New Study Shows Average Credit Score Is 98 Points Lower for Consumers With One Late Auto Payment

Experian's National Score Index further finds consumers in Wyoming have the highest average auto loan balance ($19,340) while consumers in Michigan have the lowest average auto loan balance ($11,455)

IRVINE, Calif., June 13 -- The average credit score for U.S. consumers with no late auto payments is nearly 100 points higher than for those who have at least one late payment, according to the latest National Score Index(R) study by Experian Consumer Direct(SM), the leading provider of online direct-to-consumer credit reports, scores and monitoring products.

The national average credit score for consumers with no late auto payments is 703, while the average score for consumers with at least one late payment is 605. The average credit score drops further to 580 when an auto payment is late by 90 days or more. For additional survey results, visit Experian's National Score Index Web site at http://www.nationalscoreindex.com/.

Texas had the lowest average credit score for those with at least one late auto payment at 592 and also had the highest monthly auto payment of $570. Conversely, consumers in New Hampshire had the highest average credit score for those with no late auto payments at 728 and an average monthly auto payment of $442.

  The study also found that:

  -- Nationwide, 12 percent of consumers have at least one late auto payment
     on file
  -- The national average balance on an auto loan is $15,654
  -- The average U.S. monthly auto payment is $495
     28 percent of the U.S. population has at least one auto loan or lease
     on file

"An automobile can be one of the larger purchases consumers make over their lifetime and their credit score is one of the factors lenders use to determine the interest rate and loan terms," said Ty Taylor, president of Experian Consumer Direct. "Paying bills on time and spending within your means are cornerstones of effective credit management, which can have a positive impact on a consumer's credit score."

Experian Consumer Direct empowers consumers by offering products and information through Web sites such as http://www.freecreditreport.com/ to help them proactively manage their personal finances conveniently and securely online. Products include credit reports from all three national credit reporting companies, credit score reports that show the positive and negative factors that affect a consumer's credit score, and credit monitoring products that provide daily monitoring of their Experian credit report or all three national credit reports.

More information about Experian's National Score Index study plus additional credit data at the state and local levels can be found at http://www.nationalscoreindex.com/. This study used Experian data as of March 2007.

About Experian's National Score Index

Experian's National Score Index study is based on a nationwide sampling of 3 million consumer credit files. Using the PLUS Score(R) model, the national average credit score for January 2007 was 673, for February it was 672, and for March it was 672. Experian's National Score Index Web site is updated monthly with the most recent Experian data on U.S. consumers' credit and is a powerful indicator of the nation's overall financial health. In addition to providing average credit scores for the nation, regions, states and local areas, the National Score Index monitors several other components of consumer credit behavior, including average debt, credit utilization, late payments and credit inquiries.

About Experian Consumer Direct

Experian Consumer Direct is part of Experian Interactive (SM) and a market leader for online credit reports, scores and monitoring products delivered directly to consumers through Web sites such as http://www.freecreditreport.com/. Among its products, the business provides consumers with instant access to their credit report and credit score, plus credit monitoring products that monitor all three national credit reports daily and include identity theft insurance and fraud resolution. Experian Consumer Direct has established integrated, co-branded partnerships with leading online financial destinations that provide consumers with a broad range of comprehensive online financial products and information essential to managing one's financial life. For more information, visit http://www.experian.com/.

About Experian

Experian(R) is a global leader in providing analytical and information services to organizations and consumers to help manage the risk and reward of commercial and financial decisions. Combining its unique information tools and deep understanding of individuals, markets and economies, Experian partners with organizations around the world to establish and strengthen customer relationships and provide their businesses with competitive advantage. For consumers, Experian delivers critical information that enables them to make financial and purchasing decisions with greater control and confidence. Clients include organizations from financial services, retail and catalog, telecommunications, utilities, media, insurance, automotive, leisure, e-commerce, manufacturing, property and government sectors.

Experian Group Limited is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. It has corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and operational headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif., and Nottingham, UK. Experian employs approximately 13,500 people in 36 countries worldwide, supporting clients in more than 60 countries. Annual sales are $3.5 billion.

For more information, visit the Group's Web site at http://www.experiangroup.com/.

Experian and the marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.