Credit Score Basics > What is your credit score when you turn 18?

What is your credit score when you turn 18?

Wollit Team3 minute read · Updated 23rd July 2024

When you turn 18 in the UK, you officially become an adult and can start building your own credit history and credit score. However, it's important to understand that you won't have a credit score right away. This doesn’t mean it’s zero – you just don’t have one. Here's a closer look at what to expect and what you need to do.

What is a credit score?

A credit score is a number that’s meant to show your creditworthiness. This number is calculated based mostly on your credit history and a few other factors (like whether you’ve registered to vote).

In the UK, there are three main credit reference agencies that calculate credit scores: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Each agency uses its own scoring model, so your credit score may vary slightly between them. Experian's credit score ranges from 0 to 999, Equifax's is 0 to 1,000, and TransUnion's is 0 to 710.

Credit score is important because lenders rely on it to figure out how risky you are. The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to be approved for credit cards, loans, mortgages, and other financial products. A higher credit score can also mean better terms, like lower deposits, lower interest rates, fewer fees, and higher credit limits.

What is the average credit score for 18-year-olds in the UK?

When you turn 18 in the UK, you won't have an established credit history or credit score. According to Experian data, the average credit score for 18-20 year olds in the UK is 823. This is actually one of the highest ones in the UK.

Here is the average credit score for the other age groups:

18-20 Years: 823
21-25 Years: 792
26-30 Years: 776
31-35 Years: 770
36-40 Years: 779
41-45 Years: 792
46-50 Years: 804
51-55 Years: 819
55+ Years: 863

The reason 18-20 year olds have a pretty high average credit score is simple:

On one hand, there aren’t many 18-20 year olds who have entered credit agreements at this age, which means they don’t have a credit history yet.
And on the other, the ones who do simply haven’t had much time to make significant mistakes.

Why don't I have a credit score automatically at 18?

There are a few key reasons why 18-year-olds in the UK don’t have a credit score yet:

No credit history. When you turn 18, you're starting from scratch in terms of your credit history. You likely haven't had any credit cards, loans, or other credit accounts in your own name yet.
No credit usage. Without any credit accounts or loans, you haven't had the opportunity to show how you manage credit and make repayments. Credit reference agencies need this sort of data to calculate your credit score.
Not registered to vote. Registering to vote is important for verifying your identity, and since many 18-year-olds may not be registered to vote yet, this is another factor missing from a potential credit file.

How can I start building credit when I turn 18?

Even though you won't have an established credit score at 18, there are a few things you can do to start building your credit history and getting your credit score:

Register to vote. Being on the electoral roll can help establish your identity and address, and it’s one of the first steps towards building your credit file. You should do this even if you don’t plan to vote yet.
Open a bank account.
Sign up to a credit building tool. While the most commonly used tool is a credit card, be careful – if you have a thin credit file you might not be approved, or have to pay very high interest rates. A better credit building tool is a credit building app like Wollit.

Wollit is an app that reports your monthly subscription to all three credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion), helping you build a history of timely repayments without the risk of getting hit with high-interest charges or going over your card limit. It can even report your monthly rent payment to Experian, adding another line in your credit report that shows lenders you're responsible and pay your bills on time.

Over time, this will build your credit history and allow you to have a credit score good enough to qualify for the products you need, from loans to even your first mortgage.