Credit Scores

While credit scores and credit reports are most commonly associated with loan approvals, there's more than just getting approved for a credit card, auto loan or mortgage that the little three-digit FICO score is used to calculate.

For instance, credit scores are also factored into things like auto insurance premiums. Yes, credit scores count for insurance too, which makes credit repair all the more important and quite the lesser known credit tip.

So just how is a credit score factored into an insurance premium? An insurance provider will typically base premium rates on an insurance score. And this insurance score takes into account your credit history in order to predict your likelihood of being involved in an accident or filing an insurance claim. Studies detail how credit history can be linked to risk and accident potential. However, Federal law requires car insurance companies that offer less favorable terms for consumers with no credit, or poor credit score, to inform consumers of their score and of the name, address and phone number of the reporting company that provided them with the score.

Here's a closer look at a credit-based insurance score and why it's important that you repair credit for more than just good interest rates on loans:

The higher your credit score - and thereby your credit-based insurance score - the greater the likelihood that you'll qualify for low auto insurance premiums. Keep in mind that this premium also takes into consideration driving history and the amount of claims on your record.

If you have a low credit score, you're more likely to pay more for your auto insurance premium, as you'll likely have a lower overall credit-based insurance score. In many cases, drivers around the country have found themselves paying up to 80, even 126% more for the same coverage, than drivers with excellent credit score. Top 10 States with the largest percentage difference premiums nclude: District of Columbia, Wyoming, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, South Carolina, Ohio, Louisiana, Minnesota, Kentucky.

If you have less than stellar credit, what can you do to improve it for auto insurance purposes? The same thing you would do to improve it for any other purpose:

Make sure payments are on time. Open new credit lines in good standing. Have a favorable credit history (i.e., no collections, missed payments, etc.) Good debt management - try not to accrue more than 30 percent of your total credit line at once.

Yes, good credit is about more than just low interest rates on loans - it can also net you lower auto insurance premiums. So if your credit is lacking, take measures to get your finances in order today.

Credit repair is hard enough. Trust in our team to help you with your credit needs. You can find us by searching key credit repair either with Bing or Google.