646 credit score: A guide to credit scores
Quick insights
- A 646 credit score is considered fair or near prime by FICO® and VantageScore®, respectively.
- Approval for credit cards, loans and mortgages is possible with a 646 score, but terms and conditions may be less favorable compared to those with higher scores.
- Forming habits like making on-time payments and reducing credit utilization may help improve a fair credit score over time.
A credit score shapes nearly every major financial decision, from qualifying for a credit card to buying a house. Let’s explore some things to know about a 646 credit score.
What a 646 credit score means
First, let’s break down the basics. Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850. How a 646 score is classified varies by credit scoring model. Here’s the scoring ranges for two commonly used models:
- Exceptional: 800 to 850
- Very good: 740 to 799
- Good: 670 to 739
- Fair: 580 to 669
- Poor: 300 to 579
VantageScore 3.0:
- Superprime: 781 to 850
- Prime: 661 to 780
- Near prime: 601 to 660
- Subprime: 300 to 600
A 646 score falls within the fair or near prime range, which suggests positive debt management, with some room for improvement.
A score in this range often means you’ve experienced some credit bumps—maybe late payments, higher balances or a shorter credit history.
Why does your credit score matter?
Credit scores are more than just numbers. They’re used by lenders and landlords to estimate your likelihood of repaying borrowed money. With a 646 score, you can typically get approved for some credit products, but you may face:
- Higher interest rates on loans and credit cards
- Possible security deposits for utilities and higher deposits for apartments
- Lower starting credit limits
- Difficulty qualifying for top-tier rewards credit cards or certain products
Fortunately, your credit score is a dynamic number that changes over time based on your financial behavior and credit history. It can typically be improved over time with positive financial habits.
Having fair credit doesn’t mean you’re out of options. And many financial products, particularly basic or entry-level ones, remain accessible.
Will you be approved with a 646 credit score?
When you apply for credit or a loan, lenders evaluate several factors, including your income, debt-to-income ratio, credit score and employment history. A 646 credit score may limit your eligibility for certain credit products. Here’s how a 646 might affect your options:
Credit cards
- Entry-level or basic credit cards are typically within reach, but usually with lower credit limits.
- Secured credit cards (which require a refundable deposit) are a common option for the fair range. Note that Chase does not offer secured credit cards.
- Top-tier rewards cards will likely be out of reach for now.
Auto loans
- Approval might be possible, especially with stable income and a low debt load.
- Interest rates are often higher for borrowers with fair credit.
- A larger down payment or adding a co-signer might bolster your application.
Personal loans
- Lenders specializing in fair credit may be an option, though rates can be steep.
- Pre-qualification tools may let you check offers without a hard credit pull.
- Adding collateral or a co-borrower can sometimes help.
Mortgages
- Conventional loans typically expect scores above 670, but some government-backed options (like FHA loans) are open to mid-600s scores.
- Larger down payments or shopping around may help you to access more favorable terms.
- Expect the process to be more rigorous and loan terms less favorable than for higher credit scores.
Tips to help you raise a 646 credit score
Improving your score isn’t automatic, but progress is possible by focusing on the biggest credit factors. Here are some practical steps that may help boost your score:
- Pay bills on time: On-time payment history is the single biggest factor in both credit scoring models. Setting reminders or automating payments may help you to avoid mistakes.
- Lower your credit utilization: Using less than 30% of your available credit limit across all cards may help you to lower your credit utilization. Paying down balances—especially before the statement date—may help.
- Dispute any errors on your credit report: Mistakes like a wrongly reported late payment might be harming your score. Accessing free reports from all three bureaus may help you to identify and dispute inaccuracies.
- Become an authorized user: If a family member has healthy credit behaviors, being added as an authorized user on their credit card account may help increase your average account age and credit limit.
- Try a secured credit card: These cards require a deposit but report activity to major credit bureaus, helping to build or rebuild credit if used responsibly.
- Limit new applications: Hard credit checks from a loan or card application might temporarily lower your score by a few points. So, if possible you may want to consider only applying for credit when you really need it and avoiding multiple applications at once.
- Keep old accounts open: Typically, the longer your average credit history, the better. If you’re not using your oldest card, it may be a good idea to keep it open for credit-building benefits.
Digital tools and credit monitoring apps can help you track progress, set up alerts and keep your goals in sight. Focusing on milestones—like reaching 680 and eventually passing 700—can make improvements feel more manageable.
The bottom line
While a 646 credit score falls within the lower tiers of FICO and VantageScore scoring models, it doesn’t define your financial future. You may still get access to many basic loans and credit cards, but interest rates may be higher and terms less generous than for those with scores in higher tiers. By understanding what lenders consider and committing to habits that improve your credit profile, you may be able to improve your credit score over time.
