Free Credit Score Check Australia — No Credit Card Required (2026)

Quick Answer: Every Australian can check their credit score and report for free with no credit card required. Go directly to Equifax (equifax.com.au), Experian (experian.com.au), or Illion (creditreport.com.au). All three bureaus provide free annual reports under the Privacy Act 1988. You'll need to verify your identity with a driver's licence or passport — but no payment details are ever required for the basic free report.

Somewhere along the way, the idea took hold that checking your credit score requires a credit card or a subscription. It doesn't. The right to access your own credit report for free is guaranteed by Australian law — specifically, the Privacy Act 1988.

This guide shows you exactly how to get your score and report from all three bureaus at zero cost, with no credit card, no free trial, no automatic billing.

Why You Should Check All Three Bureaus (Not Just One)

Australia has three credit bureaus, and different lenders report to different ones. Your Equifax score might be 690 while your Experian score is 540 — because the default suppressing your Experian file doesn't appear at Equifax. Checking only one bureau means you could miss the entry that's causing your loan rejections.

Getting all three is the only way to see what lenders across different categories will see.

Step-by-Step: Get Your Free Credit Report With No Credit Card

Equifax (equifax.com.au)

1. Go to equifax.com.au and click "Get Your Free Credit Report"
2. Create a free account using your email address — no payment details required
3. Verify your identity with your driver's licence number, Medicare card, or passport
4. Your report (including your score) is displayed immediately online and can be downloaded as PDF
5. Free annual report under Privacy Act — no subscription, no trial

Experian (experian.com.au)

1. Go to experian.com.au and select the free credit score option
2. Create an account — no credit card required for the basic free score
3. Identity verification via driver's licence or passport
4. Score displayed immediately; full report available for download
5. Free monthly score updates available via their app

Illion (creditreport.com.au)

1. Go to creditreport.com.au
2. Select "Get Free Credit Report"
3. Create a free account and verify identity
4. Full report with score provided; no payment details needed for the free annual report

The entire process for each bureau takes approximately 10–15 minutes.

What to Look for Once You Have Your Reports

When your reports arrive, check these sections in order:

Personal information — Is your name, address, date of birth, and employer correct? Errors here can cause your file to be cross-contaminated with someone else's data.

Credit accounts — Are all listed accounts ones you recognise? Any unrecognised accounts may indicate identity theft or data errors.

Defaults — Any defaults listed? Note the creditor name, amount, listing date, and status (active or paid). These are your priority.

Court judgements — Judgements appear separately from defaults. If one is listed, it requires separate assessment.

Credit enquiries — Who has run a hard check on your file, and when? Are there enquiries you don't recognise?

Repayment history (CCR) — Under Comprehensive Credit Reporting, the last 24 months of payment behaviour on participating accounts is visible. Check for any late payment markers.

Real Case Study: Tom, Darwin — Found a Default He Didn't Know Existed

Tom, 33, a mine site supervisor from Darwin, had never checked his credit file. He applied for a car loan, was declined, and assumed it was because of his irregular FIFO income. On the advice of a colleague, he pulled his Equifax report for the first time.

It showed a $310 default from a furniture rental company — listed three years earlier. Tom had returned the items and believed the account was settled. He had no record of receiving any notice before the default was listed.

During his ACS assessment, we found no Section 21D notice documentation on record with the company. The default was challenged and removed in 22 days.

Result: Tom's score moved from 479 to 664 in 22 days. Car loan approved. He said the whole situation could have been avoided years earlier if he'd simply checked his credit file. Subject to individual assessment; results may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is checking your own credit score really free in Australia? Yes — completely free, with no credit card required, under the Privacy Act 1988. Every Australian is entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three bureaus. You can also get a free report within 90 days of being declined for credit. The bureaus offer optional paid subscription services with more features, but the basic report and score is free.

Do credit score apps like Credit Savvy or GetCreditScore require a credit card? Most credit score apps offer free access to your Equifax score without a credit card. Some premium features may require payment, but the basic score check is free. Going directly to the bureau websites is the most reliable way to get the full report — apps sometimes show a score without the full detail of what's on the underlying file.

Will checking my own credit score lower it? No. When you check your own credit score or report — whether directly through a bureau, through a financial app, or through ACS's assessment — it's recorded as a soft enquiry and has zero impact on your credit score. Only formal credit applications from lenders create hard enquiries that reduce your score.

How often can I check my credit report for free in Australia? Once per year from each bureau under the standard free entitlement. Additional free reports are available if you've been declined for credit in the last 90 days, if a correction has been made to your file, or if you have reason to suspect fraud. Paid subscriptions through the bureaus offer more frequent access.

How long does it take to receive a free credit report in Australia? Equifax and Experian provide your report immediately online after identity verification — you can download it within minutes. Illion provides it online as well. If any bureau's online process fails, they must provide your report within 10 days by other means under the Privacy Act 1988.

What if there's an error on my credit report? Lodge a dispute directly with the bureau (free) citing the specific error. For defaults and major negative entries, the bureau contacts the credit provider for a response. If the issue requires legal challenge — for example, a default listed without proper Section 21D notice — a free ACS assessment identifies whether there are grounds and how to proceed effectively.

Once You Have Your Reports — Know What to Do Next

Getting your report is step one. Understanding what it means and what can be improved is step two. ACS reviews your complete three-bureau picture for free and advises on any entries that can be challenged under the Privacy Act 1988.

Australian Credit Solutions is ASIC-licensed (ACL 532003), lawyer-led by Principal Solicitor Elisa Rothschild. No Win No Fee. 98% success rate on accepted cases.

Get My Free Assessment → 📞 0489 265 737 🛡️ ASIC Licensed ACL 532003 | ⭐ 4.9/5 from 976+ Reviews | 🏆 Award Winner 2022–2024

Australian Credit Solutions Pty Ltd holds Australian Credit Licence ACL 532003. Results may vary. General information only — not legal or financial advice. External resources: Equifax Australia | Experian Australia | Illion

Related reading: How to Check Your Credit Score Free → | How to Get Your Free Credit Report →