495 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025

Who Has a 495 Credit Score?

While age isn't a direct factor in calculating your credit score, there is a clear trend of scores improving over time. According to 2023 data from Experian, average credit scores tend to rise with each successive generation. Here is a breakdown of the average FICO score by age group:

• Generation Z (ages 18-26): 680
• Millennials (ages 27-42): 690
• Generation X (ages 43-58): 709
• Baby Boomers (ages 59-77): 745
• The Silent Generation (ages 78+): 760

Credit Cards With a 495 Credit Score

A credit score of 495 is considered poor, placing you in a high-risk category for most lenders. This can make it challenging to get approved for traditional credit cards, as banks may be hesitant to extend credit. Consequently, your options will likely be limited to secured credit cards or unsecured cards specifically designed for building credit, which often come with higher interest rates and fees.

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Kudos offers an AI-powered Explore Tool that provides personalized recommendations based on your financial goals, such as building credit or finding low interest rates. Its Dream Wallet feature can also provide insights on how a new card might impact your credit score, helping you make an informed decision.

Auto Loans and a 495 Credit Score

A 495 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 and less favorable loan terms.

Here is a breakdown of the average auto loan rates by credit score bracket for 2025:

• 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 495 Credit Score

Securing a mortgage with a 495 credit score is exceptionally difficult, as it falls into the 'bad' credit range. Most conventional, VA, and USDA loans are out of reach. Even government-backed FHA loans, a common option for lower-credit borrowers, have a minimum score of 500, according to current mortgage requirements. While some specialty subprime lenders may work with scores this low, approval is rare and not guaranteed.

If you manage to find a willing lender, a 495 score will lead to unfavorable loan terms. You can expect significantly higher interest rates, which will cost you thousands more over the life of the loan. Lenders will also demand a larger down payment—at least 10% for an FHA loan—and will likely subject your finances to a rigorous manual underwriting process to offset the risk.

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's primarily based on a handful of key financial habits. The most common factors include:

• Your payment history tracks whether you have paid past credit accounts on time.
• Credit utilization is the percentage of your available credit that you are currently using.
• The length of your credit history considers the age of your oldest account and the average age of all your accounts.
• Having a healthy mix of credit types, such as credit cards and installment loans, can positively impact your score.
• Recent credit inquiries and newly opened accounts can temporarily lower your score.

How to Improve Your 495 Credit Score

Improving a 495 credit score is entirely possible, though it requires time and consistent positive financial habits. With a dedicated strategy, most people can see meaningful changes to their score within three to six months.

• Monitor your credit reports. Regularly obtaining your free credit reports allows you to spot and dispute inaccuracies. For a score in the very poor range, removing even one error can provide a significant and immediate boost.
• Set up automatic bill payments. Your payment history is the single most important factor in your credit score. Automating payments ensures you never miss a due date, which is a foundational step toward building a positive history and repairing your credit.
• Lower your credit utilization. This ratio of how much credit you're using compared to your limit heavily influences your score. Paying down balances to get below the recommended 30% threshold shows lenders you can manage debt responsibly and can quickly improve your score.
• Become an authorized user. Being added to a family member's or friend's credit card with a long history of on-time payments can add their positive data to your file. This can be particularly helpful if you have a limited or damaged credit history, as it can lengthen your credit history and lower your overall utilization.

The Kudos browser extension can help you manage your credit cards and make smarter spending decisions as you work to improve your score.