Everyone deserves to keep tabs on their credit report without having to pay for it. Fortunately, the government and the credit bureaus agree with that sentiment. How can you gain access to a free copy of your credit report?
How To Get Your Credit Report For Free
Getting a free copy of your credit report is easy. Your two options are:
- Call The Credit Bureaus To Request A Copy Of Your Report
- Go Online To Request A Copy Of Your Credit Report
You will then get a copy of your credit report within several business days. If you do not get your free copy within 7-10 business days, you should call again to make sure that you receive the document. If you go online, you can sign up for a free credit monitoring account which can be helpful if you are planning on applying for a car loan soon. Make sure that you cancel your account before it transitions to a paid account if you are only interested in checking your score once.
How Many Free Copies Are You Allowed To Get?
Consumers are allowed to get one free copy of their credit report each year. Each additional copy that you request will be subject to a fee of roughly $10. You may be able to get the fee waived if you are requesting your credit report because of suspected identity theft or other inaccurate information being reported to the credit bureaus.
Is It Worth It To Obtain Credit Monitoring Services?
Those who are worried that their credit score is lower than it should be may benefit from credit monitoring services. Many services are free for as many as 30 days before charging a monthly fee. Having access to your credit report in real time makes it easier to spot trends in your credit usage that could be holding your score back and making you afraid to get a car loan because of it.
It is a good idea to look at your credit report at least once a year. By doing so, you can spot inaccuracies and other issues that make you look bad in the eyes of a lender. If you are thinking about getting an auto loan in the near future, it is important that you have good credit.