Equifax vs Experian vs TransUnion: What's the difference between these credit reference agencies?

You apply for car finance and everything looks fine. Then one lender says yes, another says no, and the scores you see don't match.

That usually comes down to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — the UK's three main credit reference agencies (CRAs). They all do the same job. But they don't all hold the same data or update it in the same way. And lenders don't use them in the same way either.

Understanding the differences explains a lot of confusing credit decisions.

Are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion doing the same job or different jobs?

You see three names and assume three different systems. But Equifax, Experian and TransUnion all perform the same core role in the UK credit system.

Each one is a Credit Reference Agency (CRA). They collect credit data from data providers such as banks and finance companies, compile a credit report, and provide that report to authorised lenders during a creditworthiness assessment. That process is shared across all three.

However, the similarity ends there. Each CRA depends on different data providers, updates information on different schedules, and matches identity details in slightly different ways. As a result, the credit report a lender receives can vary by agency, even for the same person.

What role does each credit reference agency play in the UK credit system?

You usually only notice credit reference agencies when an application doesn't go as expected.

But in the UK credit system, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion all play a clear structural role, even though they never approve or decline credit themselves.

Each agency acts as a Credit Reference Agency (CRA). They receive credit account data from data providers, compile that data into a credit report, and supply the report to authorised lenders. In simple terms: data providers → CRA → lender.

The practical impact comes from what each CRA can access. Each one depends on a different mix of data providers, updates information on different schedules, and applies its own identity-matching logic. That means two lenders can assess the same person using two different versions of the credit file, simply because they rely on different agencies.

Do Equifax, Experian and TransUnion hold the same information about you?

You check one credit report and everything looks fine. Then you check another and notice an extra account or a missing update, which immediately raises questions.

That situation is common because Equifax, Experian and TransUnion do not hold identical information about you.

Each Credit Reference Agency (CRA) builds a credit report using data it receives from data providers such as banks and finance companies, as well as public record sources. Because data providers do not report to every CRA, and because updates reach each agency on different schedules, the information held by one agency can legitimately differ from another. During a creditworthiness assessment, an authorised lender only sees the version of your credit file held by the CRA it uses.

This difference in coverage and timing is known as credit file variability. It explains why one lender can see information that another does not, even when assessing the same person at the same time.

Why can one agency show problems that the others don't?

You spot a missed payment on one credit report and panic, because the other two look clean. That situation is more common than people expect.

One agency can show problems that the others don't because each Credit Reference Agency (CRA) depends on a different group of data providers. If a lender reports an issue to Experian but not to Equifax or TransUnion, only that agency will reflect it in the credit report. Update timing can also affect visibility, as changes are not processed simultaneously across all agencies.

Identity matching adds another layer. If an address or personal detail has not aligned correctly, one CRA may attach data that another has not yet linked.

That difference in perspective explains why a problem can appear in one report and not the others.

How does each agency build and update your credit report?

You never see it happening, but your credit report is assembled piece by piece over time.

And while Equifax, Experian and TransUnion all aim to represent your credit history, the way they build and update it is not identical.

Each Credit Reference Agency (CRA) receives credit account data from its own network of data providers, including banks, card issuers, and car finance companies. That data usually arrives in scheduled reporting cycles and is then checked, categorised, and linked to your identity using address history and personal details.

At the same time, public record items such as County Court Judgments (CCJs) enter the system through official sources rather than lenders.

Updates are processed independently. One CRA may apply a balance change, default marker, or address link days before another, simply because their internal update cycles do not align.

When an authorised lender performs a credit report search, it sees only the version of the credit file held by that specific agency at that moment. There is no shared master record.

So the differences you see are not random. They are a direct result of separate data pipelines feeding separate systems on separate timelines.

Does the content of a credit report differ between agencies?

The structure of a credit report is broadly the same across agencies, but the content can differ. Each Credit Reference Agency (CRA) uses the same main categories, yet the information inside them depends on which data providers report to that agency and how identity details are matched.

Search records also vary, because a credit report search only appears with the CRA a lender uses.

How do credit scores differ between Experian, Equifax and TransUnion?

You open three credit apps and see three different numbers, which immediately feels like a mistake. But credit scores differ between Experian, Equifax and TransUnion by design, not by error.

Each Credit Reference Agency (CRA) generates a credit score using its own scoring model, built from the agency's version of your credit report. While the underlying data categories are similar, the weighting applied to repayment history, balances, and recent activity is not. On top of that, each agency uses its own score range, so the same level of risk can produce very different-looking numbers.

Lenders don't compare scores across agencies. They interpret the score only within the context of the CRA they use, alongside the full credit report.

If scores differ, which one should you take seriously?

If scores differ, you shouldn't take any single credit score as decisive. A credit score is only a summary created by a Credit Reference Agency (CRA) from its version of your credit report. Lenders don't compare scores across agencies or treat them as a universal measure.

Do lenders check all three credit reference agencies?

It's easy to assume lenders pull information from all three agencies to get a complete view. In practice, most lenders rely on a single Credit Reference Agency (CRA) for each application.

An authorised lender usually integrates with one CRA (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion) and runs a credit report search through that system when you apply. The resulting credit report feeds into the lender's creditworthiness assessment, alongside affordability checks and internal risk rules.

There is no shared database and no automatic comparison across agencies at application stage.

While some lenders may consult more than one CRA in specific scenarios, most decisions are based on one version of your credit file at that point in time. That reliance on a single source explains why outcomes can vary between lenders.

Which credit reference agencies do car finance lenders usually rely on?

UK car finance lenders do not share a single CRA. Each lender forms a long-term relationship with a Credit Reference Agency (CRA) based on system integration, historical performance, and the type of risk the lender is willing to take. When an application is submitted, the lender performs a credit report search through that agency and uses the resulting report in its assessment, alongside affordability and stability checks.

Because car finance commonly sits between prime and sub-prime lending, relatively small differences in credit account data, public record visibility, or update timing can influence how the same applicant is assessed when only one CRA is consulted.

Should you check one credit report or all three?

Checking all three credit reports is the safer option, particularly before applying for car finance. Each Credit Reference Agency (CRA) maintains its own credit file, shaped by different credit account data, public record inputs, and identity matching rules. Because credit report searches only appear with the agency a lender uses, an issue can sit quietly in one file while remaining invisible in another.

How can you check your credit reports without harming your chances?

You can check your credit reports safely by requesting a statutory credit report from each Credit Reference Agency (CRA) or by using services that provide read-only access to your credit file. These checks rely on soft access, which records your view of the data but does not create a credit search footprint and does not feed into lender decision systems.

Quick comparison summary: Experian vs Equifax vs TransUnion

Score ranges for each CRA