Find affordable car insurance with bad credit by comparing rates.
Finding cheap auto insurance can be tough if you have bad credit. Insurers utilize credit tier as a rating factor, assigning premiums based in part on drivers’ credit histories. Because auto insurance companies rely on data showing clients with bad credit histories have a greater likelihood of filing car insurance claims, they compensate for the additional risk by charging more.
Your car insurance costs with bad credit depends on which company you choose, where in Delaware you live, and an array of other rating factors. We've gathered below typical insurance rates for drivers with bad credit in major Delaware cities, alongside rates from top car insurance companies, plus a few tips to save on auto insurance with bad credit in Delaware.
Drivers in Delaware face an average penalty of $1,807 each year for having a "worst"-tier credit score. Drivers in the "poor" or "below fair to poor" credit tiers will also pay above-average rates for a car insurance policy.
| Credit Tier | Average Annual Rate in Delaware |
| Worst | $3,508 |
| Poor | $3,122 |
| Below Fair to Poor | $2,847 |
| Average — All Credit Tiers | $1,700 |
Car insurance rates can also fluctuate based on the specific area where you park your car. Insurance companies use your address to better understand your likelihood of filing a claim: the more claim-prone your area,, the more you'll pay for insurance.
See below major Delaware cities and their mean auto insurance rates for those with bad credit.
| City | Average Annual Rate — Worst Credit | Average Annual Rate — Poor Credit | Average Annual Rate — Below Fair to Poor Credit |
| Wilmington | $4,473 | $3,979 | $3,618 |
| Dover | $3,209 | $2,859 | $2,611 |
| Newark | $3,881 | $3,454 | $3,149 |
| Bear | $4,270 | $3,802 | $3,465 |
| Middletown | $3,704 | $3,294 | $3,008 |
Another factor that contributes to your car insurance rate is the insurance company you choose. Each auto insurance company prices policies differently, giving rating factors varying weights in their calculations. Credit can be a primary price differentiator between otherwise-similar car insurance companies. In Delaware, the cheapest insurance company for a driver with bad credit is GEICO, which offers a price break of $236 per year compared to the second-cheapest company, Nationwide.
See below prices from major car insurance companies in Delaware for drivers with bad credit.
| Company | Average Annual Rate — Worst Credit |
| GEICO | $1,854 |
| Nationwide | $2,090 |
| USAA | $2,213 |
| Progressive | $4,065 |
| Allstate | $4,667 |
If you're having a hard time getting auto insurance with a low credit score, remember these tips: