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748 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025
July 1, 2025
TL;DR
A 748 credit score is considered very good, placing you in an advantageous position to qualify for loans and credit cards with competitive terms. This score falls comfortably within the "Very Good" range on the FICO scoring model, positioning you just below the highest "Exceptional" tier.
What Does a 748 Credit Score Mean?
A FICO score of 748 places you firmly in the "Very Good" credit range. Lenders view consumers with scores like this as highly dependable, significantly increasing your chances of approval for loans and credit cards. This score generally unlocks competitive interest rates, saving you money on mortgages, auto loans, and other lines of credit over the long term.
While a 748 score is excellent, it's also a stepping stone to the highest tier of "Exceptional" credit (800+). Continuing to manage your credit responsibly will solidify your favorable position and can open doors to the most premium financial products and the lowest possible interest rates down the road.
Who Has a 748 Credit Score?
While age isn't a direct factor in credit score calculations, scores generally improve as people get older. This is largely because older individuals have had more time to build a longer credit history. According to 2023 Experian data, here is the breakdown of average FICO scores 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 748 Credit Score
A credit score of 748 places you firmly in the "good" to "excellent" range, which is a fantastic position to be in when applying for a new credit card. Lenders view this score favorably, meaning you'll likely qualify for a wide variety of cards, including those with premium rewards, travel perks, and introductory 0% APR offers. While approval is never guaranteed and depends on other factors like your income, a 748 score significantly boosts your chances and opens the door to some of the best credit card products on the market.
Kudos offers personalized tools to help you find your next credit card by using a quiz to understand your preferences and financial goals. Its AI-driven Dream Wallet can also analyze your spending habits to provide insights on a card's potential credit score impact and whether its annual fee is justified for your financial situation.
Auto Loans and a 748 Credit Score
With a 748 credit score, you fall into the prime borrower category (661-780), making you an attractive candidate for an auto loan. According to automotive finance analysis, this score should help you secure competitive interest rates from most lenders.
- Super-prime (781-850): New Car: 5.25% | Used Car: 7.13%
- Prime (661-780): New Car: 6.87% | Used Car: 9.36%
- Non-prime (601-660): New Car: 9.83% | Used Car: 13.92%
- Subprime (501-600): New Car: 13.18% | Used Car: 18.86%
- Deep subprime (300-500): New Car: 15.77% | Used Car: 21.55%
Mortgages at a 748 Credit Score
A 748 credit score places you in a strong position, qualifying you for nearly all major mortgage types. This includes conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA, and USDA loans, as your score is well above the minimum credit requirements for each. Lenders view you as a low-risk borrower, which significantly streamlines the approval process and opens up a wide variety of financing options.
Beyond just qualifying, your excellent credit has a major impact on loan terms. You can expect to be offered some of the best available interest rates, which lowers your monthly payment. For conventional loans with a smaller down payment, it also means reduced private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums, saving you even more money.
What's in a Credit Score?
Figuring out what goes into your credit score can feel like trying to solve a complex puzzle, but the number is generally derived from a few key factors in your financial history.
- Your payment history is the most significant factor, reflecting whether you pay your bills on time.
- Credit utilization measures how much of your available credit you are currently using.
- The length of your credit history considers the age of your oldest and newest accounts, as well as the average age of all your accounts.
- Your credit mix looks at the different types of credit you have, such as credit cards, mortgages, and installment loans.
- New credit inquiries and recently opened accounts can also temporarily impact your score.
How to Improve Your 748 Credit Score
No matter your current standing, it's always possible to improve your credit score with consistent, positive financial habits. According to proven methods, a few strategic moves can elevate your 748 score into the excellent tier, unlocking the best loan terms and premium rewards.
- Reduce your credit utilization ratio. Even with a good score, using a high percentage of your available credit can act as an anchor. Paying down balances to keep your utilization well below 30% is one of the fastest ways to give your score a significant boost.
- Diversify your credit mix. Lenders like to see that you can responsibly manage different types of debt, such as both revolving credit and installment loans. Adding a different account type can demonstrate financial maturity and help nudge your score toward the 800s.
- Monitor your credit reports regularly. An undetected error or fraudulent account could be the only thing holding your 748 score back from excellence. Reviewing your reports ensures your score is an accurate reflection of your hard work and creditworthiness.
- Limit new hard inquiries. While a strong score makes you an attractive applicant, each application for new credit can cause a small, temporary dip. Spacing out applications for loans or credit cards prevents these minor dings from accumulating and stalling your progress.
The free Kudos browser extension can help you manage your cards and maximize rewards as you work on improving your credit.
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