What is a good credit score in South Africa?

Credit score meaning in South Africa

Before establishing what a good credit score in South Africa is, you first have to understand what a credit score is. 

A credit score is a 3 digit number based on the information contained in your credit report. This number may differ slightly depending on the credit bureau you request your credit score from.  

What is a credit report?

Your credit report is a detailed report based on your credit history. Your credit score is one component of this report. Again, the information contained in this credit report will differ slightly based on the credit bureau you request it from. 

Some of the information you can expect to see in your credit report is:

• A detailed list of credit accounts you have including, but not limited to, credit cards, retail or store accounts and loans. 
• Payment history of these accounts including missed, late and on-time payments. 
• If you have any judgements or accounts that have been handed over to debt collectors.
• Hard inquiries (if you’ve made a loan or credit application, this will be included in your report). 

Watch this video with Founder & CEO of Meerkat, David O'Brien as he discusses everything you need to know about credit scores in South Africa

What is a good credit score in South Africa?

'What is a good credit score out of 730 in South Africa?' or 'Is 579 a good credit score in South Africa?', your answer will lie in who you are requesting your score from. Again, different bureaus have different scoring systems. You don't have one credit score in South Africa.

When looking at the range that Experian (a credit bureau in South Africa) uses to give a credit score to its clients, this is what we know. A good credit score according to this range is anything from 660 to 750.

Watch this video to find out why debt review can actually help you improve your credit score:

What is a normal credit score in SA?

With this credit score range, a normal or average risk would be between 611-628 in South Africa.

This is Experian's scoring system explained below:

500 - 594 very high risk (poor credit score)

595 - 610 high risk

611 - 628 average risk (average/minimum credit score)

629 - 659 low risk

660 - 750 minimum risk (good credit score)

What is a good credit score in South Africa to buy a car?

When applying for a car, there isn't one particular credit score you should aim for, but you should work at being a minimum risk candidate. This would mean your credit score should be between 660-750 on Experian's credit score range.

If you have no debt or no credit history, your credit score will be 0 and banks will see you as a high risk when applying for a car.

If this is you, you should work on opening one or two store or retail accounts to help boost your credit score. This will show lenders that you can pay your debts on time and consistently. 

What credit score is the minimum credit score needed to buy a house in South Africa.

Generally, when applying for loans or any access to credit, it’s a good rule of thumb to be minimal risk to a credit lender. This would be anything between 611-750 according to Experian's scoring system. 

If you currently have a bad credit score and you’re looking for ways to:

• Get a home loan
• Get approved for car finance
• Get a personal loan

Debt review, also known as debt counselling, can be your way to get a clean credit slate and credit record. 

This will help you start afresh so that you can be in a better position to be:

•  Approved for your home loan.
• Get the car of your dreams.
• Get the personal loan you want. 

Read: Debt Counselling - everything you need to know

4 Ways you can improve your credit score

1. Watch your credit-utilisation ratio. A credit utilisation ratio refers to how much credit you’re given and the percentage of that credit you actually use. 

2. Pay your bills on time each month. 

• Ensure that your monthly payments are made on time. Late or missed payments are tracked on your credit report and affect your credit score. One good way to ensure your bills are paid on time is to automate your debit orders so that you don’t have to remember to make those payments each month. 

• Having too much debt can negatively affect your credit score. You should work on reducing your debt. You can do this by paying more than the minimum monthly instalment.
• Reduce your monthly debt instalment by up to 50%. 
• Reduce the interest rate on your loans which could end up saving you money on your total debt amount. 
• Protect your home & car from being repossessed. 
• This could help you reduce your debt term and even the capital debt amount you have owing. 
• If you can’t keep up with your monthly debt repayments and you’ve missed more than 3 months repayments, you are probably over-indebted. While you may not be able to get back on your feet on your own, you can sign up for debt review to help you:

Fill out the contact form and let us contact you about our debt management solution today!

4. A have a good mix of the type of credit you have

Another way of improving your credit score is to have different types of credit. This can practically look like a home loan, car loan, personal loan or retail accounts. This shows lenders that you are good at paying different types of credit too.