How to Increase CIBIL Score From 600 to 750

A CIBIL score of 600 can feel like a roadblock, especially when applying for a loan or trying to get a credit card. But here’s the good news: your credit score isn’t set in stone. It is a reflection of your past behaviour, not a prediction of your future. Whether you are recovering from missed payments or just starting to understand how credit works, this blog will guide you towards a healthier financial future and help you improve your CIBIL score. Read on!

What is a Good CIBIL Score?

Before you begin the journey to improve your credit score, it is important to know what you are working towards:

Reasons Why You Could Have a Bad CIBIL Score

Many people assume a low score means financial irresponsibility, but that’s not always true. Understanding the reasons that keep your score low can help you better understand how to improve it. Here are some common reasons why your credit score could be stuck at 600:

• Missed or delayed EMI or credit card payments
• High credit card usage (above 30-40%)
• Too many loan or credit card applications
• Errors in your credit report that went unnoticed
• Settling a loan instead of paying it off completely

The good news? All these can be fixed and avoided moving forward.

How to Increase CIBIL Score from 600 to 750: 7 Solutions

Here’s a breakdown of simple but effective steps to improve your credit score that you can start taking today:

1. Make Timely Repayments

Late or missed payments can severely damage a CIBIL score, and even a brief delay can leave a lasting mark. Consistently making timely payments before the due date will help improve credit history. To prevent future missed payments, consider setting up auto‑debit, using reminder apps, and ensuring you pay at least the minimum due amount each month. Paying your bills on time improves your credit score significantly.

2. Reduce Credit Utilisation Ratio

If you're using most of your credit limit every month, it signals to lenders that you're highly dependent on credit. A high credit utilization ratio marks you as a risky borrower, even when you pay off the full amount on time. Hence, to avoid high credit utilisation, request a higher credit limit, split expenses across multiple cards (if needed), and keep usage under 30% of your total credit limit.

For example, if your credit card limit is ₹1,00,000, try not to exceed ₹30,000 in usage in a billing cycle.

3. Maintain a Healthy Credit Mix

Having only one type of credit, such as just credit cards or only personal loans, can limit the growth of your CIBIL score. A diverse credit mix with various credit types demonstrates to lenders that you can manage different types of financial obligations responsibly. Maintaining a healthy mix of secured credit (car loans) and unsecured credit (credit cards) can positively impact your CIBIL score over time.

4. Avoid Multiple Loan Applications

Every time you apply for a loan or credit, it results in a hard inquiry on your credit report. A hard inquiry impacts your credit score, temporarily dropping it. Too many inquiries within a short period can impact your credit score even more severely. That’s why it’s advisable to space out your applications and avoid tempting 'pre-approved' offers if you don’t actually need them.

5. Clear Outstanding Debts

Staying debt-free plays a crucial role if you want to increase your CIBIL score from 600. Outstanding debt, especially long-pending EMIs or credit dues, can negatively affect your payment history and significantly impact your score. Even if the amount is not huge, the delay signals a risk to lenders. 

If your credit report shows unpaid dues or overdue accounts, clearing them is one of the most impactful steps you can take to raise your CIBIL score. Pay off your dues, and once settled, don’t forget to collect a ‘No Due Certificate’ as proof from the lender.

6. Keep Old Credit Accounts Active

A lengthy credit history can really make a difference; older accounts with a good track record help build trust with lenders. It demonstrates consistent repayment behaviour and reliability over time. So, it's advisable to keep old credit accounts active and only close them when necessary. You can also use them occasionally as long as you pay them off in full.

7. Monitor Your Credit Report Regularly

Errors, outdated information, or identity theft can bring your score down without you even realising it. Regular checks of your CIBIL report help you catch and correct issues early. Check your CIBIL score once every month or quarter to ensure details are accurate and up-to-date. You can also raise a dispute with CIBIL if there are any discrepancies.

Mistakes to Avoid While Rebuilding Your Score

Here are a few mistakes to avoid as you increase your CIBIL score:

• Paying only the minimum due amounts for an extended period
• Frequently maxing out your credit cards
• Ignoring your credit report
• Falling for ‘credit repair’ scams or shortcuts

How Long Does it Take to Improve CIBIL Score?

The journey of learning how to increase CIBIL score from 600 to 750 requires patience and consistent effort. Overall, it could be a few years before your actions reflect a solid credit history. The good news is that positive changes can be seen sooner than you might expect!

• Quick corrective actions like clearing outstanding dues, paying credit card bills on time, and reducing credit utilisation below 30% can show impact within 1-2 months.
• Consistent on-time payments and maintaining low credit utilization will show sustained improvements over 3-6 months.

Finally, it's important to remember that while improvements can be seen in 3-6 months, consistent discipline once you increase your CIBIL score should be a long-term commitment for lasting results. A higher credit score makes loan approvals a breeze, and you can also benefit from favourable terms like lower interest rates across several lenders.

To Conclude

With the right steps, a little discipline, and a clear plan, you can improve your credit score from 600 to 700 and beyond. Remember, your credit score is not just a number; it reflects your financial discipline. So, if you want to improve your score, set reminders, review your CIBIL report time to time, stick to smart credit usage, and stay patient.

Be committed to these habits, and you’ll begin to see steady progress toward stronger financial health. Check your CIBIL score for free with Poonawalla Fincorp and take control of your finances today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to improve a CIBIL score?

On average, it may take 3 to 6 months of consistent effort to see your score rise from 600 to 750. However, this timeline depends on your credit history, how severe the issues are, and how quickly you take the necessary actions to clear dues, lower credit usage, and pay bills on time.

Will settling a loan help increase my CIBIL score?

Settling the loan may close the loan account, but it usually lowers your CIBIL score or keeps it from improving. That’s because a settled status tells future lenders that you did not pay in full.

Does closing a credit card help improve my score?

No, closing a credit card does not help improve your CIBIL score, as it can reduce your total credit limit and credit history length. So it's better to keep old cards open and use them occasionally with full repayments.

Is checking my credit report frequently bad for my score?

No, checking your credit report frequently is not bad for your score, as it creates a soft inquiry with no negative impact. Regularly checking your credit report helps you identify errors, track progress, stay informed and maintain a positive credit health.

Can I get a Personal Loan with a 600 CIBIL score?

Yes, you can get a personal loan with a 600 CIBIL score, but it may come with higher interest rates, stricter terms, and lower loan amounts as lenders consider it a fair but risky credit profile. A score above 750 is considered excellent.

How much can my CIBIL score improve in one month?

You can improve your credit score can improve by 20-50 points in one month if you take immediate corrective actions like clearing outstanding dues and reducing credit utilisation below 30%. Significant improvements typically require 3-6 months of consistent behaviour and a healthy credit mix.

Does increasing my credit limit help improve my credit score?

Yes, a higher limit helps to reduce your credit utilisation ratio, but this solution would still depend on your credit usage. Keep your credit utilization ratio low and practice financial discipline to improve your CIBIL score.