Solar lenders publish credit-score floors that are easy to find — Sunlight Financial says 650, GoodLeap says 640, Mosaic says 700. What’s harder to find is what each tier actually qualifies for, what dealer-fee tier maps to each band, and what your real options are if you don’t hit the floor.
Minimum credit scores by lender
| Lender | Hard floor (FICO) | Best APR threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Sunlight Financial | 650 | 740+ |
| GoodLeap | 640 | 720+ |
| Sungage Financial | 650 | 720+ |
| Mosaic | 700 | 740+ |
| Dividend Finance | 700 | 740+ |
What each band actually gets you
FICO 740+ — prime+
You qualify for every lender on this list, and you’ll see the lowest published APR tiers (0.00%–2.99%). Your installer can offer the highest dealer-fee tiers because the underwriting risk is low. Be careful: this is where dealer-fee dollars run highest, so always ask for the cash price.
FICO 700–739 — prime
You qualify for all five major lenders. Expect mid-tier APRs (2.99%–4.99%). You have full negotiating leverage — get two installer quotes and compare the financed price.
FICO 670–699 — near-prime
You qualify for Sunlight, GoodLeap, and Sungage. Mosaic and Dividend may decline. Expect APRs in the 4.99%–6.99% range. Promotional 0% tiers are out of reach without a co-signer.
FICO 650–669 — subprime/lower bound
Sunlight and Sungage are at their floor; GoodLeap may approve depending on the program. APRs typically 5.99%–6.99%. Many borrowers in this band are routed to the Sunlight–IGS lease instead of a loan.
FICO 600–649 — below loan floors
Most standard solar loans decline. Your viable paths are: the solar lease, a co-signed loan, a HELOC if you have home equity, or PACE financing where available.
FICO <600
Standard solar financing is closed. Lease is your most realistic path, or rebuild credit and re-apply.
What gets weighted besides FICO
The score alone doesn’t determine approval. The lender also looks at:
- Credit history depth. A 720 FICO based on three accounts opened last year is treated differently from a 720 FICO with 15 years of mixed credit.
- Debt-to-income ratio. Usually capped near 50%; the proposed solar payment counts against it.
- Recent delinquencies. A 30-day late within the last 12 months can sink an otherwise prime application.
- Bankruptcies. Most lenders require 4+ years since a Chapter 7 discharge.
- Property type. Single-family residences clear easiest; condos and manufactured homes face more restrictions.
Soft pull vs. hard pull — and credit impact
The point-of-sale pre-qualification at your installer’s kitchen-table visit uses a soft credit pull, which doesn’t affect your FICO. The full application after you accept the quote requires a hard pull and typically drops your score by 3–10 points temporarily. The drop usually recovers within 3–6 months of on-time payments.
If you don’t qualify — five real options
- Solar lease. Lower credit thresholds, no loan on your report, no tax credit captured by you.
- Co-signer. Some lenders allow a co-signer to bring an under-650 applicant into approval territory.
- HELOC. Home equity loans are credit-flexible and often cheaper. Requires a separate application and home equity.
- PACE financing. Property-assessed Clean Energy financing attaches to your property tax bill. Different underwriting, but complicates home sales.
- Wait and rebuild. If you’re within 30 points of the floor, paying down revolving balances and disputing inaccuracies often gets you across in 3–6 months.