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313 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025
July 1, 2025
TL;DR
While a 313 credit score presents some initial hurdles, it's a valuable starting point for building a stronger financial future. This score falls into the "Poor" FICO score range, which means there is a clear and significant opportunity for improvement.
What Does a 313 Credit Score Mean?
A credit score of 313 falls into the "very poor" category on the FICO Score range of 300 to 850. This score signals significant risk to lenders, creating substantial financial hurdles. You'll likely find it extremely difficult to qualify for new credit cards, mortgages, or auto loans. Any credit you are approved for will probably come with very high interest rates and unfavorable terms, making borrowing much more expensive.
While this score presents a major obstacle, it's not a permanent financial sentence. Consider it a baseline from which you can begin building a stronger credit history. Understanding the factors that led to this score is the first step toward financial recovery. With consistent effort, it is possible to improve your standing and access better opportunities in the future.
Who Has a 313 Credit Score?
While a 313 credit score is exceptionally low for any age group, it's helpful to see how scores typically break down by generation. According to 2023 data from Experian, average FICO scores show a clear upward trend with age:
- Generation Z (ages 18-26): 680
- Millennials (ages 27-42): 690
- Generation X (ages 43-58): 709
- Baby Boomers (ages 59-77): 745
- Silent Generation (ages 78+): 760
Credit Cards With a 313 Credit Score
A credit score of 313 falls into the "very poor" range, which unfortunately presents a significant hurdle when applying for a credit card. Most traditional lenders view scores this low as a high risk, meaning an application for a standard unsecured card is almost certain to be denied. Your options will likely be limited to secured credit cards, which require an upfront cash deposit to act as collateral for your credit line.
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Auto Loans and a 313 Credit Score
A 313 credit score places you in the deep subprime category, which can make securing an auto loan challenging. While approval is still possible, you should expect to face significantly higher interest rates, leading to much higher borrowing costs over the life of the loan.
According to a 2025 auto loan analysis, average rates vary significantly across credit score brackets:
- Super-prime (781-850): 5.25% for new cars and 7.13% for used cars
- Prime (661-780): 6.87% for new cars and 9.36% for used cars
- Non-prime (601-660): 9.83% for new cars and 13.92% for used cars
- Subprime (501-600): 13.18% for new cars and 18.86% for used cars
- Deep subprime (300-500): 15.77% for new cars and 21.55% for used cars
Mortgages at a 313 Credit Score
A 313 credit score is significantly below the minimum required for nearly all mortgage products. Government-backed FHA loans, for instance, require a score of at least 500. Conventional loans typically need a 620 or higher. With a score of 313, you would not qualify for these or other mainstream home financing options, making a home purchase through traditional lenders virtually impossible.
The main impact of a 313 score is loan denial. Lenders view this score as extremely high-risk. Even if a rare subprime loan were available, it would come with exceptionally high interest rates and fees. It's wise to be cautious of 'no credit check' offers, as legitimate lenders always check credit.
What's in a Credit Score?
Figuring out what goes into your credit score can feel like trying to solve a complex puzzle, but it generally boils down to a handful of key elements. The most common factors include:
- Your history of making payments on time is the most significant factor.
- How much of your available credit you're currently using, known as your credit utilization ratio, plays a major role.
- The age of your credit accounts, including the average age and the age of your oldest account, is also considered.
- Lenders like to see that you can responsibly manage different types of credit, such as credit cards and loans.
- Opening several new credit accounts in a short period can be seen as a risk and may temporarily lower your score.
How to Improve Your 313 Credit Score
While a 313 credit score is in the very poor range, it is absolutely possible to rebuild your financial standing and improve your score. With consistent effort and the right strategy, you can begin to see meaningful changes in just a few months.
- Establish automatic bill payments. Your payment history is the most significant factor in your credit score, so making payments on time is the most critical first step. Setting up automatic payments ensures you never miss a due date, which stops your score from falling further and starts building a positive record.
- Apply for a secured credit card. For those with a damaged credit history, a secured card is an accessible tool for rebuilding since it requires a cash deposit as collateral. Using it responsibly and making regular payments demonstrates to lenders that you can manage credit, and this positive activity is reported to the credit bureaus.
- Become an authorized user. You can ask a trusted family member or friend with a strong credit history to add you as an authorized user on their credit card. This allows their good payment history and low credit utilization to appear on your credit report, which can provide a significant boost to a low score.
- Monitor your credit reports. It's essential to regularly check your credit reports for inaccuracies or signs of fraud that could be dragging your score down. Disputing and removing errors can be one of the quickest ways to see an improvement.
You can also use a tool like Kudos to help manage your cards and monitor your score all in one place.
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