Does your credit score affect your auto insurance?

Asked by: Rocio Blick  |  Last update: September 11, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (2 votes)

How does credit affect car insurance prices? Nationwide uses a credit-based insurance score when determining premiums. Studies show that using this score helps us better predict insurance losses. In fact, 92% of all insurers now consider credit when calculating auto insurance premiums.

How much does credit score affect car insurance?

California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates.

Do insurance companies look at your credit score?

Yes. A federal law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), states insurance companies have a “permissible purpose” to look at your credit information without your permission. Insurance companies must also comply with state insurance laws when using credit information in the underwriting and rating process.

Can you be turned down for insurance because of your credit score?

California

Insurance companies in California don't use credit-based scores or your credit history for underwriting or rating auto policies, or setting rates for homeowners insurance. As a result, your credit won't impact your ability to get or renew a policy, or how much you pay in premiums.

Does car insurance go up with bad credit?

Credit scores do indeed affect auto insurance rates. Statistically, insurance companies have found that people who have problems managing their money and debts also file more insurance claims. Therefore, all of those with poor credit suffer higher rates.

How your credit score can impact car insurance rates

25 related questions found

Can you get lower car insurance with good credit?

Having a good credit score can lead to cheaper car insurance rates. A credit score is a major rating factor used by car insurance companies in most states across the US to set potential customers' rates. How a customer handles their finances can be an indicator of their likelihood to file claims.

What is considered a good credit score?

For a score with a range of 300 to 850, a credit score of 670 to 739 is considered good. Credit scores of 740 and above are very good while 800 and higher are excellent.

Do they run your credit for car insurance?

Most insurers use credit checks to create a credit-based insurance score to help set your rate. Some insurers provide auto insurance with no credit check, which might seem appealing if you have a poor credit history.

Why is my car insurance so high in Geico?

Geico may have raised your rates because of changes to your policy or circumstances. Examples include adding a new type of coverage, becoming eligible for an additional type of discount, being involved in an accident, or buying a new car.

Does State Farm check credit for car insurance?

Most major car insurance companies like GEICO, Progressive and State Farm factor in your credit score when giving you a quote. Some smaller, regional insurers skip credit checks, though their coverage options (and available online information) can be limited.

What affects car insurance rates?

Some factors that may affect your auto insurance premiums are your car, your driving habits, demographic factors and the coverages, limits and deductibles you choose. These factors may include things such as your age and your driving record.

What is the best FICO score possible?

In most cases, the highest credit score possible is 850. You can achieve the highest credit score by taking a variety of essential steps. Still, for many people, it's difficult considering the range of factors that dictate the highest credit score possible.

When did car insurance start using credit scores?

Credit-based insurance scores were introduced in the early 1990s and use certain elements of a person's credit history to predict how likely a consumer is to have an insurance loss, as research shows there is a correlation between credit characteristics (credit-based insurance scores) and insurance losses.

How does your credit score affect your vehicle insurance in most states budget challenge?

How does your credit score affect your vehicle insurance in most states? The higher your credit score, the lower your insurance premium. Which is usually true of employer sponsored health insurance plans? The employee is expected to pay for part of the insurance premium.

Does credit score affect homeowners insurance?

Average, good and excellent credit scores don't usually generate significantly different rates. Home insurance for bad credit, however, typically comes with much higher rates. But just how much homeowners with bad credit are penalized by an insurance company will vary.

What are some pros and cons of using credit scores for insurance pricing?

On the pro side, it can be a reflection of the responsibility and stability of an individual, which are factors correlated with low-risk behaviors and thus can lead to lower premiums. However, the con is that it may penalize those with low credit scores due to reasons not connected with their insurability.

What makes car insurance go up the most?

Incidents such as accidents (even if you weren't at fault), speeding violations, reckless driving, and driving while intoxicated can increase premiums. If you've filed a claim in the past few years, this might also result in an increase to your premium.

Is Progressive cheaper than Geico?

Rates are cheaper overall with Geico, including with drivers under 25 or those with at-fault accidents on their records. If you're a senior or driver with a DUI conviction, though, Progressive is the more affordable choice.

Can Geico actually save you 15% or more on car insurance?

GEICO's cheap car insurance rates and discounts could save you 15% or more. These are just a few of our car insurance discounts: Multi-car discount. Discount for cars with air bags and other safety features.

Does a bad credit score affect car insurance?

In Conclusion. Your credit score can have a significant impact on how much you pay for car insurance in California, but it is not the only factor used to determine a premium.

What is a good credit score for insurance?

According to LexisNexis, a risk-focused data analytics company, insurance scores range from 200 to 997 in its scoring metric. Scores higher than 775 are considered good.

What carrier does not check credit?

Smartphone Equality is a program that helps our T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile prepaid customer move to our postpaid service and you get our best available pricing on new smartphones, devices, and additional lines—that means $0 down on select devices and no credit check.

How to get 900 credit score?

While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.

What is the average credit score in the United States?

The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024.