If you want to buy a house, get approved for a car loan, or qualify for the best credit cards, having a good credit score is essential. In 2025, lenders rely more than ever on your credit history to decide whether to approve your application and what interest rate to offer. The good news? You can improve your credit score faster than you think by following a few proven steps.
1. Pay Your Bills on Time
Payment history makes up 35% of your credit score. Even a single late payment can drop your score by several points.👉 Set up reminders or automatic payments to avoid missing due dates.
2. Keep Credit Card Balances Low
Your credit utilization ratio (how much credit you use compared to your total limit) should ideally stay below 30%.👉 Example: If your card limit is $1,000, try to keep the balance under $300.
3. Don’t Close Old Accounts
Length of credit history also impacts your score. Closing old accounts shortens your credit timeline and reduces available credit, which may hurt your score.
👉 Keep your oldest credit cards open, even if you don’t use them often.
4. Limit Hard Inquiries
Every time you apply for new credit, a hard inquiry appears on your report, lowering your score slightly.
👉 Only apply for new loans or cards when necessary.
5. Check Your Credit Report Regularly
Mistakes happen. According to studies, 1 in 5 Americans find errors in their credit reports.
👉 Request a free copy at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute inaccuracies.
6. Become an Authorized User
If a family member or trusted friend has a strong credit history, ask them to add you as an authorized user on their card. This can improve your score by boosting your credit history and utilization ratio.
7. Use a Mix of Credit Types
A healthy mix of credit (credit cards, installment loans, mortgage, etc.) can strengthen your score. But don’t open accounts just for this reason—only borrow what you truly need.