100,000+ views

1 min

In a new study based on data from six large insurers across the country, it was found drivers with poor credit pay almost double for their car insurance.

We have always been told demographics count when it comes to insurance rates, but now we see just how important our credit score is when determining how much we pay for insurance.

According to the study, those with poor credit pay an average of 91 percent more than someone with excellent credit.

“This insurance score takes into account

late payments, overall debt and defaults.”    

When considering the rates they will charge an applicant, insurers use a special scoring model that is based on our credit history. This insurance score takes into account late payments, overall debt, bankruptcies and defaults to determine the likelihood of future insurance claims.

According to Laura Adams, an analyst who helped conduct the study, “Responsible habits, such as paying your bills on time and minimizing debt, pay off in many ways, including paying less for car insurance.”

Critics of the practice say basing insurance rates on credit scores unfairly impacts lower-income drivers. On the other hand, insurers defend the practice as a statistically accurate and fair way to identify responsible and irresponsible behaviors.

So far, three states have banned the use of credit scores for determining insurance rates. California, Massachusetts and Hawaii have all passed laws that prevent this type of red-lining for car insurance.

Source: thedetroitbureau.com. Photo source: directory.ac

Advertiser Disclosure

BadCredit.org is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free for users, we receive advertising compensation from the financial products listed on this page. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear on the page (including, for example, the order in which they appear). BadCredit.org does not include listings for all financial products.

Our Editorial Review Policy

Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.

About The Author

Mike Randall is most knowledgeable in the areas of credit scores and credit cards, having written on those topics and others for the past eight years. He graduated from California State University with a degree in English literature, and he has an extensive background in personal finance studies. When he's not keeping BadCredit.org readers informed of changes in the subprime market, Mike’s hobbies include sailing and gourmet cooking.

« Back to: Studies