317 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2026

Who Has a 317 Credit Score?

While age is not a direct factor in credit scoring, there is a strong correlation between age and creditworthiness, largely because older individuals have had more time to build a positive payment history. According to a 2023 Experian report on average credit scores, the breakdown by age is as follows:

• Ages 18-26: 680
• Ages 27-42: 690
• Ages 43-58: 709
• Ages 59-77: 745
• Ages 78+: 760

Credit Cards With a 317 Credit Score

A credit score of 317 falls into the "very poor" range, which can significantly hinder your ability to obtain a traditional credit card. Lenders generally see such a score as a major red flag, indicating a high risk of default on payments. Consequently, you'll likely face immediate rejections for most cards, and any potential approvals will probably be for secured cards or those with steep interest rates and low credit limits.

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Kudos offers an AI-powered Explore Tool that uses a personalized quiz to understand your financial goals and spending habits, which helps tailor recommendations to your situation. The platform then matches you with suitable options from its database of nearly 3,000 cards, providing insights on how each choice could impact your credit.

Auto Loans and a 317 Credit Score

A 317 credit score places you in the deep subprime category, which can make securing an auto loan difficult, though not necessarily impossible. According to a 2025 analysis, if you are approved, you will face some of the highest interest rates offered by lenders.

• 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 317 Credit Score

With a 317 credit score, qualifying for a traditional mortgage is highly unlikely. For context, even flexible FHA loans require a minimum score of 500 with a 10% down payment. A score in the low 300s falls well below the minimums for nearly all mainstream mortgage products, making it extremely difficult to get approved by most lenders.

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Even if you find a specialty lender, the impact on your loan would be severe. Expect exceptionally high interest rates, which dramatically increase your monthly payment and total loan cost. Lenders would also require a substantial down payment and charge higher fees to offset the risk, making homeownership significantly more expensive.

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 317 Credit Score

While it may seem daunting, there are proven methods to improve your 317 credit score and rebuild your financial standing. With consistent, positive habits, most people can see meaningful changes within three to six months.

• Monitor your credit reports. You can get free reports from the major bureaus to check for errors or signs of fraud. Correcting inaccuracies is one of the fastest ways to see a potential score boost.
• Establish automatic bill payments. Payment history is the single biggest factor in your score, so ensuring you never miss a due date is critical for establishing the positive record lenders want to see.
• Apply for a secured credit card. A secured card requires a cash deposit as collateral, making it easier to get approved with a very low score and allowing you to demonstrate responsible credit use.
• Reduce your credit utilization. This ratio of your used credit to your total available credit is a major scoring factor, so keeping balances low shows lenders you can manage debt effectively.

To help manage your cards and make smarter spending decisions, the Kudos browser extension can be a powerful tool on your credit improvement journey.