Where do you score?
Check your credit score before you apply for new credit to gauge where you stand. Your credit score directly impacts interest rates. Determine first whether you need to improve your score before turning in that application. You can save thousands of dollars if your score is in good shape before you apply.
To check your credit score, go to the individual credit bureau Web sites at the links below. You will be required to pay a small fee for the credit score, usually around $5 to $10. You can also order your score with your free credit report, but you will have to pay.
Be wary of offers for a free credit score from for-profit companies that automatically enroll you for a 30-day trial membership of their credit monitoring program or some other product. Before you accept their offer, decide whether you will remember to track the trial period. If you don't cancel within 30 days, you will be charged a monthly fee for services you may not need.
