Your credit score does not start at zero or any specific number. In fact, if you have no credit history, you likely don't have a credit score at all. Credit scores begin to be calculated once you have established credit history by opening your first line of credit, such as a credit card or loan. It typically takes about six months for credit bureaus to gather enough information to generate your initial credit score. Credit scores generally range from 300 to 850, with different ranges indicating categories like poor, fair, good, very good, and exceptional credit. Your initial credit score is based on how you use your credit — including factors like payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, credit mix, and new credit applications. So, to summarize: You start with no credit score until you establish credit, and your first credit score usually appears after about six months of credit activity. The exact starting number varies depending on the credit scoring model and your credit behavior, but you never start with a score of zero.
