Having bad credit doesn't make you a bad driver, but it will raise your auto insurance rates. Here's how to get a cheap rate on bad credit auto insurance.
Bad Credit Auto Insurance
As strange as it may sound, your credit rating directly affects your auto insurance rating with some companies. Auto insurance companies have figured out that people with bad credit file 40% more claims than people with good credit.
If you have bad credit your insurance could cost you 20% to 50% more in insurance premiums than someone with good credit.
The good news is not all insurance companies use your credit rating as a factor in determining your insurance rating, and some states won't allow insurance companies to use it. So if you've been labeled as a bad credit risk, or suspect you may be, you should shop around for auto insurance with other companies.
There are websites where you can get auto insurance rates from a number of A-rated companies, and also get advice from insurance professionals, absoluelty free of charge. All you do is fill out a simple questionnaire about the type of car you own and the type of insurance you want, wait for your quotes, then choose the best one. (See link below.)
Lowering Your Auto Insurance Rate
In addition to comparison shopping, here are some other ways to lower your insurance rate:
Raise your deductible - Raising your deductible can save you hundreds of dollars a year on your insurance premium. After a while the money you save on your insurance premium will more than make up for your deductible.
Drop your collision and comprehensive coverage - If you drive an older car - particularly if your car is worth less than the total of your insurance premium plus your deductible - consider dropping your collision and comprehensive coverage as repairs may cost more than your car is worth.
Consolidate your insurance policies - Purchasing your homeowners insurance (or renters insurance) and auto insurance through the same company can get you a 5% to 15% discount on your premium.
