What Are The Different Types Of FICO Scores (Fair Isaac)?

A FICO score is a three‑digit number lenders use to gauge credit risk, ranging from 300 to 850. It derives from payment history, balances, credit mix, length of credit history, new credit, and type of credit used. Each of the three bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - feeds the data they maintain, producing bureau‑specific FICO scores that may differ by a few points.

Key FICO models include:

• FICO Score 8 - the dominant model, used by most banks and credit‑card issuers.
• FICO Score 9 - newer, adopted by insurers and some banks; it expands data sources and adds a new category for open‑credit accounts.
• FICO Score 10 - the latest consumer‑credit model, incorporating more variables for secured loans.
• FICO Score 10T - a version tailored for low‑income populations and mortgage lenders.
• FICO Auto Score - industry‑specific, weighs auto‑finance history heavily.
• FICO Bankcard Score - used mainly by card issuers, focused on revolving‑credit behavior.
• FICO Mortgage Score - specific to mortgage lenders, emphasizing payment history on installment loans.

These models differ mainly in which credit data they consider and how they weight each factor; the choice depends on the lender, loan type, and borrower profile. For more detail, see FICO's official page.

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• FICO Score 8 - default model for most lenders, equal weight to payment history, amounts owed, length of credit, new credit, and types of credit; calculated separately by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion; still drives over 80 % of credit decisions.
• FICO Score 9 - added in 2014, treats on‑time rent, utilities and medical payments as positive factors and reduces the impact of paid‑off collections; used by roughly 20 % of lenders, especially newer fintech firms.
• FICO Score 10 - launched 2020, incorporates trended data (payment behavior over the last 24 months) for finer risk assessment; gaining traction with major banks for mortgages and credit‑card underwriting.
• FICO Score 5 - older version that remains in many auto‑loan portfolios; often yields scores 20‑30 points lower than Score 8 for the same file.
• FICO Score 4 - legacy model primarily seen in older mortgage contracts; rarely generated today but appears when legacy agreements reference 'FICO‑4'.

Yes, the three bureaus can each produce a different FICO score because they maintain separate credit files and may apply different FICO versions (for example, Experian often uses FICO Score 8 while Equifax may be on FICO Score 9); even when the same version is used, variations in reported accounts, balances, or timing cause scores to differ by anywhere from a few points to 20‑30 points,

so a borrower might see a 720 from TransUnion, a 695 from Equifax, and a 710 from Experian - a discrepancy that lenders expect and that will be explored further in the 'One person with three different FICO scores' section.

A single consumer can see three distinct FICO scores because each of the three major bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - runs the same FICO Score model (for example, FICO Score 8) on its own data set, so variations in reported debts, inquiries, or errors produce three separate numbers.

In addition, lenders often request industry‑specific versions such as the auto‑loan or mortgage FICO Score, which adds a fourth figure to the mix; that's why the score you see on a credit‑monitoring app may differ from the one a dealer or mortgage broker pulls. how the three bureaus calculate scores

The auto, mortgage and credit‑card markets each rely on their own industry‑specific FICO models, so the number you see on a loan offer may differ from the score your bank shows online.

• Auto loans: most lenders use a FICO Auto Score (versions 2, 4, 5, and the newer 8) that draws on the same five‑factor formula but weights recent payment behavior more heavily; each bureau - Equifax, Experian, TransUnion - produces its own version.
• Mortgages: the industry standard remains the bureau‑specific FICO Score 2 (Experian), 4 (TransUnion) and 5 (Equifax); many mortgage lenders have started to accept FICO Score 9, but the three legacy models still dominate underwriting.
• Credit cards: issuers typically pull the generic consumer FICO Score 8, and increasingly the newer 9 or 10, because these versions balance long‑term credit history with recent utilization, which aligns with revolving‑credit risk assessment.

Lenders pick the FICO version that matches the product they're underwriting, so the 'model' you see on your report depends on the loan type and the bureau supplying the data.

