What is an Auto Insurance Score?
- An auto insurance score is a credit-based metric used by insurers to predict the likelihood of a driver filing a claim, influencing premium rates.
- It isn't the same thing as a FICO credit score, but it is closely related.
If you're looking for the best deal on car insurance with a less-than-perfect credit score, we can help. Just enter your ZIP code below.
What's an insurance score?
A credit-based insurance score is a number that helps insurance companies predict how likely you are to file a claim. It’s based partly on your credit history, including how you pay your bills, how much debt you have, and how long you’ve had credit.
It’s not the same as your regular credit score, and it doesn’t affect your ability to get loans or credit cards. Instead, insurers use this score to help set your rates, since studies show that people with higher credit-based insurance scores tend to file fewer claims.[1]
Driver information
Age, location, vehicle type, and other personal information are important contributors to auto insurance premiums. Below are common characteristics that can lead to a “poor” auto insurance score and expensive premiums.
If you’re a young driver, i.e, younger than 25, you can expect to pay a premium for your car insurance. Auto insurance companies see young drivers as more likely to take risks behind the wheel and more likely to file claims. Thus, young drivers are more expensive to insure.
Updating data...
| Age | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| 16-19 | $3,200 |
| 30s | $1,057 |
| 40s | $1,003 |
| 50s | $777 |
| 60s | $785 |
| 70s | $903 |
Source: The Zebra
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
High-performance vehicles or vehicles with high MSRPs lead to more expensive premiums. Because the insurance company is responsible for any damage a vehicle causes (liability) and for replacing or repairing it (collision/comprehensive coverage), the value of a vehicle can affect its insurance costs.
Insurance is independently regulated by each state and priced by ZIP code. Some states require higher minimum coverage levels (Michigan), leading to higher rates. Drivers in ZIP codes with substantial insurance losses and dense driving populations also face expensive rates.
Although it has relatively little impact on insurance rates, not being a homeowner may result in higher premiums. Homeowners are seen as more financially stable and less risky to an insurance company. Thus, their auto insurance premiums are slightly lower than renters.
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| Homeowner Status | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| Condo Owner | $1,129 |
| Condo Owner With Multi-Policy | $1,037 |
| Home Owner | $1,127 |
| Home Owner With Multi-Policy | $1,016 |
| Renter | $1,148 |
| Renter With Multi-Policy | $1,093 |
Source: The Zebra
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
Married couples usually pay less for car insurance than do unmarried drivers. As with homeownership, marriage is seen as a risk-dampener in the eyes of an insurance company. Married drivers typically pay approximately $97 less per policy period than do single insurance clients.
Updating data...
| Marital Status | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| Divorced | $1,148 |
| Single | $1,148 |
| Widowed | $1,084 |
| Married | $1,051 |
Source: The Zebra
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
Unlike an “auto insurance score,” a credit score is an accredited report used to assess an individual's credit standing. Credit score is a major insurance rating factor, as insurance companies use it to gauge a potential client's reliability. A driver with poor credit pays substantially more per policy period than a driver with good credit. FTC studies show drivers with poor credit file more claims (and more expensive claims) than do drivers with good credit.
Updating data...
| Credit Tier | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| Poor | $2,188 |
| Fair | $1,316 |
| Good | $1,047 |
| Very Good | $937 |
| Excellent | $837 |
Source: The Zebra
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
Driving record is utilized in every state to help determine auto insurance premiums. Speeding tickets, DUIs, and reckless driving citations have significant impacts on premiums. Most insurance companies will charge drivers for these violations for between three and 10 years. A driver's insurance score will suffer for a long while after they are cited for a serious violation.
Source: The Zebra
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
Like driving history, insurance claims history is a primary contributor to car insurance rates. An at-fault accident will increase a driver's premium and remain on a driver's insurance record for 3 to 5 years.
Updating data...
| Accident/violation | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| None | $1,103 |
| One Med/PIP claim | $1,108 |
| Two Med/PIP claims | $1,160 |
| One comp claim | $1,162 |
| Two comp claims | $1,222 |
| At-fault accident | $1,537 |
Source: The Zebra
Other Factors Affecting Car Insurance Rates
Driving history, age and location are just some of the reasons your insurance might be expensive. Check out the factors insurance companies use to price your policy.
Raising your insurance score
An insurance score is an indirect way of estimating your auto insurance premium. Unlike a credit score, no major financial institutions recognize an insurance score as a unit of measurement. However, an insurance score should reflect how much you can expect to pay for insurance. For example, a low insurance score means you will pay more for auto insurance.
If you want to improve your credit score, focus on things you can control more easily, such as paying your bills on time, avoiding taking on additional credit you don't need, and checking your credit report annually to make sure nothing suspicious is going on (like identity theft).[2]
The best way to save on car insurance is simply to shop around and get a quote (regardless of your credit). Better yet, get as many quotes as you can. Getting an insurance quote will not affect your credit score or impact your current rate. Enter your ZIP code below to get started.
Auto insurance score FAQs:
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Background on: Insurance Scoring. III
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5 Tips for Improving Your Credit. Federal Reserve Board
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.