Does Credit Score Affect SR22 Insurance Rates

Q: Is it true that my credit score makes my SR22 insurance quote go up?

A: It depends on what kind of credit score you have. A good credit score will make your SR22 insurance quote cheaper, whereas a bad one will make it go up. However, it isn’t as simple as that, because the way your credit is used by insurance companies is different from the way it’s used by credit card companies. An insurance risk score is composed of different information from your credit report, such as how often you pay your bills rather than how much you really owe.

The use of the insurance risk score to determine a person’s SR22 insurance quote hasn’t been debated in full yet. There have been lawsuits, which failed, saying that using credit reports for insurance quotes was discriminatory since it disproportionately affected minorities and lower income families. Until one of these lawsuits succeeds, you’ll have to keep an eye on your credit if you want a cheap SR22 insurance quote.

Will Paying My Auto Insuance Policy Late Affect My SR22 Form?

Q: I’m not sure if I can pay my car insurance this month. The problem is that I have an SR22 form on file, so I’m wondering if this will affect me worse.

A: Well, the whole point behind that SR22 form is that you are required to prove that you have car insurance in order to continue driving. If you allow your car insurance to lapse or be cancelled, then you will lose your license. While in many cases you can get it back, it will be a lot of hassle and cost more than just paying your premium would have.

Allowing your car insurance to lapse does more than just that. It leaves a mark on your insurance record which will last even after you are required to file the SR22 form, because if you fail to pay your premium it goes on your credit report. Future companies will see this, note that you are unreliable, and proceed to either charge you more, or not give you car insurance at all.

Instead of taking a defeatist attitude, be proactive. Call your car insurance company and see what ways they have for you to save money. If all else fails, start shopping.