Check Free CIBIL Score Online

To apply for a loan or a credit card, you need to have a strong credit score. A CIBIL score is a type of credit score banks and financial institutions look at before approving a credit application. Before you apply for credit, check your CIBIL score to ensure better chances of credit approval at beneficial terms.

What is CIBIL Credit Score?

A CIBIL score is a score representing your creditworthiness. Different factors related to your past credit behaviour are taken into consideration to calculate your credit score. It is calculated by an institution called CIBIL, hence the name.

If you have taken loans or other forms of credit previously, you will have repaid it or may still be repaying it. The discipline that you show in how you use your credit cards and how you repay the bills/loan-instalments, helps build your CIBIL score. The score is not fixed; it changes with time, according to your credit behaviour and history.

What is the Full Form of CIBIL?

Before you learn how to check your CIBIL score for free, it would be best to look at what CIBIL is and why its scoring is so important. CIBIL stands for Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited. TransUnion CIBIL, one of India’s oldest credit bureaus, is accredited by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

If you have taken a loan or used a credit card, the lender will have shared its details with CIBIL. Based on these details, a CIBIL credit report would have been created. You can know your CIBIL score for free from this report. Any changes in your credit behaviour and repayment history will reflect when you do a CIBIL score check. Banks and other lenders use the CIBIL score to check the creditworthiness of applicants.

How is the CIBIL Score Calculated?

Now that you know what the CIBIL score stands for, understand the method to calculate it.

The process will have the following steps:

The credit bureau collects the necessary information, such as past credit records.

It calculates the various aspects of your credit behaviour based on their algorithm.

On the basis of the result, it assigns you a score

Each credit bureau will have its own algorithm for calculating credit scores. A certain credit bureau may prioritise a certain credit behaviour (such as timely repayments) more, while another credit bureau may give other aspects (such as credit utilisation and credit mix) more value.

As a consumer, you need to pay the credit card bills and loan instalments on time. Using your credit cards wisely and not submitting too many credit applications are also recommended. It can help ensure a positive score regardless of the bureau’s algorithm.

CIBIL Credit Score Range

A CIBIL score is a 3-digit number falling between 300 to 900. The higher the score within this range, the better your chances of availing future credit. While having a credit score of 900 is ideal, individuals with a credit score of 750 and above are considered responsible borrowers.

Here are the different ranges you will come across when you check the CIBIL score for free online:

Not Applicable (NA)/ No History (NH)

If you have never taken any credit, you will see ‘NA/NH’ when you carry out a CIBIL score check online. It is also applicable if you have recently received credit approval and are yet to build your credit profile. While NA/NH is not necessarily negative, it is advisable to start taking small steps to build your CIBIL score.

350-549

When you check your free CIBIL score online and see a score between this range, it means your credit profile is poor. It implies that you have been negligent with your credit card or loan dues. If you want to secure a loan, you will have to improve your CIBIL score at this stage.

550-649

It is considered as a ‘middle’ range. While it is not the worst, it will not help you get the best loan terms. Certain lenders might give you credit. However, the interest rates, credit limit, and other terms and conditions may not be in your favour. The next time you do a CIBIL score check and see a score in this range, consider taking action towards improving it. It will help increase your chances of loan/credit approval and give you favourable terms.

650-749

It is considered as a ‘good’ credit score. It tells the lender that you have been diligent with repaying your credit. You have paid your dues on time and utilised your credit wisely. For this reason, you will be seen as a low-risk borrower. The label is a positive as it means you are likely to be approved for loans/ credit cards faster.

750-900

It is the ideal credit score range. If lenders check the CIBIL score of an individual and find it within this range, they are likely to give loans/ credit at competitive interest rates. Such individuals are considered highly creditworthy. As such, they receive the best loan terms, such as lower interest rates, desired tenure, higher credit, and so on.

Importance of a Good CIBIL Score

When you apply for a loan or a credit card, the lender will carry out a CIBIL score check when assessing your application. If you have a good credit score, it means you are a low-risk, responsible borrower.
This positive credit profile will help you secure loans and credit cards at the terms and conditions favourable to you. You may get lower interest rates, higher credit limits or loan amounts, the tenure you want, and more.
In the long run, it will make it easier to repay the new loan, and your credit score will improve even more.
You must regularly perform a CIBIL status check online to check your score and look for any discrepancies. Doing so makes you aware of your credit standing and encourages you to take the right steps if required.

Factors Determining a CIBIL score

There are many factors that affect your CIBIL score. The common ground amongst all of them is your overall credit history and behaviour. The following parameters are usually looked at when determining your CIBIL score:

Repayment History

As previously stated, you need to repay your credit on time. Your repayment history is one of the most important factors affecting your CIBIL score. If you pay your credit bills as per schedule, it reflects positively on your score. It tells the bank that you are a responsible borrower.

