Determine how much you've damaged your credit with late payments

A: Good news! You may not have damaged your credit at all, depending on how late the payments were made. Although your credit card or auto finance company may have charged you a late fee, the credit-reporting agencies consider a payment late on the 31st day after the payment was due. Let's say your auto loan was due on the 15th of the month. If your payment was made in the next 30 days, then your credit score should not have been affected.