I just turned 18. What is my credit score?

Eighteen is the legal age you can apply for your first credit card, and for most people, also the beginning of their credit journey. However, you do not automatically have a credit score the day you turn 18. Credit scores are calculated based on credit reports which are compiled using reported credit activity.

Also, based on the credit scoring model being used – FICO® or VantageScore® – the credit activity needs to be at least one to six months old. FICO Score, for example, is only calculated after six months of credit activity is reported. VantageScore needs you to just open a credit account to begin your credit score calculation.

The reason you will not have a credit score without a credit account at 18 is because your credit score is based on the length of your credit history too. How long you have had your credit account makes up 15% of your FICO Score.

To come back to your question, it is possible for you to have a credit score when you turn 18 if you have been an authorized user on one of your parents’ credit cards, and you have a savings or checking account in your name. Becoming an authorized user helps you start your credit journey early without having to apply for a credit card. Having a savings or checking account can help you understand how to manage your finances before you begin your credit journey.