Why Is My VantageScore Lower Than FICO (Fair Isaac)?

Identify the exact VantageScore and FICO Score versions before you compare numbers, because different versions use distinct algorithms and weighting schemes. Look at the score label on your credit‑monitoring dashboard; most providers show 'VantageScore 3.0' or 'VantageScore 4.0' and 'FICO Score 8,' 'FICO Score 9,' or 'FICO Score 10.' Verify the version with the credit bureau that supplied the score, since Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax may each emit a different version on the same day. Knowing the versions now prevents the mismatches discussed later in the 'compare scores taken on the same date' section.

• Open your credit‑monitoring app or lender portal; locate the score display line that reads 'VantageScore 3.0' or 'VantageScore 4.0.'
• Find the FICO score line; note whether it says 'FICO Score 8,' 'FICO Score 9,' or 'FICO Score 10.'
• Check the source label (Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax) to ensure the version matches the bureau you will use for the rest of the analysis.
• If the provider lists only a generic 'VantageScore' or 'FICO' without a number, contact support or view the detailed report to retrieve the version.
• Record the version pair (e.g., VantageScore 4.0 / FICO Score 9) in a note; use it as the baseline for all later comparisons.

Compare the VantageScore and FICO score that come from the exact same credit bureau. Each bureau (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) holds a slightly different file - different balances, late‑payment flags, or inquiries - so a VantageScore 3.0 from Experian may be higher or lower than a FICO Score 8 that originates from TransUnion purely because the underlying data differ.

To guarantee you're looking at the same file, pull both scores from a single source that labels the bureau, such as a lender portal or a free‑credit‑monitoring site that shows 'Experian VantageScore' and 'Experian FICO Score 9.' If you see a discrepancy, double‑check the bureau tag before assuming the models themselves are at fault; the next step is to ensure the scores were taken on the same date. Understanding how credit bureaus maintain separate files

Look at the exact numbers each model gave on the same day.

• Pull a credit report from each bureau (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) for the same date; the report's 'date of inquiry' guarantees the underlying file is identical.
• Request both a VantageScore 3.0 or 4.0 and the matching FICO Score 8, 9, or 10 from that bureau; many free portals display them side‑by‑side.
• Record the scores in a simple table and note any 5‑20‑point gaps, which may reflect model‑specific weighting.
• Verify the file shows no new activity between the two pulls; a hard inquiry or newly opened account can shift one score before the other.
• Remember each model's score range (300‑850); VantageScore may treat mid‑range scores differently, which can explain why a 15‑point difference appears.

VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0 place the most importance on five core factors, each weighted roughly as shown below.

• Payment history - about 40 % of the score. Late payments, collections, and bankruptcies can pull the score down quickly.
• Credit utilization - roughly 20 %. Keeping balances under 30 % of each credit limit usually helps.
• Credit age (depth of credit) - around 15 %. Older accounts contribute positively, while a very short credit history may hold the score back.
• Types of credit - near 10 %. A mix of revolving, installment, and open‑credit accounts can boost the model.
• Recent credit activity - about 15 %. New accounts and hard inquiries are factored in, but they weigh less than payment history.

These weights differ from the FICO Score 8/9/10 model, which gives slightly more emphasis to credit age and less to recent activity. Because VantageScore can incorporate data from all three bureaus, a factor that looks strong on one file may be weaker on another, which explains why the same person can see a lower VantageScore than FICO.

Understanding which factors VantageScore values most sets the stage for the next section on how new accounts and hard inquiries affect your Vantage differently.

VantageScore 3.0/4.0 may give a new credit line a modest boost after six months because it treats fresh accounts as an indicator of expanding credit experience, and it often reduces the impact of a hard inquiry after twelve months, so the dip can be relatively shallow.

FICO Score 8/9/10 usually penalizes a newly opened account more sharply, especially if it appears soon after other recent openings, and it can keep a hard inquiry on the model for up to two years, meaning the score may stay lower for a longer period.

A thin credit file - typically fewer than five tradelines - can cause VantageScore 3.0/4.0 to dip lower than a comparable FICO Score 8/9/10 because VantageScore gives more weight to the limited information it does have, which may increase score volatility.

For example, someone who only has a single revolving credit card with a modest balance might see a VantageScore of around 620 while the same data yields a FICO score near 680; adding an authorized‑user line or a reported rental payment can boost the VantageScore by 20‑30 points, illustrating why the next section on authorized‑user and rental accounts matters.

Authorized user accounts can lift a VantageScore 3.0/4.0 more noticeably than a FICO Score 8/9, because VantageScore gives extra weight to the age and payment history of the primary cardholder. If the primary user has low utilization and on‑time payments, the authorized user may see a bump of 10‑20 points; older FICO versions often ignore or downplay the addition, and a primary with missed payments can pull both scores down.

