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Experian Auto Score (8) 100 pts Lower Than TU or Equifax?

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CaptainConcorde
Contributor

Experian Auto Score (8) 100 pts Lower Than TU or Equifax?

I've been thinking of trading in my car on a newer used car.  My car is almost seven years old and the extended warranty expires later this year.  I hate driving cars out of warranty and I've already had a transmission replacement on this one (under warranty at 45k miles).  I've had a few other issues that have cropped up and been repaired but I guess I'm just gunshy about what could happen down the road.  It's financed with NFCU and I have a reasonable payment (under $450).  While the thought of paying it off in 2 1/2 more years is appealing I'm able to work a newer more efficent car into the budget.  I'm thinking of a Honda or Toyota  (something reliable).  I may go hybrid as well.  There are a lot of used cars for sale right now although I see prices starting to increase.

 

I updated my scores the other day and my Experian Fico Auto Score 8 is almost 100 points lower than TU and 80 points lower than Equifax.  (Equifax 707, TU 722, Experian 624).  I'm 15 months post Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge and have reestablished credit nicely.  I had a perfect car paying history 20+ years and I know the Auto score allegedly takes car loans into account more so I'm confused.  I reaffirmed my car in the bankruptcy but did surrender a second car so I'm wondering if that's what's causing the score drop.  Both were 100% on time up until the BK and I continued to pay the car I reaffirmed while the BK was in progress.  If that's the case, I'm wondering why it isn't tanking the TU and Equifax scores as well?  I pulled up the score history and noticed the TU and Equifax jumped up right after the BK discharge.  The Experian did start trending upward but not as quickly (see picture).  

 

I'm looking at used cars in the $21,000-$24,000 range.  I'm figuring a 9% interest rate (my credit union NFCU has been great) for 60 months.  I'm about $1800 upside down on the current car loan so not bad.  At 60 months with a $25,000 loan I'd be around $580 a month.  My goal is to be under $600 and I'm open to going cheaper if I find something good.  I don't need to spend that much.  

 

FICO_AUTO_8.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

In My Wallet:

Total Credit Lines: $62250 - Utilization: 1.79%

Mortgage and Car Loan and Solar Panels Loan:


Rebuild Started March 2024
March 2024 FICO 8:

Sept 2025 FICO 8:

Sept 2025 FICO 9:



Message 1 of 9
8 REPLIES 8
pizzadude
Credit Mentor

Re: Experian Auto Score (8) 100 pts Lower Than TU or Equifax?

Interesting that your EX score is ~100 pts lower, have you pulled your full report to see what accounts are showing there ?

 

NFCU generally has among the best rates but in my experience they don't use Auto FICO scores, how do your other scores look.   

 

Pretty sure that NFCU pulled the old TU 98 classic FICO score for me a few years ago for auto financing 

March2010 FICO® ~ 695 TU, 653 EQ, 697 EX
Message 2 of 9
Varsity_Lu
Valued Contributor

Re: Experian Auto Score (8) 100 pts Lower Than TU or Equifax?

Not sure what your question is, but I'll say that I have never owned a car that was still under warranty. Closest I got was when I bought a Ford with 45,000 miles on it, but it was old enough that the warranty had already expired. That is the lowest milage car I've ever owned. Drove it for 200,000 more miles. Not bad for only paying $15,000 for it. I'm on Team Toyota now. Got my Avalon with 160,000 on it for under $2k. Drives like a dream. Should go another 100,000 miles.

Blue Cash PreferredBlue Cash EverydayHilton HonorsSavorREIFidelity Rewards VisaMore RewardsVoice Rewards + Perks CheckingMax Cash PreferredAAA Travel AdvantageCashRewards
American Express National BankCapital One, N.A.Fidelity InvestmentsNavy Federal Credit UnionHuntington National BankMechanics Savings Bank
FICO® 8: 844 (Eq) · 838 (Ex) · 812 (TU)

Message 3 of 9
remy112
Established Member

Re: Experian Auto Score (8) 100 pts Lower Than TU or Equifax?

On all personal credit card and loans and auto loans NF pulls TU Fico 9.


Starting Score: 626
Current Score: 626
Goal Score: 720


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Message 4 of 9
CaptainConcorde
Contributor

Re: Experian Auto Score (8) 100 pts Lower Than TU or Equifax?


@pizzadude wrote:

Interesting that your EX score is ~100 pts lower, have you pulled your full report to see what accounts are showing there ?

 

NFCU generally has among the best rates but in my experience they don't use Auto FICO scores, how do your other scores look.   

 

Pretty sure that NFCU pulled the old TU 98 classic FICO score for me a few years ago for auto financing 





They're more equal.  TU is my highest and I know NFCU uses TU a lot.  I have quite a few inquiries since I've been so aggressive reestablishing (see all the cards in my signature).  NFCU gave me 8% when I refinanced my current car right after the BK discharged.  

