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470 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025
July 1, 2025
TL;DR
A 470 credit score is an opportunity to build a stronger financial foundation, though it does present some initial hurdles. According to FICO, this score falls into the "Poor" credit category, which simply means there are clear areas for growth and improvement.
What Does a 470 Credit Score Mean?
A credit score of 470 falls squarely into the "poor" range on the FICO Score scale, which spans from 300 to 850. Lenders generally view scores in this category as a sign of very high risk, often stemming from a history of significant financial difficulties, such as delinquencies, defaults, or collections. It signals to potential creditors that you have struggled to manage credit obligations in the past.
This score can significantly impact your financial life, making it difficult to qualify for loans or new credit cards. If you are approved, it will likely be for secured products with unfavorable terms, such as high interest rates and fees. This can also create obstacles in other areas, like renting an apartment or getting utilities without a large security deposit. While challenging, this situation is not permanent, and understanding your standing is the first step toward future improvement.
Who Has a 470 Credit Score?
While age isn't a direct factor in calculating your credit score, there's a clear trend of scores increasing over time. For context, the average FICO score for all Americans in 2023 was 715. According to generational data from the same year, here's how the breakdown looks:
- 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 470 Credit Score
A credit score of 470 is considered poor, placing you in a high-risk category for most lenders. Consequently, you'll likely face significant challenges when applying for traditional credit cards, with many issuers denying your application outright. Even if you are approved, it will probably be for a card with unfavorable terms like high interest rates, annual fees, and a low credit limit.
Kudos can help you find a suitable card using its AI-powered tools, which match your preferences and spending habits to options from a database of nearly 3,000 cards. The platform also provides insights into how a new card may affect your credit score, empowering you to make a choice that supports your financial goals.
Auto Loans and a 470 Credit Score
A 470 credit score places you in the deep subprime category, which can make securing an auto loan challenging. While approval is possible, you will likely face significantly higher interest rates and less favorable loan terms.
According to a 2025 market analysis, average auto loan rates vary significantly based on 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 470 Credit Score
A 470 credit score falls below the minimum threshold for nearly all standard home loans. According to mortgage requirements, even the most lenient FHA loans require a score of at least 500 with a 10% down payment. While some specialty or subprime lenders may consider scores this low, approval is highly unlikely, as very few mortgages are approved for borrowers with scores under 600.
If you find a rare lender willing to offer a loan, the terms will be severe. Expect to face the highest possible interest rates, significant fees, and a large down payment requirement of at least 10%. Lenders will also conduct a much stricter review of your finances, a process known as manual underwriting, to offset the high risk associated with a low credit score.
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's primarily based on a handful of key financial habits. The most common factors include:
- Your payment history tracks whether you have paid past credit accounts on time.
- Credit utilization is the percentage of your available credit that you are currently using.
- The length of your credit history considers the age of your oldest account and the average age of all your accounts.
- Having a healthy mix of credit types, such as credit cards and installment loans, can positively impact your score.
- Recent credit inquiries and newly opened accounts can temporarily lower your score.
How to Improve Your 470 Credit Score
While a 470 credit score presents challenges, it is entirely possible to improve it with consistent, positive financial habits. With a focused strategy, you can see meaningful changes within a few months and begin building a stronger credit profile.
- Monitor your credit reports. You can get free reports from all three major bureaus and should review them regularly for errors. Disputing inaccuracies can remove negative items that are unfairly lowering your score.
- Establish automatic bill payments. Since payment history is the single largest factor in your score, setting up automatic payments ensures you never miss a due date. This is a critical step for building a positive payment history and raising a low score.
- Apply for a secured credit card. A secured card requires a security deposit, making it accessible for those with poor credit. Using it responsibly and making timely payments helps establish a positive history that gets reported to the credit bureaus.
- Become an authorized user. You can ask a trusted person with a good credit history to add you to their credit card account. This can add their positive payment history to your report and help lower your overall credit utilization.
The free Kudos browser extension can help you manage your cards and monitor your score as you work to build better credit.
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