 TITLE: How Much Does Credit Score Affect Auto Insurance Rates? CONTENT: How Do Credit-Based Auto Insurance Scores Affect Rates?\n-------------------------------------------------------\nCredit-based insurance scores are different from the credit scores that most people are familiar with—the credit scores that FICO® and VantageScore® calculate for use by creditors. While credit scores try to predict the likelihood that a consumer will be 90 days late on a payment in the next 24 months, credit-based insurance scores try to predict the likelihood that a consumer will file insurance claims that will cost the company more money than it collects in premiums.\nAuto insurance companies can, and often do, consider your credit history or use a credit-based insurance score before offering you coverage. It's only one piece of the puzzle, however, as insurance companies are generally prohibited from making a decision solely based on your credit.\nSome states—including California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan—strictly limit or entirely prohibit insurance companies' use of credit information in determining auto insurance rates. In these states, your credit score won't affect your insurance rates no matter how good or bad it is. END