It also shows that you have enough funds to pay the dues when needed. On the other hand, missed payments or EMIs show that you lack the discipline to repay credit dues. Even a single missed payment can lead to a negative impact on your credit score.

Credit Utilisation Ratio

The credit utilisation ratio refers to the percentage of credit you use in comparison to your full limit. One should keep their credit utilisation below 30% to ensure a high credit score. Doing so tells the lender that you know how to handle credit wisely, and that you are not entirely dependent on your credit sources for your finances.

A higher ratio can negatively influence your CIBIL score. If you find that you have utilised credit beyond a certain limit, make sure to carry out a free CIBIL score check online. If your score has been impacted, you can take the required steps to get it back on track.

Credit History Duration

The period for which you keep credit accounts active also affects your credit score. If you shut down your credit accounts quickly, lenders might think that you do not have the capacity to handle credit for long tenures. To ensure a healthy CIBIL score, try keeping your credit cards active for as long as possible, even if you are carrying out minimal transactions.

Defaulting

For the uninitiated, defaulting means one has not paid back their credit dues as required. Continuous missed payments can lead to a case of default, which may even turn into a legal inquiry. It can cause your credit score to dip to very low levels. When the lender checks the CIBIL score of an individual and finds a case of default, they are not likely to lend loans or credit to that person.

Credit Mix

A diverse credit mix can help improve your CIBIL score. Credit mix refers to the diversity of credit you have, such as credit cards, a home loan, personal loans, and vehicle loans. When an individual has various forms of credit and is managing them all successfully, lenders will think of him as a responsible borrower. It will improve their chances of securing future credit at favourable terms.

Credit Inquiries

When you apply for a credit card or a loan, the lender will carry out a credit inquiry. It involves reaching out to the credit bureau for your credit score and other related aspects. If such inquiries are repeatedly made on your behalf, it may imply that you need and use up too much credit. It can make you a high-risk borrower in the eyes of lenders. In that case, you may not be easily approved for loans and the terms may not be favourable either.

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How to Get Your CIBIL Score?

By now, you must be wondering, ‘So, how do I check my CIBIL score?’.

Here’s a brief overview of the process to get your CIBIL score online:

Check out the CIBIL score calculator above.
Enter details, such as your name, gender, mobile number, PIN code, and so on.
Click on ‘Check my CIBIL score’.

You can find your CIBIL score for free once the result is processed.

What is Considered a Good CIBIL Credit Score?

A CIBIL score of 750-900 is considered ideal. Credit scores between the range of 650 and 749 are also considered good. However, the closer your score is to 900, the better it is for you. Your creditworthiness increases with your credit score. Lenders look at your credit applications more favourably if you have high credit scores.

Reasons for Low CIBIL Credit Score

If you check your free CIBIL score online and find it to be within a low range, here are some reasons that may have caused it:

You are not paying your bills on time. It can affect your repayment history, which in turn, negatively affects your CIBIL score. Missing even a single payment can lower your credit score.

You may have more unsecured loans than secured ones. Or your credit mix is not right. If you have more high-risk credit products in your credit portfolio, it can lower your score.

You have surpassed the prescribed credit usage, and your credit utilisation is frequently more than 30%.

You have applied for credit too many times, leading to multiple hard enquiries.

750-900

What Should I Do If My Credit Score is Low?

If you know your CIBIL score is low, here’s what you can do about it:

1. Start paying credit card bills and EMIs on time

It will improve your credit score to a great extent. If you have missed a payment, make sure to pay it soon. Before you fix an EMI amount at the start of the loan, use an EMI calculator. It will give you an estimate of the EMIs and help you check whether they fit into your budget. You can also negotiate with your lender to modify some repayment terms if your monthly dues are becoming difficult for you.

2. Set limits for credit usage

It will help ensure you do not go beyond a certain level. As previously stated, it is ideal to have a credit utilisation ratio of 30%. For instance, if your credit card limit is ₹1 lakh, use your card for up to ₹30,000 only.

3. Avoid closing old credit card accounts

The longer your credit accounts stay active, the better it reflects on your CIBIL score.

4. Check CIBIL score regularly

You can know your CIBIL score for free by running a simple check online. It will allow you to be aware of where you stand. If the score is low, you can take steps to improve your score and your creditworthiness.

