Kudos has partnered with CardRatings and Red Ventures for our coverage of credit card products. Kudos, CardRatings, and Red Ventures may receive a commission from card issuers. Kudos may receive commission from card issuers. Some of the card offers that appear on Kudos are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Kudos tries to include as many card companies and offers as we are aware of, including offers from issuers that don't pay us, but we may not cover all card companies or all available card offers. You don't have to use our links, but we're grateful when you do!
571 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025
July 1, 2025
TL;DR
A 571 credit score is an excellent starting point for building a stronger credit history, though it does present some initial challenges. This score is categorized as 'Poor' by FICO, which simply means there's a clear and achievable path toward improving your financial standing.
What Does a 571 Credit Score Mean?
A credit score of 571 falls into the "poor" range on the FICO Score model, which spans from 300 to 850. Lenders generally view scores between 300 and 579 as indicative of a borrower who has struggled with credit obligations in the past. This classification places you in a subprime category, signaling a higher risk to potential creditors and impacting your access to financial products.
Financially, this score can create significant hurdles. You may face difficulty getting approved for new credit cards, auto loans, or mortgages. If you are approved, it will likely be with less favorable terms, such as higher interest rates and fees. While a 571 score presents challenges, it's a starting point from which you can begin to build a stronger financial future.
Who Has a 571 Credit Score?
While age isn't a direct factor in credit score calculations, there's a clear pattern showing that scores tend to improve over time. According to a 2023 generational breakdown from Experian, average scores steadily increase with each successive age group.
- 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 571 Credit Score
A credit score of 571 falls into the "poor" credit range, which can significantly impact your ability to qualify for traditional credit cards. Lenders view this score as high-risk, meaning you're more likely to face rejections for unsecured cards or be offered less favorable terms, such as high interest rates and low credit limits. While it presents a challenge, obtaining a credit card isn't impossible, though you may need to focus on options specifically designed for building credit, like secured cards.
Kudos utilizes AI-powered tools that analyze your unique spending habits and personal preferences to find the ideal card for you from a database of nearly 3,000 options. The platform also provides insights on how applying for a new card may impact your credit score, empowering you to make a choice that aligns with your financial situation.
Auto Loans and a 571 Credit Score
A 571 credit score places you in the subprime borrower category, which can make securing an auto loan more difficult. According to a 2025 guide, while you may still get approved, lenders will likely offer you significantly higher interest rates and less favorable loan terms.
- 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 571 Credit Score
A 571 credit score makes you ineligible for conventional loans, but you still have options. Your most viable path is an FHA loan, which requires a 10% down payment for scores under 580. While VA and USDA loans are unlikely, some lenders may make exceptions. Subprime lenders are another possibility, though they often have stricter terms.
With a 571 score, expect less favorable loan terms. You will face higher interest rates, increasing your monthly payments and total loan cost. Lenders will also apply stricter underwriting and charge higher fees, such as the mortgage insurance premiums on FHA loans. Your choice of lenders will be limited, and you'll need a larger down payment than borrowers with stronger credit profiles.
What's in a Credit Score?
Understanding your credit score can feel like trying to solve a complex puzzle, as it's a blend of several key financial habits. The most common factors that determine your score 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.
- Credit mix refers to the variety of credit products you have, such as credit cards, retail accounts, and loans.
- New credit inquiries and recently opened accounts can also temporarily impact your score.
How to Improve Your 571 Credit Score
Your credit score plays a crucial role in your financial life, but it's not set in stone; with consistent effort, it is always possible to improve your creditworthiness. Whether you're aiming to boost your FICO® score or VantageScore, focusing on a few key areas can lead to meaningful changes within a few months.
- Monitor your credit reports. Checking your reports helps you spot and dispute inaccuracies that could be dragging down your score. For someone with a 571 score, removing even one error can provide a significant and necessary boost.
- Set up automatic bill payments. Since payment history is the most important factor in your score, automating payments is the easiest way to ensure you never miss a due date. This prevents late payments that can further damage a score that's already in the poor or fair range.
- Lower your credit utilization ratio. This ratio of your used credit to your total available credit is the second-most important scoring factor. Paying down balances to get below the recommended 30% threshold demonstrates responsible debt management to lenders.
- Consider a secured credit card. If a 571 score makes it difficult to get approved for new credit, a secured card is an excellent tool for rebuilding. Your on-time payments are reported to the credit bureaus, allowing you to establish a positive history from the ground up.
Using a tool like the Kudos browser extension can help you use credit more strategically as you work to improve your score.
Supercharge Your Credit Cards
Experience smarter spending with Kudos and unlock more from your credit cards. Earn $20.00 when you sign up for Kudos with "GET20" and make an eligible Kudos Boost purchase.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