Rental payment data also plays differently. VantageScore 4.0 may add reported rent to the scoring model, which can improve scores for thin‑file consumers by 5‑15 points. FICO Score 9 incorporates rent only when the data comes from Experian, and FICO Score 10 adds it selectively, so the impact varies by bureau and reporting source. If your landlord doesn't report, neither model gains anything.

To see the effect, pull both scores from the same credit bureau on the same date and review the credit report for 'authorized user' and 'rental payment' entries. Compare how each line shows up in the VantageScore versus the FICO Score, then decide whether to keep, add, or remove those accounts. For details on how rent reporting works, see Experian explains rental payment reporting.

Your VantageScore can dip because one bureau's file contains mistakes that the others don't.

1. Pull each report. Order a free copy from AnnualCreditReport.com for Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.
2. Scan for mismatches. Look for wrong personal info, duplicated accounts, or inaccurate balances - errors that affect VantageScore 3.0/4.0 more than FICO 8/9/10.
3. Dispute the item. Use the bureau's online portal or mail a brief letter stating the error, attaching proof (e.g., a corrected statement).
4. Follow up. Check the updated report 30 days later; a corrected entry may raise your VantageScore by 5‑20 points.
5. Monitor continuously. Sign up for a free credit‑monitoring alert so future bureau‑specific glitches are caught early.

Fixing these isolated errors often narrows the gap between your VantageScore and FICO score.

Improving your VantageScore often starts with five practical actions you can take right away.

Consider these steps:

• Pay down high balances, especially on revolving accounts, because utilization heavily influences VantageScore 3.0/4.0.
• Remove or dispute inaccurate entries on the bureau file you're using; errors can drag the score down more than they affect a FICO Score 8/9/10.
• Avoid new hard inquiries for at least six months; VantageScore weights recent inquiries more aggressively.
• Add positive credit history, such as a secured credit card or a timely rent‑reporting service, to strengthen a thin file.
• Keep older accounts open and in good standing, since longer payment histories boost the score.

Applying these moves may raise your VantageScore within a few reporting cycles, setting the stage for the lender‑specific considerations discussed next.

VantageScore 3.0 and VantageScore 4.0 appear most often with online lenders and alternative credit products. Mortgage pre‑qualification tools from Quicken Loans, loanDepot, and Better.com frequently run a VantageScore 3.0 check. Auto‑loan applications at Capital One, CarMax, and Auto Credit Express may use VantageScore 4.0 to set initial rates. Credit‑card issuers such as Citi, Discover, and US Bank sometimes reference VantageScore 3.0 for promotional offers. Student‑loan refinance platforms like Earnest and personal‑loan marketplaces including SoFi, Upgrade, and LendingClub often start the underwriting process with a VantageScore 3.0 or 4.0 pull.

For a quick overview, see the VantageScore industry use guide.

Even when a lender lists VantageScore, the final decision may still rely on a FICO Score 8, FICO Score 9, or FICO Score 10 copy, especially for conventional mortgages and major bank credit cards. Some banks run both scores side‑by‑side; they might use VantageScore for early screening and switch to FICO once the application reaches underwriting.

Because usage can differ by loan type, product tier, and even by state, always ask the lender which model will affect your approval before you submit a hard inquiry.

Even when your VantageScore 3.0 or 4.0 is lower than your FICO Score 8/9/10, many lenders may still approve because they either pull the FICO model, set a minimum score band that your VantageScore already meets, or give greater weight to income, employment stability and debt‑to‑income ratios than to the raw number; for example, a mortgage broker might require a FICO Score 740 or higher but accept any VantageScore above 700, while a credit‑card issuer could look at the VantageScore 400‑600 range as 'acceptable' and rely on your payment history and cash flow to make the final decision how lenders use VantageScore.

Consequently, a modest gap between the two scores usually does not block approval unless the lender explicitly mandates a specific FICO version or the VantageScore falls below the lender's cut‑off, in which case improving the underlying factors discussed earlier - such as reducing hard inquiries or correcting bureau‑specific errors - can quickly bring the VantageScore back into the acceptable range.

VantageScore can sit 20 points or more below a comparable FICO score when specific data patterns affect its algorithm more heavily.

• A hard inquiry recorded within the last 30 days may knock VantageScore 3.0 down 5‑10 points, while the same inquiry often has little impact on FICO Score 8 because the latter smooths recent pulls over a longer window.
• Opening a new credit card that immediately shows a high balance can raise VantageScore 4.0's utilization factor sharply; FICO Score 9 typically weights utilization more slowly, so the VantageScore may lag by 20 points or more.
• Adding a rent‑pay history that reports only to Experian can lift VantageScore 4.0, but FICO Score 10 generally ignores non‑traditional accounts, leaving the VantageScore lower.
• Becoming an authorized user on a sibling's revolving account may boost VantageScore 3.0 if the primary user has good history, while FICO Score 9 often excludes authorized‑user data, creating a gap.
• A thin credit file with fewer than five tradelines can cause VantageScore 4.0 to penalize missing data more aggressively than FICO Score 8, resulting in a 20‑plus point difference.