Current FICO 8 scores below:

 

IMG_1112.jpeg

In My Wallet:

Total Credit Lines: $62250 - Utilization: 1.79%

Mortgage and Car Loan and Solar Panels Loan:


Rebuild Started March 2024
March 2024 FICO 8:

Sept 2025 FICO 8:

Sept 2025 FICO 9:



Message 5 of 9
Thomas_Thumb
Senior Contributor

Re: Experian Auto Score (8) 100 pts Lower Than TU or Equifax?


@pizzadude wrote:

Interesting that your EX score is ~100 pts lower, have you pulled your full report to see what accounts are showing there ?

 

NFCU generally has among the best rates but in my experience they don't use Auto FICO scores, how do your other scores look.   

 

Pretty sure that NFCU pulled the old TU 98 classic FICO score for me a few years ago for auto financing 


Yes, check all account details on each CRA report. It looks like EX and TU have been tracking together and the offest has been going on since before the BK discharge.

 

My experience is EX Auto Fico 8 is more sensitive to "high" non mortgage account balances and elevated utilization than TU or EQ. That being said, there may be a difference in account reporting among the CRA - such as the 2nd car.

 

Fico 9: .......EQ 850 TU 850 EX 850
Fico 8: .......EQ 850 TU 850 EX 850
Fico 4 .....:. EQ 809 TU 823 EX 830 EX Fico 98: 842
Fico 8 BC:. EQ 892 TU 900 EX 900
Fico 8 AU:. EQ 887 TU 897 EX 899
Fico 4 BC:. EQ 826 TU 858, EX Fico 98 BC: 870
Fico 4 AU:. EQ 831 TU 872, EX Fico 98 AU: 861
VS 3.0:...... EQ 835 TU 835 EX 835
CBIS: ........EQ LN Auto 940 EQ LN Home 870 TU Auto 902 TU Home 950
Message 6 of 9
Gregory1776
Valued Contributor

Re: Experian Auto Score (8) 100 pts Lower Than TU or Equifax?


@Varsity_Lu wrote:

Not sure what your question is, but I'll say that I have never owned a car that was still under warranty. Closest I got was when I bought a Ford with 45,000 miles on it, but it was old enough that the warranty had already expired. That is the lowest milage car I've ever owned. Drove it for 200,000 more miles. Not bad for only paying $15,000 for it. I'm on Team Toyota now. Got my Avalon with 160,000 on it for under $2k. Drives like a dream. Should go another 100,000 miles.


A lot of people don't maintain their vehicles or are terrified of unexpected repairs... 

which is odd because I know when things start to go bad on my car before issues pop up.
Like right now, I swear my starter is wanting to be replaced. If you don't go to a cheap auto mechanic, 1 your typically paying for someone who didn't just graduate HS, 2 has worked in the industry for a long time, 3 is going to provide you with video, pictures and explanations on what is ok on your car to what is "we shouldn't let you leave until you fix" for safety reasons. 

@ Op, what car is it? I had an extended warranty my car which I got 2.5 years ago from my grandfather. Had a lot of work done on it under warranty just due to age of parts and such.  I've since put 40k on it since the warranty ended, it's been just fine.
Brakes, tires for safety, keep your oil changed regularly w/ full synthetic (unless it's a 25 year old work car maybe), keep up on the maintenance, transmission fluid changes and coolant and you undoubtedly could skip many of the problems that come up in an older vehicle and save a bucketload of cash.

 

I've seriously wanted and want to trade in my car for a new one, I purely for I like the interior more on a new one, mine is dated, no CarPlay. It'd cost be 35k at the end of the day. I'll save that in 2-3 years. My car has another 100k I can drive it for. It's tough but the savings is just too great.



Experian [809] TransUnion [823] Equifax [826]

Total Revolving Limits [$224,000]

PenFed Loan: $679/$8,000
Message 7 of 9
Gregory1776
Valued Contributor

Re: Experian Auto Score (8) 100 pts Lower Than TU or Equifax?

Holy crap dude. 600 mo 25k loan??
💸 I'd wait 
I promise you, you wouldn't ever to pay 600 a month in maintenance. 



Experian [809] TransUnion [823] Equifax [826]

Total Revolving Limits [$224,000]

PenFed Loan: $679/$8,000
Message 8 of 9
KatzNDawgs
Frequent Contributor

Re: Experian Auto Score (8) 100 pts Lower Than TU or Equifax?


@remy112 wrote:

On all personal credit card and loans and auto loans NF pulls TU Fico 9.


This. What is your TU9 score?

Message 9 of 9
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