Car loan history a good credit gauge

Credit scores for those with no late car payments are nearly 100 points higher on average than those with at least one late payment, according to the National Score Index of Experian Consumer Direct.  Nationally, the average credit score for consumers with no late auto payments is 703. The average score of a consumer with at least one late payment is 605, and drops to 580 when that auto payment is late by 90 days or more. At least 12 percent of American consumers have at least one late car payment on file, Experian said.