Does car insurance check your credit?
Asked by: Laverna Wehner V | Last update: January 20, 2026Score: 5/5 (33 votes)
Is your credit score checked 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.
Do insurance companies have to run your credit?
Are insurers completely free to access and use your credit history? A few states prohibit insurers from using consumer credit information – California, Massachusetts and Hawaii for auto insurance and Maryland and Hawaii for homeowners insurance.
Can you get car insurance if your credit is bad?
In most states you can't be denied insurance solely for credit, though many companies will use credit as a component of eligibility (ex: someone with poor credit has to meet stricter accident/violation criteria than someone with good credit).
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.
How your credit score can impact car insurance rates
Can you be denied insurance for bad credit?
In some states, yes, you could be denied coverage due to your credit. A very low insurance score might mean that a company considers you too great of a risk to insure, which could lead to the carrier denying coverage. However, some states do not allow this practice.
What information do car insurance companies have access to?
Insurance companies typically check police records mainly during the underwriting and claims investigation stages. When an individual applies for a new insurance policy or renews an existing one, insurers may request permission to access their driving record, which includes information from police records.
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.
Can you get a car if your credit is bad?
Yes, it's possible to finance a vehicle purchase with a 500 credit score or even below that. Keep in mind, though, that you can generally expect limited options, as well as high interest rates and fees. If possible, try to improve your credit before applying.
Does unpaid car insurance go on your credit?
The short answer is no. There is no direct affect between car insurance and your credit, paying your insurance bill late or not at all could lead to debt collection reports. Debt collection reports do appear on your credit report (often for 7-10 years) and can be read by future lenders.
Does Allstate check your credit score?
Our use of credit information enables us to offer lower premiums to more customers and allows us to cover more drivers and homeowners. ► What you can do: Check your credit reports for accuracy and talk to your Allstate Agent for ways to lower your costs. car insurance costs.
What is a good credit score?
There are some differences around how the various data elements on a credit report factor into the score calculations. Although credit scoring models vary, generally, credit scores from 660 to 724 are considered good; 725 to 759 are considered very good; and 760 and up are considered excellent.
Does Geico check your credit?
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?
- Driving and claims history. This rating factor is straightforward. ...
- Credit score. ...
- Location. ...
- Other personal demographics. ...
- Coverage levels and deductibles. ...
- Vehicle type. ...
- Annual mileage. ...
- Ownership status.
Does Progressive run your credit?
Does Progressive check credit history when my policy renews? In states where it is allowed or required by law, we periodically review policies, including credit history.
Does bad credit affect car insurance?
If you've ever applied for a credit card, leased a car or gotten a mortgage for a home, you know that credit scores count. You may be surprised to find out they can also affect your car insurance premiums much the same way your driving record, marital status and payment history can.
Is your car insurance based on your credit?
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 is the credit limit for insurance?
Credit Limit” is the credit limit set by the insurer for every buyer with whom the policy holder trades. The level of the limit is set at the maximum amount in normal circumstances that can be owed by the buyer at any time.
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.
Can you get car insurance without a credit check?
Your credit score won't be considered if you live in certain states (California, Hawaii, Maryland, or Massachusetts) because state law prohibits it. Other states have added restrictions and limitations to when and how credit may be used (such as Oregon, Utah and Nevada).
Who normally 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.
Do insurance companies check your credit?
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.
What are insurance companies not allowed to ask you?
If you're applying for health insurance, pregnancy status or plans to have children shouldn't come into the conversation. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition, and insurers cannot deny coverage or charge higher premiums due to it.
What do auto insurance companies look at?
What do auto insurance companies look at? Most companies consider these things during underwriting: Your driving record and claims history. Some companies might refuse to sell you a policy if you've had certain accidents or gotten some tickets.