Why Is My Vantage Score Higher Than My FICO Score?

VantageScore can outpace your FICO score because its formula gives more credit to recent positive behavior, ignores certain medical collections, and discounts low‑balance revolving debt that FICO still counts.

• Recent on‑time payments boost VantageScore faster; FICO weighs older history more heavily.
• Medical collections older than 180 days are excluded from VantageScore, while FICO may still penalize them.
• Small balances (under 30 % utilization) have a minimal impact on VantageScore but can lower FICO if overall utilization climbs.
• New credit inquiries are softened after 12 months in VantageScore, whereas FICO keeps a longer negative window.
• Late payments older than 24 months drop out of VantageScore calculations sooner than they do for FICO.

(See the next section 'how Vantage and FICO weigh credit factors differently for you' for a deeper dive.)

VantageScore evaluates five pillars: payment history (≈40 %), depth of credit (≈20 %), credit utilization (≈20 %), balances (≈15 %), and recent behavior (≈5 %). Because depth and recent behavior count less than FICO's 'new credit,' a short‑term spike in a new loan can hurt a FICO score more than a VantageScore, which explains the occasional gap mentioned earlier.

FICO score looks at payment history (≈35 %), total balances (≈30 %), length of credit history (≈15 %), new credit (≈10 %), and credit mix (≈10 %). The heavier emphasis on balances and new accounts means a high‑balance credit card or a recent hard inquiry can pull FICO down faster than VantageScore, setting up the factor‑specific drag you'll read about in the next section.

• FICO scores drop more from high credit utilization, recent hard inquiries, and fresh delinquencies than VantageScore does.
• A utilization above 30 % can shave 20‑30 points off a FICO, while VantageScore tolerates higher ratios before penalizing.
• Each new hard inquiry can knock 5‑10 points from a FICO, whereas VantageScore often ignores the first few inquiries in a 12‑month window.
• A 30‑day late payment reduces a FICO by up to 100 points; VantageScore typically applies a smaller penalty unless the delinquency persists.
• Short credit history hurts FICO more; VantageScore gives more credit to recent activity and can offset a thin file.

Reporting timing at each credit bureau can skew both VantageScore and FICO score because each bureau receives updates on different calendar days, so the snapshot each model evaluates may contain different balances or payment statuses. When a lender requests a score, the algorithm uses the data from the single bureau it pulls; it does not automatically select the newest or oldest record across bureaus.

For example, a credit‑card payment posted on the 5th might be reported to Experian on the 10th, to TransUnion on the 12th, and to Equifax on the 15th. A lender pulling a score on the 11th would see a lower balance at Experian and higher balances at the other two. If the lender's VantageScore request uses Experian while the FICO score request uses TransUnion, the VantageScore can appear higher purely because of the reporting lag. This timing effect explains why scores from the two models often diverge, even for the same consumer.

• Utility or rent payments show up in VantageScore but not yet in your FICO score - VantageScore 4.0 pulls data from third‑party rent‑reporting services, so a recent on‑time rent payment can boost the VantageScore while the FICO score still ignores it. (VantageScore includes utility and rent data)
• You've just opened a new credit card and VantageScore stays kinder - VantageScore 3.0+ assigns a lighter penalty to 'new account' activity, allowing the score to recover quickly; many FICO versions weigh the new line heavier, keeping the FICO score lower for weeks.
• High revolving balances with perfect payment history tilt in VantageScore's favor - VantageScore balances utilization against recent on‑time payments, so a high balance that's consistently paid down can still yield a higher VantageScore, whereas FICO often penalizes the same utilization more severely.

Your VantageScore can sit above your FICO score for legit reasons, so run these five quick checks before worrying.

• Bureau reporting dates - VantageScore often uses the most recent data from each bureau, while FICO may lag a few days; compare the dates on your credit reports.
• Included non‑traditional accounts - VantageScore counts rent, utilities and cell‑phone payments that FICO ignores; verify whether those positive accounts appear on your Vantage report but not on the FICO‑based report.
• Recent hard inquiries - FICO penalizes new hard pulls more heavily; ensure any recent credit‑card or loan applications haven't been logged only in the FICO‑derived file.
• Credit‑mix shifts - Adding or closing an installment loan can drag FICO down faster than VantageScore; look for recent changes in your loan profile.
• Data errors or omissions - Mistyped balances or missing accounts affect the two models differently; run a dispute check for any inaccuracies that might be hurting the FICO side.

If any of these items show a discrepancy, you've likely identified why VantageScore outranks your FICO score and can address it before moving on to the FICO‑boosting steps later in the guide.

Lenders view a higher VantageScore as a signal of lower credit risk, but many still base core decisions on the FICO score.

When a lender pulls both models, they usually apply the one that meets their internal cut‑off; a VantageScore that clears the threshold can qualify you for credit cards, auto loans, or personal loans that might be denied under a lower FICO score, as explained by VantageScore scoring model overview.

If the lender relies solely on the FICO score, the higher VantageScore won't change the offer, so you can request a VantageScore‑based quote or use the higher number to negotiate better terms; the next section explains how to boost your FICO score to match.

Your FICO score can climb quickly if you tackle the seven levers most models weigh heavily.

1. Pay every bill on time - payment history makes up about 35 % of a FICO score; set up automatic payments or calendar reminders to eliminate missed due dates.
2. Trim credit utilization below 30 % - the ratio of balances to limits drives roughly 30 % of the score; aim for 10 % or less on each card and overall. Recent analysis shows lower utilization consistently lifts FICO scores.
3. Avoid unnecessary hard inquiries - each inquiry can shave 5 - 10 points and lingers for two years; request new credit only when you plan to open an account.
4. Keep old accounts open - length of credit history contributes about 15 %; closing long‑standing cards shortens average age and may increase utilization.
5. Diversify credit types - installment loans, revolving credit, and a mortgage together improve the 10 % mix factor; a modest auto loan can be beneficial if you lack installment data.
6. Dispute inaccurate items - errors in payment history or balances can drag the score down; file disputes with the three bureaus and follow up until corrected.
7. Pay down high‑balance cards strategically - target the card with the highest utilization first, then cascade payments; this reduces overall ratio faster than spreading payments evenly.

These steps directly address the factors that cause your FICO score to lag behind a VantageScore, setting the stage for the next section on how lenders view the difference.

Definition:

Account mixing occurs when a credit file contains both revolving and installment balances, while authorized‑user relationships add another person's credit activity to your report. VantageScore counts these mixed accounts and authorized‑user histories more generously than the FICO score, so they can lift your VantageScore even if your own payment behavior is modest.

Examples:

You open a high‑limit credit‑card and add your teenage child as an authorized user; VantageScore adds the new, low‑utilization line to your mix, raising the score, whereas FICO may downplay the extra user. Likewise, a recent student loan combined with an older auto loan creates a diverse credit mix that VantageScore rewards, while FICO emphasizes recent activity and may not give the same boost. These scenarios explain why a higher VantageScore can appear when account mixing or authorized users inflate the calculation.

When the lender you're dealing with uses a FICO score for underwriting, when the VantageScore gap is under ten points, or when the VantageScore appears only in a soft‑pull pre‑qualification, you can safely ignore the higher VantageScore. In those cases the decision, rate, or credit limit will be based on your FICO score, so the VantageScore advantage has no practical impact.

Keep an eye on your FICO, treat the VantageScore as a nice bonus, and if the difference ever spikes, revisit the 'how Vantage and FICO weigh credit factors differently' and 'check account mixing or authorized users inflating your Vantage' sections before proceeding. For lender preferences see Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's guide on FICO vs VantageScore.