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749 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025
July 1, 2025

TL;DR
A 749 credit score is an excellent achievement, signaling to lenders that you are a reliable and low-risk borrower. This score places you firmly in the 'Good' FICO score range, unlocking access to more favorable interest rates and premium financial products.
What Does a 749 Credit Score Mean?
A credit score of 749 places you in the "Good" range on the FICO scale, which runs from 300 to 850. Lenders generally view this as the mark of a responsible borrower, making you a strong candidate for various financial products. You can expect to qualify for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards, often with competitive interest rates. It’s a solid indicator of financial health that opens many doors.
While a 749 score is strong, it's just one point shy of the "Very Good" category. Crossing that threshold can unlock even more favorable terms and lower rates, boosting your financial power. Maintaining positive credit habits will solidify your standing and could help you reach that next level, paving the way for better opportunities down the road.
Who Has a 749 Credit Score?
Credit scores generally improve with age, as people have more time to build a positive payment history. According to Experian data from 2023, here is the average FICO score breakdown by generation:
- 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 749 Credit Score
A credit score of 749 places you firmly in the "good" credit range, opening up a wide array of credit card options. Lenders view this score favorably, which significantly increases your chances of approval for even premium rewards and travel cards. Not only will you likely be approved, but you can also expect to qualify for more attractive terms, such as lower annual percentage rates (APRs) and more generous sign-up bonuses.
Kudos offers personalized tools that analyze your financial situation and preferences to match you with the most suitable credit cards. By using its Explore Tool, you can answer a few questions about your needs and get data-driven recommendations from a database of nearly 3,000 cards.
Auto Loans and a 749 Credit Score
With a 749 credit score, you fall into the 'prime' borrower category, placing you in a strong position to secure an auto loan. You can expect to qualify for competitive interest rates, significantly lower than those offered to borrowers with non-prime or subprime credit.
According to Q2 2025 market data, here are the average auto loan interest rates broken down 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 749 Credit Score
A 749 credit score puts you in a strong position to secure a mortgage. You will likely qualify for all major loan types, including Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, and USDA loans, as your score is well above the typical minimum requirements. Lenders view applicants with scores in this range as low-risk, which generally leads to a smoother approval process.
This strong credit profile also translates into significant financial benefits. You can expect to be offered interest rates that are very close to the best on the market, saving you a substantial amount of money over the life of the loan. Additionally, a high score can result in lower Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) costs and may give you more leverage when negotiating terms.
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 749 Credit Score
Even with a good score, there's always room for improvement, and consistent, positive financial habits can push your credit into the excellent range. According to proven methods, focusing on key areas can lead to meaningful changes in just a few months.
- Monitor your credit reports. Regularly checking your reports helps you spot and dispute any inaccuracies that could be artificially holding your score back from the top tier. This also serves as an early warning system for identity theft, protecting the excellent credit you've already built.
- Establish automatic bill payments. Your payment history is the single most important factor, and even one late payment can cause a 749 score to drop significantly. Automating payments guarantees you'll never miss a due date, solidifying a perfect record and supporting further score growth.
- Lower your credit utilization ratio. This is the ratio of your balances to your credit limits, and it's a major scoring component you can influence quickly. Pushing your utilization well below 30%—ideally under 10%—can provide the boost needed to cross into the 800+ score range.
- Diversify your credit mix. Lenders like to see that you can responsibly manage different types of credit, such as both revolving accounts like credit cards and installment loans. Adding a different type of credit to your profile can demonstrate financial versatility and provide a subtle lift to your score.
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