Your Financial Journey Starts Now
Welcome to adulthood! At 18, you can vote, sign contracts, and, crucially, start building your own financial identity. One of the most important pillars of that identity is your credit score. A good credit score will make it easier and cheaper to get a car loan, rent an apartment, and eventually even buy a house. A bad score—or no score at all—can make those things much more difficult.
But how do you get a credit score when you have no credit history? This guide will show you exactly how to build a credit score from scratch, starting today.
What is a Credit Score?
A credit score is a number between 300 and 850 that represents your creditworthiness. Lenders use it to decide how likely you are to pay back a loan. The two most important factors that make up your score are:
- On-Time Payment History (35%): Do you pay your bills on time? This is the single most important factor.
- Credit Utilization (30%): How much of your available credit are you using?
Your goal as a beginner is to show lenders that you are a responsible borrower. Here's how to do it.
Method 1: Become an Authorized User
This is often the easiest first step.
- What it is: A parent or guardian with a good credit history adds you to their existing credit card account. You get your own card, but they are ultimately responsible for the bill.
- How it helps: The entire history of that credit card—including its long history of on-time payments and its credit limit—can appear on your credit report. This can give you an instant and significant boost.
- How to do it: Ask a parent or trusted family member to call their credit card company and add you as an "authorized user." Make sure they have a long history of paying their bills on time, as their habits will now be linked to your report.
Method 2: Get Your First Credit Card
Even as an authorized user, it's wise to have your own account. This shows you can manage your own debt. Since you have no credit history, you have two main options for a first credit card.
Option A: The Secured Credit Card
- What it is: A secured credit card is designed for people building credit. You provide a small, refundable security deposit to the bank (usually $200-$500). That deposit then becomes your credit limit.
- How it helps: To the credit bureaus, it looks and acts just like a regular credit card. You make small purchases, you pay the bill on time, and the bank reports this positive activity to the credit bureaus. After 6-12 months of responsible use, the bank will often refund your deposit and upgrade you to a regular, unsecured card.
- Top Pick for 2025: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is a favorite because it has no annual fee and even offers cash back rewards, which is rare for a secured card.
Option B: The Student Credit Card
- What it is: If you are a college student, you may qualify for a student credit card. These cards are designed for young people with limited income and no credit history.
- How it helps: Like a secured card, it's an entry-level product that allows you to prove your creditworthiness. They often have low credit limits but may come with small rewards.
- Top Pick for 2025: The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offers cash back on dining and entertainment with no annual fee.
The Golden Rules of Building Credit
Once you have your card, follow these two rules religiously:
- Use it Sparingly: Make one or two small, planned purchases each month (like a tank of gas or a Netflix subscription). You do not need to carry a balance to build credit.
- Pay the Bill in Full and On Time, Every Time: This is the most important rule. Set up automatic payments for the full statement balance from your checking account. A single late payment can seriously damage your new credit score.
By starting at 18, you are giving yourself the incredible gift of time. A long, positive credit history is a powerful financial tool. By following these simple steps, you'll be well on your way to building credit for beginners and achieving an excellent credit score by the time you need it most.