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566 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025
July 1, 2025
TL;DR
A 566 credit score is a stepping stone that offers a clear opportunity for financial growth, though it is not considered a good score. According to the FICO model, this score falls into the "Poor" credit category, which provides a clear benchmark for improvement.
What Does a 566 Credit Score Mean?
A credit score of 566 places you in the "poor" category of the FICO scoring model, which spans from 300 to 850. For lenders, this score suggests a significant level of risk, often stemming from a history of payment issues or high debt. Consequently, you may face hurdles when applying for new lines of credit, such as personal loans or credit cards, and may not qualify for the best offers available.
The practical impact of a 566 score is financial. If you are approved for credit, it will likely come with higher interest rates and less favorable terms, making borrowing more costly. While this can feel limiting, it's important to remember that a credit score is dynamic. It reflects your past financial behavior but doesn't have to dictate your future financial opportunities.
Who Has a 566 Credit Score?
A 566 credit score is well below the average for any age demographic. Credit scores generally increase with age as people have more time to build a positive payment history. According to 2023 Experian data, even the youngest adults have an average score in the "good" range. Here is the average FICO score breakdown 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 566 Credit Score
A credit score of 566 places you in the "poor" credit range, which can make qualifying for a traditional credit card a significant hurdle. Lenders generally view scores in this range as high-risk, increasing the likelihood that your application will be denied. If you are approved, you'll likely face less favorable terms, such as a higher annual percentage rate (APR) and a lower credit limit, compared to applicants with better credit.
Kudos offers AI-powered tools like its Explore Tool that analyze your financial preferences to deliver personalized recommendations from a database of nearly 3,000 cards. Features like the Dream Wallet also provide insights into how applying for a new card may impact your credit score, helping you find the best fit for your situation.
Auto Loans and a 566 Credit Score
A 566 credit score places you in the subprime category, which can make securing an auto loan more challenging. According to a 2025 analysis, lenders will likely offer you significantly higher interest rates, leading to a more expensive loan.
- 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 566 Credit Score
A 566 credit score significantly narrows your mortgage options, but it doesn't completely close the door. You won't qualify for conventional or jumbo loans, but you may be eligible for an FHA loan. These government-insured loans are designed for borrowers with lower credit scores. While VA and USDA loans technically have no set minimum, most lenders require scores of at least 580 to 620, making them an unlikely path.
Securing an FHA loan with a 566 score comes with stricter conditions. Lenders will require a larger down payment of at least 10%, compared to the 3.5% minimum for those with scores above 580. You can also expect to face a significantly higher interest rate and additional fees, which will increase your monthly payment and the total cost of borrowing over the life of the loan.
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 payment history, which tracks whether you pay your bills on time, is the most significant factor.
- Credit utilization, or the amount of credit you're using compared to your total available credit, also plays a major role.
- The length of your credit history demonstrates your experience with managing credit over time.
- Having a healthy mix of different types of credit, such as credit cards and installment loans, can positively impact your score.
- Finally, recent credit inquiries, which occur when you apply for new credit, are also taken into account.
How to Improve Your 566 Credit Score
No matter your current credit score, it is always possible to improve your financial standing with consistent effort. While it takes time, there are several proven methods you can use to boost your creditworthiness, with most people seeing meaningful changes within three to six months.
- Monitor your credit reports. Regularly check your reports from all three major bureaus to identify and dispute any inaccuracies, as errors could be unfairly dragging down your 566 score.
- Set up automatic bill payments. Since payment history is the single most important factor in your score, ensuring every bill is paid on time is a critical step to rebuilding from a 566.
- Lower your credit utilization. Aim to use less than 30% of your available credit, as paying down balances is one of the fastest ways to see meaningful improvement from a low score.
- Become an authorized user. Being added to the account of a responsible user can add their positive payment history to your file, which is an effective way to build credit when a 566 score makes it hard to qualify for new accounts.
You can also use a tool like the Kudos browser extension to help you make smarter spending decisions as you work to improve your credit.
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