Car Insurance Secrets, 8 Secrets Your Car Insurer Won’t Tell You
Keeping your premiums from rising? That can feel like playing a game where the rule maker refuses to tell you the rules.
*If you have good credit, you’ll pay less on car insurance.
Almost all car insurers including the top five pull your credit report.
Why? Studies have shown a direct correlation between your credit score and the likelihood that you will file a claim.
Car Insurers also know that if you pay your bills in a timely fashion and have had the same credit accounts for a long time, you’re more stable than someone who pays late and frequently opens and closes accounts.
Car insurers use this information to create your “insurance risk score,” which is one factor that determines your car insurance rate.
Tip: Your car insurance risk score is not available to you, but it may be similar to your credit score. If you have unusual credit activity, wait a month for it to return to normal before buying car insurance.
*Your car model affects your premium car insurance. You won’t get these numbers from your Car insurer. But the car insurers do have a rating system for every car make and model.
Most use a system devised by the Car Insurance Services Office, which starts with the cost of the vehicle and then factors in safety and theft data.
Tip: You can file a claim on your home insurance. Most home insurance policies will cover smaller, less expensive items such as compact discs.