A 613 credit score falls in the Fair range, which covers credit scores from 580 to 669. You are below the national average FICO score of 714, but you have moved past the range where lenders decline almost everything.
Fair credit usually comes from a mixed file. You might have some late payments or a collection alongside accounts in good standing. High credit card balances are another common cause, since heavy credit utilization drags scores down even with a perfect payment history. A short credit history can also hold you in this range.
Your most important number right now is 620. That is the practical minimum for conventional mortgages, and you are 7 points away. Crossing it moves you from limited options to mainstream lending.
The rest of this page shows what lenders will actually offer at this credit score, with current rates, and the fastest ways to move up.
Is 613 a Good Credit Score?
Not quite. A 613 credit score is considered Fair, which sits below the national average of 714 but within reach of Good.
Credit scores run from 300 to 850, and lenders sort them into five ratings. Here is how the ranges break down and roughly what share of people falls into each.
| Credit Score | Credit Rating | % of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 300 – 579 | Poor | 16% |
| 580 – 669 | Fair | 17% |
| 670 – 739 | Good | 21% |
| 740 – 799 | Very Good | 25% |
| 800 – 850 | Exceptional | 21% |
Source: Experian, 2024 distribution (live rating table).
You have already passed 580 (FHA 3.5% Down) by 33 points. At 580 the FHA down payment requirement drops to 3.5%.
Your next milestones from here:
- +7 620 (Conventional Minimum): Most conventional mortgage lenders set their floor near 620.
- +27 640 (Better Auto Pricing): Auto loan pricing starts to ease as you move out of subprime.
- +47 660 (Nonprime Auto Tier): Around 660 auto lenders move you into a nonprime pricing tier.
Credit Cards With a 613 Credit Score
Unsecured credit cards become a realistic option in the Fair range. You will not qualify for premium rewards cards yet, but mainstream issuers approve Fair credit applicants for entry-level cards regularly.
Expect higher pricing. The average APR on new card offers is 23.79%, and cards approved at this credit level usually sit at the top of that range. Some also carry annual fees, so compare the full cost, not just the approval odds.
If applications keep getting declined, a secured credit card removes the approval problem entirely. Your deposit, usually $200 to $500, becomes your credit limit, and the card builds credit the same way an unsecured card does.
One caution for this range: do not apply for several cards in a short window. Each application adds a hard inquiry, and stacked inquiries can undo months of progress right when your credit score is close to breaking into Good territory.
See also: 8 Best Secured Credit Cards
Personal Loans With a 613 Credit Score
Personal loan approval is common in the Fair range, but pricing varies widely. Borrowers below 690 commonly see APRs between 25% and 36% from online lenders. That is a wide spread, and where you land depends on income, existing debt, and the lender's model.
Credit unions are the value play here. The average credit union personal loan runs near 10.72% for three-year terms, and federal credit unions cannot charge more than 18% APR by law. If you can join one, get their quote before accepting anything from an online lender.
Prequalification is your friend at this credit score. Most lenders offer rate checks with a soft pull, which lets you compare real offers without touching your credit score. Only the final application triggers a hard inquiry.
See also: 9 Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
Mortgages With a 613 Credit Score
FHA is your open door right now. You have already cleared 580, so you qualify for FHA financing with just 3.5% down. Plenty of buyers in the low 600s go this route and refinance later.
Conventional loans typically want 620 or higher, and you are 7 points away. One recent change worth knowing: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac dropped their formal minimum credit score requirement in late 2025. Individual lenders still set their own floors, so 620 remains the practical cutoff at most of them.
If you plan to buy within a year, hold off on new credit accounts. Lenders recheck your credit before closing, and new inquiries or balances can change your approval or your rate late in the process.
See also: 8 Best Mortgage Loans for Bad Credit
Auto Loans With a 613 Credit Score
Auto lending is where the Fair range shows the sharpest pricing tiers. Nonprime borrowers, roughly the 601 to 660 band, currently average around 9.8% APR on new cars and 14.11% on used, per Experian data. That beats the subprime tier below you by several points, but it is still double what prime borrowers pay.