Why Lenders Check Your CIBIL Score Before Approving Your Loan

Loan Eligibility Requirements

If you visit a lender’s website and browse over to the loan eligibility section, you will find that they require a specific CIBIL score. Hence, they will do a CIBIL point check after receiving your application. Your application will not be taken forward if you do not meet the CIBIL score criteria.

Experience with Credit

A healthy credit score shows how well-experienced you are with credit. That is why having an old credit history will improve your score. It tells the lender that you have a long, sustainable relationship with credit.

Debt Obligations

When the lender does a CIBIL score check, they also get a clear idea of your debt obligations. It helps them assess if you have any existing debts and whether you can handle more debt.

Number of Enquiries

Lenders do a CIBIL point check to see how many enquiries you have on your credit report. If there are too many, it tells the lender that you often need credit. It makes you a high-risk borrower.

Special Benefits

Lenders are willing to give preference to low-risk borrowers, i.e., those with a high credit score. Hence, they will check the CIBIL score of an applicant to see if they are creditworthy enough to receive special privileges.

How Can Insurance Help Your CIBIL Score?

Your CIBIL score is dictated by your credit behaviour and is a solid marker of your financial profile.

It must be noted that your general or term insurance plan covers have no direct connection with your credit score, since insurance is a financial protection plan and not a credit product.

While that is the case, having an insurance plan can help maintain and improve your credit score.

Insurance Provides Coverage during Challenging Times

Insurance policies provide coverage in difficult situations. When an unfortunate event falls on you or your loved ones, the support from a life insurance policy can help cover credit bills or loan instalments. It ensures that your credit score does not deteriorate.

Let’s assume a 33-year-old individual named Rachith has a life insurance with an accidental total and permanent disability rider. The rider offers payouts in case the policyholder suffers an accident leading to total and permanent disabilities.

In case Rachith ever suffers such an event, his financial obligations (such as loan EMIs) will be taken care of by the payouts from the insurance plan. It will ensure his CIBIL score stays solid, which will help him in case he needs future loans.

Rachith can also opt for other insurance products, such as a ULIP (Unit-Linked Insurance Plan) if he wants market-linked returns and safe investment options. He can also go for a child education plan, to help secure his child’s future. He can use a term insurance calculator to better align his present budget with his future needs.

Thus, an insurance plan can do more than just provide a life cover. It can also help maintain and improve credit scores and play a huge role in one’s overall financial planning.

Difference Between a CIBIL Report & a CIBIL Score

By now, you will have the answer to ‘How do I check my CIBIL score?’. Chances are you may have also come across the term ‘CIBIL report’. Are these two the same? No, there are some differences between the two.

Parameter	CIBIL Score	CIBIL Report
What is it?	A 3-digit number between 300 to 900 based on your credit data.	A well-rounded report based on your credit behaviour, which includes the CIBIL score as well.
Duration	It is based on your credit behaviour in the past 24 months.	It encompasses your credit history of the last 36 months.
Types	There are no types of CIBIL scores; there is just one CIBIL score.	There are two types of CIBIL reports: one for individuals (the Credit Information Report) and the other for businesses (the Company Credit Report).

How to Read Your CIBIL Report?

CIBIL Score

As stated earlier, you can find the CIBIL score for free from the CIR. You can check the CIBIL score for free in the ‘Accounts’ and ‘Enquiries’ section in the CIR.

Personal Information

You can find personal information, especially related to your proof of identity and address, in the Credit Information Report.

Employment Information

You can also find details related to your employment and earnings in the report, as reported to CIBIL by the lending institutions.

Account Information

Most importantly, the report will have a section outlining your credit account. It will include the credit products you have opted for, the lending institution’s name, the date a credit account was opened, and so on. It will also have details about your payment history, including when you made the last payment.

CIBIL Score: Login & Registration Process

While the CIBIL Score Calculator is a useful tool, you can also visit the CIBIL website and check your CIBIL rating for free.

You will have to register for this process:

Step 1

Visit the CIBIL website.

Step 2

Click on ‘Check My CIBIL Score’ or a similar message that you may see on the screen.

Step 3

Enter details as required. It can include your name, email address, proof of identity, and more. It will lead to you creating your account.

Step 4

Click on ‘Accept and Continue’, which will lead to a section where you must verify your identity.

Step 5

Now, you can make the payment. Once you have successfully created your account, you can visit the ‘myCIBIL’ section to check the score and the report.

You can access the CIBIL score and the CIBIL report for free once a year. There will be no charges involved.

The CIBIL score is an important element of your financial profile. It determines how your future experiences with credit will be. Hence, it is important to practice positive credit behaviour which can lead to a high credit score and to better credit terms in the future. One must periodically check their CIBIL score online for free and take steps to improve the score if required.

