# How to Check Your CIBIL Score for Free (and Read Your Report)

> You can check your credit score and full credit report for free. Here is how, what the numbers mean, what to look for in the report, and how to fix a mistake.
- **Published**: 2026-11-05
- **Modified**: 2026-11-05
- **Category**: loans
- **URL**: https://www.tldr.money/articles/loans/check-cibil-score-free

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New to loans? Start with the [loans guide](/loans). This page shows you **how to check your credit score and credit report for free, and what to look for**.

## The short answer

1. Go to the **official website** of a credit bureau, such as **cibil.com**.
2. Sign up with your **PAN, mobile number and email**.
3. Verify with an **OTP** and answer a few questions about your loans.
4. Download your **free credit report**.

Checking your own score **does not lower it**.

<div data-callout="jargon" data-title="Three terms in one line each">

- **Credit score**: a number from 300 to 900 that sums up how you handle loans and cards. Higher is better.
- **Credit report**: the full record behind the score: every loan and card, your payments and who checked your report.
- **Credit bureau**: a company licensed by RBI that collects this data from lenders. India has four.

</div>

## India's four credit bureaus

| Bureau | Website | Free full report |
|---|---|---|
| TransUnion CIBIL | cibil.com | Once a year |
| Experian | experian.in | Once a year |
| Equifax | equifax.co.in | Once a year |
| CRIF High Mark | crifhighmark.com | Once a year |

RBI requires each bureau to give you **one full credit report, with your score, free every year**. That is four free reports a year if you use all four. Many banks, card apps and loan apps also show a free score.

<div data-callout="warn" data-title="Use official sites only">

Never share your OTP, card PIN or net banking password with anyone offering to "check" or "fix" your score. You never need to pay to see your own report once a year.

</div>

## What your score means

| Score | What lenders usually think |
|---|---|
| **800 to 900** | Excellent. Best rates and easy approvals. |
| **750 to 799** | Good. Most loans and cards approved. |
| **650 to 749** | Fair. Approvals possible, often at a higher rate. |
| **Below 650** | Weak. Many lenders may say no. |
| **NH or -1** | No history yet. Not bad, just new. |

Each lender sets its own rules, so treat these as a guide. To see what a better score can save you, read [what credit score you need for a loan](/articles/loans/credit-score-for-loan).

## How to read your report: 5 things to check

Your score is a summary. The **report** is where mistakes hide. Check these:

1. **Your details.** Name, date of birth, PAN, addresses and phone numbers should all be yours.
2. **Every loan and card.** Do you recognise each one? A loan you never took could mean fraud or a mix-up.
3. **Payment history.** Look for late payments (often shown as "DPD", days past due) that you did not make.
4. **Closed loans.** A loan you fully paid should show as **"Closed"**, not "Open" or "Settled".
5. **Enquiries.** Every lender that checked your report is listed. Many enquiries you do not recognise are a warning sign.

<div data-callout="note" data-title="'Settled' is not the same as 'Closed'">

**Closed** means you paid everything. **Settled** means the lender accepted less than the full amount. "Settled" can hurt your score for years. If you actually paid in full, ask the lender to update it to "Closed".

</div>

## How to fix a mistake

1. **Raise a dispute** on the bureau's website. It is free. Attach proof such as a no-dues certificate or bank statement.
2. **The bureau checks with the lender.** RBI rules say the dispute must be resolved within **30 days**.
3. **If it takes longer**, the bureau or lender at fault must pay you **INR 100 for every day of delay**.
4. **Still not fixed?** Complain to the lender, then to the RBI Ombudsman at cms.rbi.org.in. See [your rights as a borrower](/articles/loans/home-loan-borrower-rights-rbi).

Lenders now update bureaus at least every 15 days, so a fix or a new payment shows up faster than before.

## Soft check vs hard check

| | Soft enquiry | Hard enquiry |
|---|---|---|
| **When** | You check your own score | A lender checks because you applied for a loan or card |
| **Affects your score?** | **No** | Yes, slightly and for a short time |

So check your own score as often as you like. But apply for credit only when you need it, and do not apply to many lenders at once.

## When to check your score

- **Before you apply** for a home loan, car loan, personal loan or credit card
- **Before a [home loan balance transfer](/articles/loans/home-loan-balance-transfer)**
- **A month or two after you close a loan**, to confirm it shows as closed
- **At least once a year**, to catch mistakes or fraud early

## Read next

- [How to improve your credit score](/articles/loans/improve-credit-score)
- [What credit score do you need for a loan?](/articles/loans/credit-score-for-loan)
- [Best credit cards for beginners](/articles/credit-cards/best-credit-cards-for-beginners)
- [Back to the loans guide](/loans)

## Sources

- RBI, Master Direction on Credit Information Companies; free full credit report once a year (2016)
- RBI, Strengthening of Customer Service rendered by Credit Institutions and Credit Information Companies, circular dated 26 Oct 2023 (30-day dispute resolution, INR 100 a day compensation)
- RBI, Reporting of credit information at fortnightly intervals, circular dated 8 Aug 2024
- Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005
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