| -1.5% | 15 years | 20 years |
| 700-749 | **Good** | -0.5% | 15 years | 20 years |
| 650-699 | **Fair** 
| +0.5% | 10 years | 15 years |
| 600-649 | **Poor** 
| +1.5% | 5 years | 10 years |
| <600 | **Very Poor** | +3.0% | 5 years | May be denied |
## Starting Credit
New games start at **650 (Fair)**. You need to build from there.
---
## 
Building Credit
| Action | Impact |
|--------|--------|
| On-time payment | **+2 points** (base) + streak bonus |
| Pay off loan early | **+15 points** |
| Consistent history (5+ payments) | Gradual improvement |
### Tips for Building Credit
1. **Start with a small loan** - Finance something cheap you can easily afford
2. **Never skip payments** - Even if you can, steady +2/payment builds over time
3. **Pay off early when possible** - The +15 bonus helps, but consistency matters more
4. **Multiple small loans > one big loan** - More payment opportunities
---
## 
Destroying Credit
| Action | Impact |
|--------|--------|
| Miss a payment | **-45 points** (3x worse than late) |
| Asset seized (repossession) | **-175 points** (vehicle) / **-200 points** (loan default) |
| Multiple missed payments | Compounds quickly |
### The Death Spiral
Miss one payment: -45 points
Miss two payments: -90 points total
Asset seized: -175 more points (vehicle)
Recovery takes 23+ months of perfect payments to undo ONE missed payment.
---
## Credit-Gated Features
### Down Payment Requirements
| Credit | Minimum Down Payment |
|--------|---------------------|
| Excellent (750+) | 0% available |
| Good (700-749) | 5% minimum |
| Fair (650-699) | 10% minimum |
| Poor (600-649) | 20% minimum |
| Very Poor (<600) | 25% minimum |
### Loan Term Limits
| Credit | Max Vehicle Term | Max Land Term |
|--------|------------------|---------------|
| Any (300+) | 5 years | 10 years |
| Fair (650+) | 10 years | 15 years |
| Good (700+) | 15 years | 20 years |
| Excellent (750+) | 15 years | 20 years |
### Interest Rates
Base rate varies by economic conditions. Your credit modifier is added:
- Excellent: Base - 1.5%
- Good: Base - 0.5%
- Fair: Base + 0.5%
- Poor: Base + 1.5%
- Very Poor: Base + 3.0%
---
## Viewing Your Credit
**Tip:** Press **Esc** and select **Finance Manager**
1. Press **Esc** → select **Finance Manager**
2. Go to **Credit Report** tab
3. See your score, rating, and detailed breakdown
---
## Recovery Strategies
### From Poor/Very Poor Credit
1. **Cash only for a while** - Don't take new loans
2. **Pay off existing debt** - Get the +50 early payoff bonus
3. **Small secured loans** - Once stable, rebuild with small loans you can guarantee
### Avoiding Repossession
If you're about to miss payments:
1. Check if you can sell assets for cash
2. Make at least minimum payments
3. Consider early payoff if you have cash reserves
---
**Related:**
- 
[[Vehicle Financing]]
- 
[[Vehicle Leasing]]
- 
[[Land Financing]]