FAQs on CIBIL Score

1. What Is a Good CIBIL Score?

A CIBIL score of 750-900 is regarded a good score. If you check your CIBIL score online and find it is below this range, consider taking some steps to improve it.

2. What is the CIBIL Credit Report?

The CIBIL credit report is a comprehensive collection of credit data related to a particular individual. It is called the Credit Information Report or CIR and includes the CIBIL score as well.

3. What are the factors positively affecting your CIBIL score?

The following factors can have a positive effect on your CIBIL score:

Making your credit card bill and EMI payments on time
Maintaining a credit utilisation ratio of 30% (or under)
Having a diverse credit mix, such as home loans, personal loans, credit cards, and so on
Ensuring a long credit history by not closing down old credit accounts.

4. What are the factors negatively affecting your CIBIL score?

If you do the following, your CIBIL score will be negatively affected:

Missing EMIs and/ or credit card dues
Utilising credit limit fully or not maintaining a credit balance
Submitting too many credit applications, leading to multiple hard enquiries
Defaulting on credit.

5. When is the CIBIL score updated?

Usually, lenders provide information about applicants/ borrowers to CIBIL once every month or so. Some lenders, who work on a smaller level and who do not have a large pool of borrowers, may submit details once every three months.

6. Why is a PAN card required for checking the CIBIL credit score?

Your PAN card is linked to your major financial accounts, including your bank accounts and your credit accounts as well. Your PAN details allow CIBIL (and other financial institutions) to find and access your credit-related information faster and more accurately.

7. Why do we need a phone number for CIBIL credit score?

Similar to your PAN card, your phone number is also linked to your bank, credit and other financial accounts. By entering your phone number, you make it easy for the portal to get your CIBIL score online. Plus, your phone number also makes it easier to verify your identity via the One-Time Password received on your phone. Rest assured that reliable financial institutions will not misuse your phone number or other details.

8. Is there a limit to the request for accessing CIBIL credit score?

You can check your CIBIL score as many times as you want. However, note that you can check your CIBIL rating for free only once via the CIBIL site.

9. How does the CIBIL credit score change?

To make a positive change in your CIBIL score, you must pay your credit dues on time and use your credit card wisely. Consistently practising good credit behaviour can lead to improvement in your CIBIL score. However, note that this can take up to 6 to 12 months.

10. What is the significance of the CIBIL credit score range?

Your CIBIL score is an important marker of how well you handle credit. A good credit score signals to lenders that you are well-versed with credit and are a responsible borrower. It may help you be considered as a favourable applicant.

On the other hand, a poor credit score implies that you are a high-risk borrower. It will make it difficult to secure loans at desirable terms.

11. What are the factors included in the calculation of CIBIL credit score?

To calculate your CIBIL score, the credit bureau will take the following factors into consideration:

Your repayment history
Credit mix diversity
Credit utilisation ratio
Credit duration
Hard credit enquiries.

Each factor has a specific weightage in the overall calculation of your CIBIL report.

12. What type of information is included in my CIBIL credit report?

Your CIBIL report will have the following information:

Your personal details and contact details, such as name, address, phone number, and PAN details.
Employment and income details
Account details
Information related to the credit you have taken, such as your payment history, when you made the last payment, and the lender’s name.

13. What kind of information is not included in the CIBIL credit report?

Your CIBIL report will not have any information related to your bank account, savings plans, insurance plans, pension plans, fixed deposits, or other non-credit accounts. Accounts related to your investment process are also not present in the CIBIL report.

14. Who can access my CIBIL credit report?

Only those financial institutions who have shared their data with CIBIL are allowed access to CIBIL reports. Reputed banks and financial institutions work in tandem with CIBIL. They share credit-related information about their borrowers with CIBIL. In return, CIBIL shares accurate CIBIL reports and scores about applicants. It helps the lender make better decisions, about whom they should give credit to. It also ensures that borrowers’ data is safe and shared only with reliable parties as prescribed by the relevant authorities.

15. Why do lenders check the CIBIL Credit Score?

Checking the CIBIL score of the applicant gives the lender a clear picture of their credit behaviour. It shows the repayment history and the financial stability of the applicant. If the credit score is good, the lender will approve the application.

16. Why does my CIBIL score keep changing?

Your CIBIL score can change due to multiple reasons. Whether you pay credit on time, how long your credit accounts have been active, your repayment history, and more, can lead to changes in your CIBIL score.

17. What is the minimum CIBIL score to get a personal loan?

The minimum CIBIL score eligibility criteria varies between lenders. Usually, banks will require the applicant to have a minimum 650 CIBIL score to grant them a personal loan. The higher the score, the better the personal loan terms will be.