A credit score can make or break your ability to get a car loan.

This three-digit number typically ranges from 300 to 850, and the higher your score, the better your credit is. It is determined by a mathematical algorithm and is generated by your credit report, but many people don't truly understand what goes into this finance calculation. We at Bill Roberts Chevrolet want to help you get the right Chevrolet for you. If you want to improve your credit score, here are the various factors that influence the number of your score.

Payment history. If you pay your credit card bills and loan installments on time, your payment history is considered good, therefore helping you have a better credit score. This is the most influential factor in your credit score. People who don't pay their bills on time will likely have a lower credit score than others who do.

Types of credit. The type of credit accounts you have open can range from revolving to installments. If your credit lines are diverse, then it's likely your credit score is higher than those who don't have diverse credit lines.

Amount owed. A high loan or credit card balance can lower your credit score, since the amount of debt you have can great influence your number.

New credit. When you open a lot of credit accounts in a short amount of time, your credit score can falter due to how suspicious this activity is.

Length of credit history. The longer you have a credit account open, the better your credit score is. This is because it shows you can be depended on due to your credit experience.