Does your car insurance go up if you have bad credit?

Asked by: Mrs. Julia Nienow  |  Last update: April 17, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (71 votes)

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.

How much does bad credit affect car insurance?

On average, drivers with poor credit pay 113 percent more for full coverage car insurance than those with excellent credit. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates.

Can I get car insurance with a 500 credit score?

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 important is credit score for car insurance?

It is illegal for car insurance companies in California to give a quote based solely on a credit score. However, it is still permissible to consider credit score as part of a rubric of factors. If you're wondering whether California has a free credit score freeze, it does.

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 To Get Cheap Car Insurance - Questions To Answer

24 related questions found

Will my car insurance go up if my credit score goes down?

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 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.

Do car insurance companies look at 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 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 affects car insurance rates?

Auto insurance premiums reach their low point in a driver's mid-50s before rising for older drivers aged 70-plus.
  • 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.

Can I get a car with a 480 credit score?

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 State Farm run 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.

Can insurance drop you 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.

What brings up your credit score the most?

If you want to improve your score, there are some things you can do, including:
  • Paying your loans on time.
  • Not getting too close to your credit limit.
  • Having a long credit history.
  • Making sure your credit report doesn't have errors.

Does paying car insurance build 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.

What bills do not affect credit score?

With rent, phone bills, electric bills, and other utilities, on-time payments or one late payment typically won't make any difference to your credit score, because they're not considered credit accounts by the three major credit bureaus.

Does bad credit affect car insurance?

Just like a ticket or an accident, a low credit score can drive up your car insurance rate.

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.

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 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.

How long can you go without car insurance?

It is a crime to drive almost anywhere without car insurance coverage, even for a minute or just down the street. So, how long can you be without car insurance? If you're driving, you can't. Anytime you get behind the wheel as a licensed driver, you need insurance coverage or you'll risk incurring major consequences.

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.

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.

What is 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.