Checking a credit score is something that everyone should learn how to do. It can help you better understand your finances and is very helpful if you want to obtain financing for a car. Thankfully, checking your score is pretty easy.

Let’s start by understanding how the system works. There are three major credit bureaus in the United States: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. These bureaus compile financial information on people, including the amount of debt, the types of credit, payment history and more.

Each then issues a credit score from 300 to 850 that indicates whether a person’s credit is poor, fair, good or very good. While the scores at each bureau are calculated a bit differently, they are all very similar. Good credit generally starts with a score in the high 600s, and higher numbers are better.

You have the right to see your credit scores and there are several reasons to do so. For starters, you can take steps to improve your scores, such as paying bills on time. You can also watch for mistakes on your credit report, which sometimes happen. Perhaps most important, you should know your scores before you apply for auto financing, so you have the same information that lenders do.

Another step you can take is to get pre-qualified for auto financing with Credit Acceptance, which will help determine how much you may qualify for and eliminate the lengthy process many consumers encounter when applying for financing to buy a car.

Go Straight to the Bureaus

You can check your credit scores in several different ways. By federal law, you have the right to obtain one free credit report from each bureau every year, which will show you your score alongside other information on your credit history. There is also a free program that allows you to monitor your scores weekly.

One easy way to do this is to go to AnnualCreditReport.com, a disclosure site run by the three bureaus, or call 1-877-322-8228. You can also contact the bureaus directly:

• Equifax at 1-800-685-1111
• Experian at 1-888-397-3742
• TransUnion at 1-888-909-8872

Use a Monitoring Service

There are also many outside monitoring services, both free and paid, that will help you check credit scores and track your credit history. Credit Karma, which is owned by Intuit, and similar services offer enhanced capabilities.

For example, this might include a website where you can check scores instantly; email or text notifications when your credit score changes; a three-bureau report that combines information from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion in one document; and a mobile app.

Many also have information on how to improve your credit and special offers for credit cards and loans.

Whatever service you use, monitoring your credit scores is a good habit to develop because it provides new insight into your finances and supplies you with the same information that lenders, landlords and employers use when evaluating your applications. When buying a car and applying for financing, that can be extremely helpful.

Of course, you can also obtain a great deal of information by getting prequalified for auto financing with Credit Acceptance. This is a step you can take online, even before you go shopping for a car. When it does come time to negotiate with a dealership, you can do so with confidence.