Learn more about how credit affects car insurance premiums and how to minimize your costs after filing for bankruptcy.
How Credit Affects Car Insurance Premiums
Many studies have found that drivers with poor credit file insurance claims more frequently than drivers with good credit. As a result, most insurers now do a quick credit check when figuring out what to charge a new applicant. The higher your score, the less you can expect to pay for coverage. However, not all states approve of credit being a factor in the application process, so be sure to check the laws where you live.
How To Get the Best Rates After Declaring Bankruptcy
If you’ve recently declared bankruptcy, you’ll likely see your auto insurance premium increase when your policy renews. However, once you know your new rate, you can shop around and compare it against quotes from other insurers to find the best deal. The good news is that you likely will not have your auto insurance policy canceled solely because you filed for bankruptcy. Policies can only be canceled based on the terms in your contract, so be sure to read them carefully. If you continue to pay your premiums on time and stay accident-free, you could potentially see your rates decline within a few years.
Credit Scores vs. Insurance Credit Ratings
You may be surprised to learn that an insurance company doesn’t determine your rates using the same credit score that a lender would use to approve you for a loan. While the two types of credit scores are based on the same data, insurance companies look at a credit-based insurance score instead of the standard FICO or VantageScore. Here’s a closer look at the differences between traditional credit scores and credit-based insurance scores.
Seek Credit Counseling
If you’re not enrolled in a mandatory court-appointed credit counseling course after filing for bankruptcy, it can be helpful to seek out free or low-cost credit counseling services such as those from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Doing so can help to ensure you have the knowledge and support you need to rebuild your credit as quickly as possible.
Review Your Credit Reports
It’s important to fully understand your starting point. To see where your credit is at, review your credit reports from the three main bureaus: Transunion, Experian, and Equifax. You can get one free credit report per year from each bureau. Take note of any negative items on your report and ensure all the information is correct. If you spot any issues, you can dispute the errors and get them fixed.
Pay All Bills on Time
The most important factor in your traditional credit score is your payment history, which accounts for 35% of your FICO score. While it’s not clear exactly how much of your credit-based insurance score is determined by your payment history, it’s safe to say that missing or late payments certainly won’t help. To help improve your score, make sure to pay all your bills on time.
Become an Authorized User on a Credit Card
While you may have trouble getting approved for a credit card on your own, someone else may be able to add you to their credit card account as an authorized user. The person should be someone you trust, who also trusts you—for example, a partner or parent. To help you rebuild your credit, this person will need to have good credit themselves, manage their card well, and make all their payments on time. You can ride along and reap the benefits of a positive credit line on your credit reports.
Get a Secured Credit Card
Another way to rebuild your credit is by obtaining a secured credit card, which is backed by a security deposit you put down when you open the account. You may start off with a low limit, such as $300. But as you make your payments on time, the credit card company will report them to the credit bureaus, which will help improve your credit score over time.
Keep Your Credit Utilization Down
If you open revolving credit lines, it’s important to keep an eye on your credit utilization rate. Credit utilization refers to the percentage of available credit that you’ve used. For example, if you have a $500 credit line and have used $250, you would have a 50% credit utilization rate. The higher your credit utilization, the lower your credit score will be. It’s best to pay off your credit cards in full each month to avoid paying interest and boost your score. However, if you do need to carry a balance, try to keep it at 30% or less of your credit limit.
The Bottom Line
People who have the best driving records and the best credit scores will get the best auto insurance rates. However, if your driving record or credit history isn’t great, it doesn’t mean you’re doomed to pay higher premiums forever. As bankruptcies age and eventually drop off your credit report, and as you drive safely without any accidents or tickets, you will see your car insurance costs drop. In the meantime, you may be able to take advantage of car insurance discounts such as those you get from bundling policies, setting up autopay, or being a member of educational or professional organizations.
