Highest Credit Score in Australia — What Is It?

Quick Answer: The highest credit score in Australia is 1,200 on the Equifax scale, 1,000 on both Experian and Illion scales. Australia has three credit bureaus — each uses a different scoring system. An Equifax score of 853–1,200 is rated "Excellent." An Experian or Illion score of 800–1,000 is also rated "Excellent." Most Australians never reach the absolute maximum — but getting into the Excellent band is entirely achievable and unlocks the best interest rates and approval outcomes.

Knowing the maximum credit score in Australia matters because it tells you where you stand — and what's actually possible. Here's the complete picture for all three bureaus.

Australia's Three Credit Bureaus — Score Ranges Explained

Australia operates three independent credit reporting agencies. Most lenders pull one or two of these — not always the same one. It's worth checking all three.

Equifax (formerly Veda)

Range: 0 – 1,200

Who uses Equifax: Major banks (CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ), mortgage lenders, most major credit card issuers. Equifax is the most widely used bureau for major lending decisions in Australia.

Experian

Range: 0 – 1,000

Who uses Experian: Non-bank lenders, fintechs, some personal loan providers. Growing in use among consumer lenders.

Illion (formerly Dun & Bradstreet)

Range: 0 – 1,000

Who uses Illion: Telcos (Telstra, Optus), utilities, some fintechs, rental property assessments.

What Is the Average Credit Score in Australia?

Equifax publishes national average credit score data. As of 2025, the national average Equifax credit score in Australia sits around 666 — in the Good band. This means the average Australian is in a reasonable but not optimal position.

Average by life stage (approximate, Equifax data):

• Under 25: 550–580 (limited credit history)
• 25–34: 620–650
• 35–44: 660–690
• 45–54: 700–720
• 55+: 720–760

If you're below the national average for your age group — especially if there are removable negative entries on your file — that gap is often closeable.

Can You Actually Reach 1,200 on Equifax?

Almost no one does. A score above 1,100 is genuinely exceptional and requires years of perfect repayment history, minimal credit applications, low credit utilisation, and a long credit history without a single negative entry.

A more practical target: Excellent band (853+) on Equifax. This is achievable with:

• No defaults or missed payments on file
• Fewer than 3 hard enquiries in the past 12 months
• 2+ years of positive repayment history under Comprehensive Credit Reporting
• Existing credit products (mortgage, credit card) with no missed payments

What Blocks Australians From a High Credit Score?

The most common score suppressors, in order of impact:

1. Defaults — a single default drops most scores by 100–200 points immediately. Defaults stay for 5 years under the Privacy Act 1988.
2. Court judgements — similar impact to defaults; stay 5 years
3. Excessive enquiries — 4+ hard enquiries in 12 months signals financial stress
4. Missed repayment history (RHI) — under Comprehensive Credit Reporting introduced in 2018, every missed payment is visible for 2 years rolling
5. Serious credit infringements — 7-year retention; most damaging single entry type

The good news: defaults and enquiries listed in breach of credit reporting law can be removed before the retention period ends, allowing scores to recover far faster than waiting out the 5-year period.

Case Study: Priya, Sydney — Score from 489 to 814 After Two Defaults Removed

Priya, 34, a senior accountant from Parramatta, had two defaults from 2021 — a $620 Vodafone telco default and a $440 Dodo default. Her Equifax score sat at 489. She couldn't get a competitive home loan rate and her mortgage broker told her to "wait it out."

Australian Credit Solutions reviewed both defaults. Both had Section 21D notice issues — Vodafone had listed without the required 30-day warning period; Dodo had sent the notice to an email address that had been changed and updated with them.

Both defaults removed in 52 days. Her Equifax score moved from 489 to 814. She accessed a competitive home loan at 6.19% rather than the 9.4% specialist rate she'd been quoted.

Get a free assessment from Australian Credit Solutions →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest credit score in Australia? The maximum credit score in Australia is 1,200 on Equifax, 1,000 on Experian, and 1,000 on Illion. The "Excellent" band starts at 853 on Equifax, 800 on Experian, and 800 on Illion.

Is 900 a good credit score in Australia? Yes — 900 on Equifax falls in the Excellent band (853–1,200) and represents a strong credit profile. On Experian or Illion (both out of 1,000), 900 is also Excellent. A score of 900 on any bureau will qualify you for the most competitive lending rates available.

What is a good credit score to buy a house in Australia? Most mainstream mortgage lenders in Australia want an Equifax score of 661+ (Good band minimum). For the most competitive rates, you'll want 735+ (Very Good band). Some specialist lenders will consider scores below 661 but at significantly higher interest rates.

What does 1,200 mean on Equifax? 1,200 is the maximum possible Equifax score in Australia. It represents a perfect credit profile — long history, no negative entries, minimal enquiries, excellent repayment behaviour. Virtually no one achieves this exact figure, but reaching the Excellent band (853+) provides essentially the same lending benefits.

Does paying off debt increase your credit score in Australia? Paying off debt improves your repayment history going forward but doesn't remove historical missed payments or defaults from your file. Those entries remain for their full retention period unless successfully disputed. The fastest path to score improvement — when defaults were unlawfully listed — is professional credit repair.

How long does it take to reach an Excellent credit score? From a Below Average position (below 460), reaching Excellent (850+) through natural time alone typically takes 5–7 years — the time required for negative entries to age off. Through credit repair (removing unlawfully listed entries), the timeline can compress to 30–90 days for the removal, followed by natural score rebuilding.

Know Your Score. Fix What's Dragging It Down.

If negative entries are holding your credit score below the Excellent band, Australian Credit Solutions can assess whether they're removable under Australian credit reporting law.

Why Australians Trust Australian Credit Solutions

Australian Credit Solutions is lawyer-led, ASIC-licensed (ACL 532003), and has operated since 2014. We've helped over 5,000 Australians remove negative credit file entries and access the finance they deserve. Our 98% success rate on accepted cases reflects a simple approach: we only accept cases where we've identified genuine legal grounds. Every case is managed under the supervision of Principal Solicitor Elisa Rothschild BA/LLB (Monash University) — a lawyer, not a call centre. We operate on No Win No Fee: you pay the success component only when we remove an entry from your file. We've won the Industry Excellence Award three consecutive years — 2022, 2023 and 2024. Our 4.9/5 rating from 976+ verified reviews reflects what real clients experience.

All disputes are conducted under the Privacy Act 1988 and the Credit Reporting Code — the laws that govern your rights and creditors' obligations.

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. Credit repair services are subject to individual assessment. Results may vary. This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice.