Car Insurance Rates by Credit Tier

Only a few states limit or prohibit insurers from considering your credit during the underwriting or rating process.

Lindsay VanSomeren
Lindsay VanSomeren
  • 8 years in insurance and personal finance writing

  • Former data scientist for U.S. Geological Survey

Lindsay is a freelance personal finance writer currently pursuing her Series 65 license. She enjoys helping readers learn money management skills that improve their lives.

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Katie Powers
Edited byKatie Powers
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Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing

Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.

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Mark Friedlander
Reviewed byMark Friedlander
Mark Friedlander
Mark FriedlanderDirector, Corporate Communications
  • Corporate communications director for Insurance Information Institute

  • 20+ years in insurance and communications

As Director, Corporate Communications for Triple-I, Mark serves as the non-profit’s national spokesperson, sharing information and education on a wide array of insurance issues.

Updated March 14, 2024

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Cheapest recent rates

Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $34/mo for liability only and $46/mo for full coverage.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on March 14, 2024

Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from March 14, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on March 14, 2024

Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from March 14, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.

Your credit score can affect your ability to find affordable car insurance, similar to how it influences the process of taking out a loan. In most states, insurers use a proprietary credit-based insurance score when determining your eligibility for coverage and calculating what you’ll pay for an insurance policy.[1]

Studies show that — in addition to demonstrating how well you manage your money — credit-based insurance scores can serve as an indicator to an insurer of how likely you are to file a claim.[2] Drivers with bad credit scores typically pay higher rates than people with good or excellent credit.

Quick Facts
  • Most states allow car insurance companies to consider drivers' credit history when setting insurance rates.

  • California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, and Utah prohibit or restrict the use of credit information in car insurance rating decisions.

  • Drivers with poor credit typically pay higher car insurance rates than those with good or excellent credit.

How does credit score affect car insurance quotes?

Generally speaking, drivers with good credit pay less for car insurance than drivers with lower credit scores. In fact, drivers with excellent credit can expect to pay as much as $2,000 less per year on auto insurance premiums than drivers with poor credit.

Your credit history helps determine your credit-based insurance score, a statistical tool auto insurance companies use to predict the chances (and potential cost) of you filing a car insurance claim. In other words, your insurance score predicts potential insurance losses. Your insurance score, therefore, directly affects your insurance pricing.

Keep in Mind

Your credit-based insurance score is separate from your FICO or Vantage score, which lenders use to determine your credit risk. Each insurer has its own proprietary process for using your credit information to calculate a credit-based insurance score.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with poor credit

Because a poor credit history may indicate a greater likelihood of having an accident or filing a claim, insurers tend to charge higher premiums if you have bad credit and live in a state that allows them to do so.[3]

On average, drivers with poor credit pay $125 per month for liability-only policies, and $256 per month for full coverage. The following table shows average quotes from some of the cheapest companies for drivers with poor credit.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, March 14 at 12:00 PM PDT
Insurance CompanyFull CoverageLiability Only
COUNTRY Financial4822
Hugo6658
NJM8956
Mile Auto10657
Root11874
USAA12658
Metromile13286
Safeco13270
Auto-Owners13462
GEICO13963
Allstate14967
Progressive15990
Mercury16490
CSAA166104
Erie168101
State Farm18283
National General18380
Nationwide19689
American Family19988
Elephant211118
Travelers21899
State Auto226112
The Hartford229147
Direct Auto236114
Shelter238132
AssuranceAmerica245140
Liberty Mutual252120
Dairyland277101
Farmers281124
21st Century291131
The General301138
GAINSCO312144
Bristol West316140
Anchor319125
Infinity333196
Amica344211
Commonwealth Casualty367139
Chubb526243
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with good credit

A good credit score is usually considered to be between 670 and 739. This range is near or slightly higher than the average credit score in the U.S., according to FICO.[4] If this applies to you, you’ll typically pay less for car insurance than someone with poor credit but a bit more than if you had excellent credit.

The following table shows average monthly quotes from top insurers for drivers with good credit.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, March 14 at 12:00 PM PDT
Insurance CompanyFull CoverageLiability Only
COUNTRY Financial4822
Hugo5347
NJM5937
Auto-Owners8137
Mile Auto9350
Erie9557
USAA9946
Root10466
State Farm11251
GEICO11753
Metromile12480
Safeco13271
Allstate13962
CSAA14088
Clearcover14385
Progressive15185
Mercury16590
American Family17176
The Hartford176113
Elephant183102
Nationwide18584
National General19083
Liberty Mutual19693
Travelers20091
Direct Auto20197
Shelter203113
State Auto217107
AssuranceAmerica222127
Farmers243107
Chubb245113
Dairyland24689
The General253116
Anchor265104
21st Century269121
GAINSCO270125
Bristol West285126
Foremost291144
Amica303186
Infinity329194
Commonwealth Casualty331125
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with excellent credit

You’ll typically pay the lowest rates for car insurance by credit tier if you have excellent credit. However, several different factors affect your insurance premium, so your credit score only plays a partial role. If you have excellent credit but a very poor driving record, you may face higher rates.[5]

The average cost of car insurance for drivers with excellent credit is $175 per month for full coverage and $85 for liability. The table below shows the average rates top insurers offer to drivers with excellent credit.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, March 14 at 12:00 PM PDT
Insurance CompanyFull CoverageLiability Only
COUNTRY Financial4119
NJM4629
Hugo5346
Auto-Owners6229
Erie6438
Mile Auto7943
USAA8941
Root9057
State Farm9041
Metromile9662
GEICO10347
CSAA11270
Safeco11762
Allstate12053
Progressive12570
Mercury12870
Clearcover13279
American Family15167
Elephant15485
Liberty Mutual15573
State Auto15677
National General16070
Nationwide16977
The Hartford172110
Travelers17278
Shelter17899
AssuranceAmerica184105
Direct Auto19292
Amica206126
Dairyland20876
Farmers20992
Chubb216100
The General226104
GAINSCO234108
21st Century258116
Anchor263103
Bristol West265117
Commonwealth Casualty275104
Infinity299176
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

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How credit score affects car insurance costs by state

Where you live — including your state, city, and ZIP code — can also affect rates due to the area’s risk factors and insurance laws. States that limit or restrict insurers’ use of credit scores include California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, and Utah.[6]

The table below shows what drivers in each state pay overall per month for coverage by credit tier.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, March 14 at 12:00 PM PDT
State NameGood CreditPoor Credit
North Carolina7592
New Hampshire75123
Hawaii82109
Wisconsin86116
Ohio93121
Indiana95114
South Dakota97139
Iowa98131
Idaho98133
Alabama101130
Wyoming101138
Vermont103128
North Dakota105149
Kansas108155
Mississippi109170
West Virginia109141
Tennessee113156
Maine120149
Illinois125161
New Mexico125165
Utah126171
Virginia126147
Oklahoma127184
Oregon129151
Arizona130180
Massachusetts132239
Pennsylvania132163
Minnesota134180
Nebraska135169
Colorado135183
Montana138168
Arkansas139188
Washington141158
United States144190
Missouri145205
Rhode Island146187
Delaware152200
New Jersey153211
California157219
Washington D.C.160214
New York165208
Texas169230
Georgia178239
Kentucky188266
South Carolina195246
Maryland214262
Louisiana218263
Nevada223293
Florida243320
Connecticut246314
Michigan254300
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

How to find out what your credit score is

Though insurers typically use credit-based insurance scores, you don’t have access to this information on your own as a consumer. These insurance scores are mostly based on your existing credit reports with the three national consumer credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) and LexisNexis, a data and analytics company that records any insurance claims you’ve made in the past seven years.

If you want to, you can ensure that your credit and claims reports are accurate and dispute them if you find an error. You can check your credit reports — and determine your credit score — with the three consumer credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. And to view your LexisNexis insurance claim report, called a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report, you can visit its consumer-facing website.

How to improve your credit score

In general, you can improve your credit-based insurance score by following all the same steps that you would take to improve your credit score. The following tips can help you improve your credit score over time:

  • Pay off your credit card debt.

