As we celebrate National Credit Education Month, it’s crucial to delve into how credit scores impact various aspects of our lives. One often overlooked area is how credit scores affect car insurance rates. Understanding this connection is essential for making informed decisions and financial planning.

The Link Between Credit Scores and Car Insurance Rates

Your credit score is a key factor insurance companies use to determine your car insurance rates. Most U.S. insurers use credit-based insurance scores, along with your driving history, claims history, and other factors, to determine eligibility for payment plans and help set insurance rates (except in California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts).

Risk Assessment: Insurance companies use credit scores as part of their risk assessment process. Studies show a correlation between credit scores and the likelihood of filing insurance claims.

Credit-Based Insurance Scores: These scores are derived from your credit history and help predict the likelihood of future insurance losses. According to the III, individuals with better credit-based insurance scores, good driving histories, and zero claims records typically qualify for lower rates.

Factors Considered in Credit-Based Insurance Scores

Several factors influence the calculation of credit-based insurance scores. It’s important to understand these factors that can affect your car insurance rates:

• Payment History: Timely payments on credit accounts positively impact your credit insurance score.
• Credit Utilization: The ratio of credit card balances to credit limits is crucial. Lower credit utilization rates favor insurance rates.
• Length of Credit History: A longer credit history can positively impact your insurance score.
• Mix of Credit Types Used: Using a mix of credit types, such as credit cards and installment loans, can be beneficial to your score.
• New Credit: Opening multiple new credit accounts in a short period may have a negative impact on your credit-based insurance score.

Why Insurance Companies Use Credit Scores?

Research indicates that credit-based insurance scores can accurately predict the likelihood of insurance losses. Statistical analysis shows that individuals with lower insurance scores are more likely to file claims. Compared to individuals with lower credit scores, those with higher credit scores are less likely to be involved in accidents, resulting in lower costs for insurance companies.

Two Types of Credit Inquiries

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) distinguishes between two types of credit inquiries:

• Hard Inquiries: These occur when you apply for credit and may impact your credit-based insurance score.
• Soft Inquiries: When you check your credit report or lenders perform a pre-screening, it is marked as a soft inquiry and does not affect your credit-based insurance score.

Factors That Can Impact Your Score

Positive factors include a long credit history, on-time payments, and well-managed open accounts. Negative factors include late payments, accounts in collection, high debt compared to available credit, short credit history, and numerous credit inquiries.

Your Consumer Rights

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) grants you the right to obtain a free credit report. If you find inaccuracies, you have the right to dispute and correct your credit record. Insurance companies cannot adjust your credit report, but if information is corrected, your credit-based insurance score will be recalculated.

Credit Inquiries and Identity Theft

Monitoring inquiries is crucial for preventing identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission recommends reviewing credit reports from major credit bureaus annually. Unrecognized hard inquiries do not necessarily indicate identity theft, but if you suspect it, take immediate action:

• Set up fraud alerts on your credit report.
• Contact companies associated with suspicious inquiries or affected accounts.
• Submit an identity theft affidavit to the FTC and file a police report.

Saving with Your Local Agent

Navigating the relationship between credit scores and car insurance rates can be complex. Our agents are here to help you understand how your credit score impacts your insurance premiums. Whether you’re looking to improve your credit or explore insurance options, our agency is committed to assisting you.