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646 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025
July 1, 2025
TL;DR
A 646 credit score is a solid foundation for building your financial future, positioning you to qualify for various credit products. According to the FICO model, this score is considered "Fair," which is a great stepping stone toward achieving an excellent credit rating.
What Does a 646 Credit Score Mean?
A FICO score of 646 places you in the "fair" credit range, which typically spans from 580 to 669. While not considered a poor score, it sits below the national average. This means you'll likely find lenders willing to extend credit, but you may not qualify for the most favorable interest rates or terms. Lenders might view your score as indicating a moderate level of risk, which can affect your borrowing power for things like car loans or mortgages.
The good news is that a 646 score is a solid foundation for improvement. You're on the cusp of reaching "good" credit status, a milestone that unlocks more attractive financial products and lower borrowing costs. By building upon this foundation, you can positively influence your financial future and open doors to better opportunities down the road.
Who Has a 646 Credit Score?
Your age group can offer a clue as to where your credit score stands compared to your peers. Data from Experian shows a clear trend: average credit scores tend to rise with age. Here’s the breakdown by generation for 2023:
- 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 646 Credit Score
A credit score of 646 places you in the "fair" credit category, which is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to applying for new credit cards. While you'll likely find some lenders willing to approve your application, you may not have access to the most premium cards with top-tier rewards and benefits. Furthermore, the cards you do qualify for might come with higher interest rates and lower credit limits than those offered to applicants with good or excellent credit.
Fintech company Kudos can help you find the right card for your situation with its AI-powered tools that provide personalized recommendations. By analyzing your preferences or even your real-time spending data, Kudos matches you with suitable options from its database of nearly 3,000 cards to fit your financial goals.
Auto Loans and a 646 Credit Score
A 646 credit score places you in the non-prime borrower category, meaning you can likely still get approved for an auto loan. However, you should expect to face higher interest rates than applicants with prime or super-prime credit scores.
According to an analysis of 2025 data, here is a breakdown of average auto loan rates by credit score:
- 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 646 Credit Score
A 646 credit score is enough to qualify for several types of home loans. You generally meet the minimum score requirements for conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans. A guide on credit scores notes that conventional loans typically require a 620+, while FHA loans are accessible with a score of 580. Jumbo loans, however, usually require a score of 700 or more.
While you can get approved, your score will affect the loan's terms. You will likely face higher interest rates and private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums than borrowers with excellent credit. Lenders may also scrutinize your application more closely, potentially requiring a larger down payment or a lower debt-to-income ratio to offset 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 the number is generally derived from a few key factors in your financial history.
- Your payment history is the most significant factor, reflecting whether you pay your bills on time.
- Credit utilization measures how much of your available credit you are currently using.
- The length of your credit history considers the age of your oldest and newest accounts, as well as the average age of all your accounts.
- Your credit mix looks at the different types of credit you have, such as credit cards, mortgages, and installment loans.
- New credit inquiries and recently opened accounts can also temporarily impact your score.
How to Improve Your 646 Credit Score
A 646 credit score is not a permanent mark on your financial record; with consistent effort and the right strategy, it is always possible to improve your creditworthiness. According to a comprehensive guide from Kudos, there are several proven methods you can use to boost your score.
- Monitor your credit reports. Regularly checking your reports from all three major bureaus helps you spot and dispute inaccuracies that could be dragging your score down. Correcting errors is one of the fastest ways to see an improvement from a 646 score.
- Set up automatic bill payments. Your payment history is the single most important factor in your credit score, so even one late payment can be damaging. Automating payments ensures you never miss a due date, which is a fundamental step in building a stronger credit profile.
- Reduce your credit utilization ratio. Lenders see high balances as a sign of risk, which can keep a 646 score from rising. Aim to keep your total balance below 30% of your available credit to show you can manage debt responsibly.
- Become an authorized user. If you have a trusted friend or family member with a strong credit history, being added to their account can help your score. Their positive payment history and low credit utilization will be added to your credit file, providing a potential boost.
To help you maximize rewards and make smarter spending decisions as you build your credit, the free Kudos browser extension can recommend the best card for every purchase.
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