Having a current credit report can save you much grief and heartache. The trick is to get the credit report before you set out to make that major purchase. Whether you’re in the market for a home, car, boat, or motorcycle–you should look into getting a credit report to ensure that everything’s in order prior to signing on the dotted line. When you’re proactive about things, you’ll be one step ahead of the lender. And if you know you have a good credit score, you’ll be in good shape to get the loan you need at the best possible terms.

The credit reporting bureaus have historically existed to service lenders with consumer information. The bureaus were there to let lenders quickly evaluate the risks in each borrower. In recent years, however, the credit reporting bureaus have found that consumers will gladly pay to view their own information. With the advent of the Internet, you can get your own credit report with just a handful of clicks and the flash of your credit card.

There are three major credit reporting bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Individual lenders may or may not report their information to any one or all of the three bureaus. The amount of information they maintain is staggering. Experian, for example, has credit and demographic information on roughly 215 million consumers in the United States. In addition to providing credit reports, Experian is a major source of snail mail marketing lists. Equifax is a granddaddy of the industry, with a history of over 100 years, and close to 5,000 employees in a dozen countries. Although Chicago-based TransUnion has fewer employees, it operates in two dozen countries.

When you work with a reputable credit reporting bureau, you can ascertain what’s affecting your credit score. Just as importantly, you can find out what to do to improve your score, if it needs to be improved.

There are lots of companies that offer credit reports to consumers. The best provide information from all three bureaus. For example, you can order a 3-bureau credit report from CreditReporting.com for about thirty five bucks.

Now here’s the good news: you don’t always have to pay to get your credit report. The Free Credit Reporting Act provides a number of scenarios where a credit reporting bureau may have to provide you with a credit report free of charge. The state in which you live may also allow for additional considerations.