

In addition, a higher credit score may qualify you for better credit terms. These may include lower interest rates, fewer fees, or a lower down payment.

7 Ways to Improve Your 600 Credit Score

If you’re interested in improving your credit score, here are seven moves to consider.

1. Fix errors in your credit report 

You can get free credit reports from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). You should check these periodically for inaccurate or outdated information. Contact the credit bureau if you find information that needs to be corrected. 

2. Consider a secured credit card

This is an option if you're having trouble qualifying for an ordinary credit card because of your credit score. A secured card allows you to keep some money on deposit with the credit card company. This acts as security in case you don't pay your bills. Using a secured credit card can help you build the type of positive payment history that can improve your credit score. 

3. Try a credit-builder loan 

This works like a secured credit card. With a credit-builder loan, when you take out the loan the proceeds are put in a savings account at the same institution that made the loan. You are initially blocked from using that money. However, as you make regular payments on the loan, the amount of the payment is released for your use. This type of loan requires you to pay interest to borrow money you aren't able to use right away. This may add to your financial strain if you're already struggling to keep up with payments. However, if you can make the payments a credit-builder loan may help you build the kind of payment history that improves your credit score. 

4. Pay down your debt 

One factor that goes into a credit score is your current credit use. This includes how much you owe, and what percentage of your revolving credit you currently use. Paying down debt usually helps your credit score. This is especially true if you have high credit card balances.

5. Make payments on time

Payment history is the single most important factor in determining a credit score. So a consistent track record of on-time payments is essential to having a good credit score. Use credit regularly, and consistently make your payments on time to build a good credit history. 

6. Avoid applying for new credit accounts

Opening new credit accounts too quickly can hurt your credit score. Even applying for too many accounts can harm your score. Choose carefully—don’t just jump at any new credit offer that sounds tempting.

7. Address any existing debt problems

Rebuilding credit involves keeping balances low and regularly making payments on time. If you're finding it difficult to keep up with your existing payments, consider ways to make that burden easier to handle. These include debt consolidation, credit counseling and debt settlement. These don't offer instant results. What they can do is put you in a position to make a fresh start at rebuilding your credit. 

A 600 credit score represents two types of opportunities. It gives you the opportunity to get credit now. It also gives you room to improve your credit score to qualify for better credit terms in future. Try to make the best use of both these opportunities. 

If you need debt relief in Pennsylvania (or anywhere else in the country), explore your options. The first step is the most important one—find out more today.

How Long Does it Take to Improve from a 600 Credit Score?

Credit scores change all the time. A variety of things can impact your score, positively or negatively. Every time you make a payment, apply for new credit or charge money on your credit card it has the potential to affect your score. 

What's good about this is that you can start improving your credit instantly. Each positive action that gets added to your credit record can make a difference. What you need to be prepared for is that the process is often gradual. You probably won't get from a 600 to a 700 score overnight. It's more likely to be a case of making progress five or 10 points at a time. 

One of the quickest ways to raise your credit score is to pay off credit card balances. Reducing your credit utilization on individual cards and overall can have an impact within the next credit reporting cycle. That's usually about a month.

Of course, you may not be able to pay off those balances all at once. However, simply by making payments on time you can start to improve your credit score. How long it takes to show improvement depends on your credit history. People with shorter credit histories may show quicker improvement. That's because they have less negative history to overcome.

Since credit improvement is often gradual, it's important to avoid setbacks. Missed payments, heavy charges on your credit card or applying for a lot of new credit can quickly wipe out many progress you've made.

If you avoid those setbacks, you should soon start to see results from positive credit habits. You may not get great credit right away, but being able to watch those steady credit score improvements should remind you that you're on the right track.