{"id":1338,"date":"2022-08-24T19:54:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T19:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=1338"},"modified":"2023-09-21T16:37:44","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T16:37:44","slug":"is-my-credit-affecting-insurance-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/auto\/is-my-credit-affecting-insurance-rates\/","title":{"rendered":"Is My Credit Affecting My Insurance Rates?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
When the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) became aware that insurance companies were using a person\u2019s credit score not to determine if they were more or less likely to pay their bill, but as an indicator of whether or not they were more likely to file a claim, they launched a study. This study (done in 2007) proclaimed that credit-based insurance scores are effective predictors of risk under car insurance<\/a> policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The study<\/a> also showed that African Americans and Hispanics are overly represented in consumers with lower scores. Today, many people feel that the use of credit scores in determining one\u2019s eligibility for insurance and how much they pay is discriminatory and some states have outright banned the practice. States that have banned this practice include California<\/a>, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon and Utah. Other states have temporary bans and\/or restrict how credit scores can be used in determining car insurance rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In many states, however, insurance companies are allowed to use your credit score as one of the factors to determine your car insurance rates. If you have poor credit \u2013 even through no fault of your own \u2013 your rates could be higher than someone who has good credit. However, there are some things you can do to find cheap car<\/a> insurance or lower your current car insurance bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are some tried and true methods for finding low-cost auto insurance. Keeping your finances healthy is one, but you can still find affordable car insurance if you shop around. Here are some tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obviously, keeping your financial house in order is vital in some states to getting the best rates possible on your car insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although sometimes it may be easier said than done, maintaining a clean credit history and displaying regularity in making your monthly payments on time can prove quite beneficial to you more often than not. If you have a low credit rating<\/a>, then you should do everything in your power to improve it as much as you can as soon as possible. Of course, unexpected circumstances that are out of your control such as an illness, long-term unemployment, disability, and divorce can throw a good-sized wrench in your attempts to turn things around quickly. In most of those cases, you have to ride out the storm, which can unfortunately take a great deal longer than you\u2019d like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of life\u2019s inconvenient, but necessary expenses if you drive a car, insurance isn\u2019t something you can afford to skip or ignore\u2026ever. The consequences of driving our streets and highways without it can be extremely harsh \u2013 whether you get pulled over by law enforcement or get involved in an accident while uninsured. It\u2019s not a risk you should be willing to take. Getting caught driving without insurance will most likely result in you being labeled a high-risk driver<\/a> \u2013 with corresponding high premiums.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Can I Find Cheap Auto Insurance with Poor Credit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Keep Your Financial House in Order<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Never Skip Buying Car Insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n