The 660 line matters most here. Crossing it moves you into prime pricing, where used car rates drop from the 14% range toward 9%. On a $25,000 used car loan over 60 months, that difference is worth roughly $65 a month.
Two moves protect you at this credit score. Get preapproved by a bank or credit union before visiting a dealership, so the dealer has a real number to beat. And keep the loan term at 60 months or under, since long terms at Fair-credit rates bury you in interest and leave you underwater on the car.
See also: 7 Best Auto Loans for Bad Credit
How Your FICO® Score Is Calculated
Your FICO® score is based on several key factors. Some have a much bigger impact than others, so focusing on the right habits can make a meaningful difference over time.
- Payment history (35%): Your history of on-time payments has the biggest impact on your FICO® score. Late payments, collections, and defaults can lower your credit scores quickly.
- Credit utilization (30%): This measures how much of your available credit you are using. Lower balances are generally better for your credit scores.
- Length of credit history (15%): Older credit accounts can help your credit profile. Lenders often prefer borrowers with a longer track record of responsible credit use.
- Credit mix (10%): Having different types of credit accounts, such as credit cards and installment loans, may help strengthen your credit profile.
- New credit inquiries (10%): Applying for several credit accounts within a short period can hurt your credit scores and may signal higher risk to lenders.
How to Improve a 613 Credit Score
Fair credit responds fastest to cleanup, not new accounts. The moves that matter most here are different from the ones that rebuild a Poor credit score:
1. Attack Your Credit Utilization
If your credit card balances sit above 30% of your limits, this is your fastest points. Pay balances down below 30%, then aim for under 10%. Credit utilization has no memory, so your credit score updates as soon as lower balances report. You can also request credit limit increases, which lower utilization without paying anything down. If your file is thin rather than damaged, a credit builder loan adds positive installment history without a credit check.
2. Protect Your Payment Streak
One new late payment costs a Fair credit score more than almost anything else, and it costs more the cleaner your recent history is. Put every account on autopay for at least the minimum. Payment history and credit utilization together drive 65% of your FICO score. If you rent, rent reporting services can add that payment history to your file too.
3. Dispute Errors on All Three Reports
Pull your free reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com. In the Fair range, a single incorrect late payment or a collection that is not yours can be the difference between approval tiers. Disputes are free and the bureaus must respond within 30 days.
If your report has negative items that are accurate but questionable, there are companies that specialize in disputing them on your behalf.
4. Keep Old Accounts Open
Closing a paid-off credit card shrinks your available credit and shortens your average account age, which hurts twice. Unless a card charges an annual fee you cannot justify, leave it open with a small recurring charge on it.
5. Space Out New Applications
Every hard inquiry stings more when your credit score sits near a threshold. If you are close to 620, 640, or 660, wait until you cross before applying for anything new. Rate-shopping for a mortgage or auto loan within a 14 to 45 day window counts as one inquiry, so consolidate your shopping.
What to Expect
From the low 600s or high 500s, crossing 620 is a realistic 3 to 6 month goal if high balances are the main drag, since utilization improvements register fast. If late payments are the issue, the timeline runs longer, because recent marks fade slowly and there is no shortcut around them.
Credit scores are not permanent. Every negative item on your report has an expiration date, and the positive habits you build now compound month after month.
Your Next Step
A 613 credit score means the hardest part is behind you. Fair credit is the launch point, and the gap between where you are and Good credit is smaller than it looks.
Take the free Credit Comeback Quiz to get a personalized plan built around your credit situation and the fastest steps forward.
Jake is a personal finance writer with a background in consumer lending and credit counseling. He specializes in credit education, debt management, and helping readers understand the financial systems that affect their daily lives. His goal is simple: cut through the jargon and give people the information they actually need.
