Different Credit Scoring Models Explained

“Same person, different scores — here’s why.”

Not all credit scores are created equal. Depending on what type of financing you’re applying for — personal, auto, or mortgage — lenders use different scoring models to evaluate your creditworthiness.

Personal (General) Credit Scores: Used by credit card companies, personal loans, and most general lenders.
The most common models are FICO 8 and VantageScore 3.0/4.0, which weigh your overall credit behavior like:

• Payment history
• Credit utilization
• Length of credit history

These are the scores you typically see on apps like Credit Karma or through your bank.

Auto Credit Scores: Auto lenders rely on FICO Auto Score versions (like FICO Auto 8 or 9).
These place greater emphasis on your past auto loan performance — for example, on-time car payments, repossessions, or delinquencies.
This means your auto score might be higher or lower than your general score, depending on your vehicle payment history.

Mortgage Credit Scores: Mortgage lenders use older, industry-specific models required by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:

• FICO 2 (Experian)
• FICO 4 (TransUnion)
• FICO 5 (Equifax)

Here’s where it gets important:

• For one borrower: lenders use your middle score — not the highest or lowest.
• For multiple borrowers: the lender must use the lowest middle score between all applicants.

This ensures fairness and consistency across mortgage lending, even if one applicant has stronger credit than the other.

“Your credit score shifts with the purpose, not the person. Knowing which model applies helps you prepare and position yourself for every opportunity.”