A bad credit score can affect your auto insurance premium more than having a hit-and-run on your record, says a recent study from The Zebra. Even drivers with squeaky-clean records, they say, can see their rates double if their credit tanks.
Only a few states — California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan — have banned insurance companies from using credit scores to price or deny insurance policies. According to the report, however, both state and federal legislators are considering further bans on credit rating use for insurance.
In the same way that having a poor credit score can ratchet rates upward, raising your credit score can lead to lower premiums. The Zebra found that, on average nationwide, improving your credit score from “very poor” (300- 579) to “exceptional” (800- 850) would add up to a 114% savings — or around $1,537 a year.
If that kind of rating jump seems unrealistic, there are benefits to even minimally increasing your credit score. According to the report, drivers nationwide who improve their credit score just one tier could save an average of 17% a year.
How your credit score affects auto insurance rates varies state-to-state. For example, rates can increase as much as 56% in North Carolina, or 207% in New York, if a customer’s rating drops from “exceptional” to “very poor.”
For drivers with poor credit, The Zebra recommends the following tips to save as much as possible:
You can view The Zebra’s full study at thezebra.com.