  • Set up auto pay so you don’t miss any credit card payments.

  • Don’t apply for any new credit cards or loans unless you really need to.

  • Build your credit by becoming an authorized user on someone else’s account.[7]

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Factors that affect car insurance rates

Your credit history isn’t the only factor that insurers use to set your car insurance rates. Some factors have an even greater effect on your rates than your credit profile.

Auto insurers commonly consider the following personal rating factors to determine risk:

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/100x100/4da605a1ec/teen-driver.svg

    Age

    Teenage drivers generally pay the highest rates because of a lack of experience driving, and senior drivers face increased rates due to new risk factors associated with aging.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/100x100/c922a01b77/house.svg

    Location

    States have different minimum insurance requirements and regulations for insurance companies, which can affect average rates. Premiums also vary by city and ZIP code based on risk factors like vehicle theft rates, population density, accident severity, repair costs, weather, and more.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/c8ad9d5019/driving-accidents.svg

    Driving history

    Drivers with a history of speeding tickets, DUIs, at-fault accidents, or other major infractions present a greater risk, so insurers charge them more.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/c822f20cb3/billing-related.svg

    Chosen coverage and deductibles

    If you select higher deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverages, you’ll typically pay less for your premiums. And you’ll pay higher rates if you purchase more coverage.

Credit score and car insurance FAQs

If you still have questions, the following information should help you understand how your credit score can affect car insurance rates.

  • Which states don’t use credit factors?

    California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan either ban or limit insurers from considering your credit history when determining your insurance premium. Oregon and Utah have limits on how insurers can use your credit history in specific circumstances. In Oregon, insurers can't use credit information to rate new insurance applicants. And in Utah, credit information can't be the sole reason an insurer denies a policy application.

  • What are the best options for no-credit-check car insurance?

    About 95% of all car insurers use your credit history, so you don’t have many options for a true no-credit-check insurance company unless you live in a state that prohibits insurers from using your credit score. Root is one car insurance company taking steps to remove credit history as an insurance factor that influences policyholder rates.

  • Does it hurt your credit score to get car insurance quotes?

    No. Insurance companies do a soft credit inquiry, which will show up on your credit report without affecting your credit score. A hard credit inquiry will affect your score when you apply for credit.

  • Why do car insurance companies use credit scores to determine premiums?

    The credit-based insurance scores that insurers use help them predict how likely you are to file a claim and, thus, how much they should charge. That’s a bit different than how creditors use your credit score to predict how likely you are to pay late on a loan or credit card.

Sources

  1. National Association for Insurance Commissioners. "Credit-Based Insurance Scores." Accessed July 26, 2023
  2. Insurance Information Institute. "Background on: Credit scoring." Accessed July 26, 2023
  3. Experian. "What Is the Difference Between Credit-Based Insurance Scores and Credit Scores?." Accessed July 26, 2023
  4. Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). "What is a Credit Score?." Accessed July 26, 2023
  5. Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?." Accessed July 26, 2023
  6. Experian. "Which States Restrict the Use of Credit Scores in Determining Insurance Rates?." Accessed July 26, 2023
  7. Experian. "How to “Fix” a Bad Credit Score." Accessed July 26, 2023
Lindsay VanSomeren
Lindsay VanSomeren

Lindsay VanSomeren is a freelance personal finance writer living in Suquamish, WA. Her work has appeared with FICO, Credit Karma, The Balance, and more. She enjoys helping people learn how to manage their money better so they can live the life they want.

Katie Powers
Edited byKatie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Photo of an Insurify author
Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing

Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.

Featured in

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Mark Friedlander
Reviewed byMark FriedlanderDirector, Corporate Communications
Mark Friedlander
Mark FriedlanderDirector, Corporate Communications
  • Corporate communications director for Insurance Information Institute

  • 20+ years in insurance and communications

As Director, Corporate Communications for Triple-I, Mark serves as the non-profit’s national spokesperson, sharing information and education on a wide array of insurance issues.

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