Most people think they have a credit score. One number that decides if you get approved or denied. But that’s not the truth. In reality, you have dozens of scores, and the one you see on Credit Karma may not be the one a lender uses to approve your car loan or mortgage. That’s why people are often shocked: 730 online, but 660 at the dealership.
This isn’t a mistake — it’s how the system is designed.
The Myth of a Single Credit Score
Credit scores aren’t one-size-fits-all. There are two dominant players: FICO and VantageScore. Both create multiple versions of their scoring models, and each lender chooses which version to use. On top of that, your score can differ by bureau — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — because not every lender reports to all three.
That means at any given time, you could have:
- A FICO 8 score from Equifax
- A FICO Auto Score 9 from Experian
- A VantageScore 4.0 from TransUnion
And all three could be different.
General Purpose Scores
When you check a free app like Credit Karma or a bank’s credit monitoring tool, you’re usually seeing a general-purpose score.
- FICO Score 8: The most widely used score by lenders. Emphasizes payment history and balances.
- FICO Score 9: A slightly newer version, but not as widely adopted.
- VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0: Used by Credit Karma, NerdWallet, and similar apps. They’re good for tracking progress but not heavily used in lending decisions.
👉 These are “all-around” scores, but they’re not specialized.
Industry-Specific Scores
Lenders don’t just want to know if you pay bills on time. They want to know if you’ll pay them back — and that’s why they use scores designed for their industry.
🚗 Auto Lending
- Dealers often pull FICO Auto Scores (versions 2, 8, or 9).
- These give extra weight to your past car loan history. If you’ve ever had a repossession or late payment on an auto loan, it hurts more here than on a general FICO.
- The scale runs from 250–900, not the usual 300–850.
🏡 Mortgages
- Believe it or not, mortgage lenders use older FICO models: FICO 2, 4, and 5.
- Why? Because the housing industry is slow to update. Federal guidelines still point to these versions.
- Lenders pull all three bureaus and use your middle score. If your scores are 720, 690, and 640, the lender counts the 690.
💳 Credit Cards
- Issuers often use FICO Bankcard Scores, which go up to 900.
- These weigh revolving credit (your credit card use) much more heavily. If you carry balances close to your limits, this score will punish you harder.
💰 Personal Loans
- Online lenders may use FICO 8 or VantageScore, sometimes alongside custom models.
- Income, job history, and debt-to-income ratio also come into play.
Alternative & Specialized Scores
Not everyone has a thick credit file. That’s where alternative models come in.
- UltraFICO: Lets you link bank accounts, factoring in your cash flow and savings habits.
- FICO Score XD: Uses rent, utility, and phone payments.
- Insurance Scores: In some states, insurers use a credit-based insurance score to predict your likelihood of filing claims.
- Employment Checks: Employers don’t see your score, but they may review your credit report to gauge financial responsibility.
Why Your Scores Differ
So why the big swings? Three main reasons:
- Different models: FICO vs. VantageScore, general vs. industry-specific.
- Different bureaus: One may have accounts another doesn’t.
- Different timing: Credit Karma may update weekly, but a lender pulls data in real time.
Add it up, and you could see a 60–100 point difference between what’s on your phone and what the lender sees.
What This Means for You
- Shopping for a car? Expect your Auto FICO to be lower than your Credit Karma score.
- Applying for a mortgage? Don’t be shocked when the lender shows you an old-school FICO you’ve never seen before.
- Going for a new credit card? Your Bankcard FICO may look different than your app’s snapshot.
👉 Bottom line: The score that matters most is the one the lender uses, not the one you check at home.
How to Play the Game
You can’t control which model a lender uses. But you can control the behaviors every model rewards:
✅ Pay every bill on time.
✅ Keep balances low (under 30% of your limit, ideally under 10%).
✅ Don’t apply for credit you don’t need.
✅ Build a long, consistent history with your accounts.
Do those four things, and no matter which score a lender pulls, you’ll land in a stronger position.
Related Reads:
Credit Scores for Car Buyers: What Dealers Really Look At
Mortgage Credit Scores Explained: Why Lenders Use Old FICO Versions
Credit Card Scores: Why Bankcard Models Matter More Than You Think
Alternative Credit Scores: Rent, Utilities, and UltraFICO
Final Word
Your credit score isn’t one number. It’s a moving target depending on who’s asking and why. That’s why Credit Karma says one thing, and the dealership or bank says another. Don’t get discouraged. Instead, focus on the habits that improve all scores.
Because whether you’re buying a car, applying for a mortgage, or opening a credit card, lenders aren’t looking for perfection — they’re looking for confidence you’ll pay them back.