• Mortgage loans - most lenders still run FICO Score 8 from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion; newer investors also accept FICO Score 9 or FICO Score 10 (or 10T) when the borrower's file includes trended data.
• Auto financing - dealers and captives commonly use FICO Score 2 (Equifax/Experian) or FICO Score 4 (TransUnion); some premium programs have moved to FICO Score 10.
• Credit‑card applications - issuers often rely on FICO Score 5 (all three bureaus) because it weights credit‑card behavior heavily; a growing number have added FICO Score 10 for more nuanced risk.

These industry‑specific models are built on the same five‑factor formula but weight the variables differently to reflect the risk profile of each product. For a deep dive on which version each bureau offers, see the official FICO model guide.

Understanding the exact model a lender uses helps you anticipate which score will matter most for a mortgage, auto loan, or credit‑card offer.

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• Mortgage lenders typically pull the industry‑specific FICO Score 2 (or 2‑T) from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
• Auto lenders most often use the industry‑specific FICO Score 4 (or 4‑T) from each bureau.
• Credit‑card issuers generally rely on the consumer‑focused FICO Score 8, with many newer applicants evaluated with FICO Score 9.
• A small minority of lenders still request the older FICO Score 5, but it now drives fewer than 10 % of decisions (industry‑specific FICO scores guide).

Collections, medical debt, and authorized users each shift a FICO score by changing the five core factors. A collection entry appears as a delinquent account on Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, dropping the payment history component and staying on the report for up to seven years.

Medical debt is also a collection, but most FICO models - including FICO Score 8 - apply a 180‑day grace period before it counts and weight it less heavily than non‑medical collections, so the hit is usually smaller and may disappear once the debt is paid or removed.

An authorized user adds to the primary account's age and total available credit, which can improve credit utilization and length of credit history if the primary's balance is low and the account is in good standing. Because each bureau may receive the authorized‑user addition at slightly different times, the score change can vary across the three credit reports, but the overall effect is typically a modest boost rather than a penalty.

Raise the exact FICO model lenders check by tackling five high‑impact actions.

1. Pay down revolving balances on the bureau reporting the highest utilization.
   Lenders often use the FICO Score 8 from Experian for credit‑card decisions; lowering that card's utilization below 30 % can lift the score by 10‑20 points.
2. Eliminate any delinquent accounts that appear on a single bureau.
   A 30‑day late on a TransUnion mortgage file drags the FICO Score 9 down more than an identical mark on the other reports, so focus collection or dispute efforts on the offending bureau.
3. Add a seasoned authorized user to a strong primary account.
   When the primary's history is on Equifax, the authorized‑user boost is reflected in the FICO Score 8 version most auto lenders reference, raising the score without opening new credit.
4. Request a rapid rescoring after correcting a reporting error.
   If a credit‑union error is fixed on one bureau, lenders can run a fresh FICO Score 10‑based 'new‑credit' simulation, often adding five to fifteen points instantly.
5. Strategically open a low‑limit, on‑time installment loan.
   A small personal loan reported to all three bureaus diversifies the mix, which the FICO Score 8 model weights heavily for mortgage applications; the added 'installment' factor can improve the lender‑checked score by several points.

These steps directly target the specific FICO model most lenders reference, setting the stage for the upcoming look at niche scores such as FICO XD.

FICO XD is a credit‑score model that relies on alternative data - rent, utility, telecom and similar payments - to evaluate consumers who have thin or no traditional credit history; other niche scores are industry‑specific models that weight factors differently for auto loans, mortgages, bankcards or business credit.

The XD model pulls any available information from the three major bureaus - Equifax, Experian, TransUnion - adds the alternative data, and produces a 300‑850 score that many subprime auto dealers and mobile‑phone carriers use to approve applicants who would otherwise be 'unscorable.' For a deeper dive, see FICO XD score details.

Beyond XD, lenders frequently use FICO Auto Score (usually version 8 or 9) for vehicle financing, FICO Mortgage Score (often version 5) for home loans, FICO Bankcard Score (commonly version 8) for credit‑card underwriting, and the older industry versions 2‑5 that still appear in niche markets such as retail financing or small‑business credit assessment.