Can I get car insurance with a 500 credit score?
Asked by: Esteban O'Connell | Last update: October 17, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (22 votes)
What credit score do you need for car insurance?
While there's no set minimum score to get car insurance, you'll pay more if you have a lower score. Drivers with a credit score of 580 or below pay about 115% more for full coverage than the average driver with a credit score of 800 or above, according to Bankrate.
How hard is it to get a car with a 500 credit score?
With a bad credit score, you will likely be offered some of the highest advertised rates. According to data from Experian, borrowers in the subprime category, a FICO score between 501 and 600, can expect an average rate of 13.00 percent for new cars and 18.95 percent for used cars.
What is considered bad credit for car insurance?
What credit score is considered “bad” for car insurance purposes? Companies might categorize credit scores differently, but FICO considers scores “poor” if they're under 580.
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.
Best Car Insurance For Bad Credit Score | Mount Shine [2023]
Do car insurances look at credit scores?
Most U.S. insurance companies use credit-based insurance scores along with your driving history, claims history and many other factors to establish eligibility for payment plans and to help determine insurance rates. Again, except in California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts.
Can bad credit make car insurance go up?
Depending on the laws about insurance in their state, drivers with Very Poor credit scores can see rate increases anywhere between 56% and 207%. Drivers can lower their insurance rate by an average of 17% (or $384) by improving their credit score by just one tier.
What if I am too poor for car insurance?
If you can't afford car insurance, don't go without. Instead, try to find a more affordable policy by increasing your deductible, downgrading your coverage, looking for discounts, driving less and comparing prices from multiple insurance companies.
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.
Can you do anything with a 500 credit score?
The lower your credit score, the fewer loan options you have. However, borrowers with 500 credit scores will have a better chance of approval with the following loan types: Installment loans for bad credit: Some lenders offer no-credit-check or soft credit check loans that cater to people with bad credit.
How much should I put down on a car with a 500 credit score?
If you want to take out an auto loan with bad credit or no credit, the majority of subprime lenders will require a down payment of 10% or $1,000, whichever is greater. While this is the minimum, you can always put a larger down payment, which helps since you have to pay a lower monthly payment for the rest of the loan.
What is the lowest credit score a car dealership will take?
What Is the Minimum Score Needed to Buy a Car? In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.
Does Geico use credit scores for insurance?
According to a survey by Conning and Co., over 92% of all major insurers, including GEICO, use credit-based insurance scores to help determine insurance premiums in most states. In many cases, this information helps lower the cost of insurance.
Does Progressive check credit?
An insurance score is a score calculated from information on your credit report. Credit information is very predictive of future accidents or insurance claims, which is why Progressive, and most insurers, uses this information to help develop more accurate rates.
Is it better to buy car insurance online or with an agent?
Buying insurance online can often result in lower customer costs due to the elimination of commission fees for the insurance agent. However, buying insurance through an agent can offer a more personalized experience and in-depth policy analysis, leading to finding the most cost-effective coverage options.
Why was I denied car insurance?
Reasons you may be denied car insurance
You have several moving violations and a less-than-perfect driving record. Your license has been suspended or revoked. You drive a fast, high-performance vehicle. You are too young to buy your own insurance policy.
Who typically has the cheapest car insurance?
Geico, Nationwide and Travelers are among the least expensive for car insurance. Americans are paying a lot for car insurance these days: Average annual rates for a full coverage policy are up to $2,638 per year, while minimum coverage averages $767 per year.
Why would I not be eligible for car insurance?
Having a string of traffic violations or accidents, especially recent ones or those you were found at fault for, could be enough for an insurance company to deny your coverage application. Also, if your license has been suspended or revoked, carriers will likely not approve your application.
Can you be refused car insurance for bad credit?
Yes, any insurance company has the right to deny coverage. Likely, poor credit won't be the only reason you're denied auto insurance, but it can be a major contributing factor. Other factors that may lead to denial of coverage can include: Poor driving record.
Does car insurance look at credit score?
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.
What makes someone uninsurable for car insurance?
Poor driving history is a top reason drivers can face challenges obtaining auto insurance. A track record of collisions, traffic violations, or DUI convictions can make getting coverage difficult and extremely costly. Insurers consider drivers with such records high-risk; some may deny coverage altogether.
Does Allstate use credit scores?
Your insurance score is a snapshot of how safe or risky you are to insure, and most insurance companies use it to help figure out your premium. Our use of credit information enables us to offer lower premiums to more customers and allows us to cover more drivers and homeowners.
What bills improve your credit score?
As with cell phone bills, cable and internet bills can help your score if you opt in to a service like Experian Boost that gives you credit for utility and other kinds of payments. Just be mindful that not all of your credit reports will be affected.
What is a good credit score for insurance?
In general, a good credit score is 670 or above, with scores above 800 considered excellent. If your score is in this range, you're likely receiving lower insurance rates based on your credit. If your credit score is under 580, on the other hand, your credit could be significantly raising the cost of coverage.