Credit scores (also known as credit ratings) are important as they help banks, mortgage providers, and credit card companies decide whether to lend you money.
Insurance companies sometimes use it as well. This is how it works.
Is car insurance included on your credit report?
Your credit score will not be affected if you pay your car insurance in one lump payment.
But if you pay monthly, it usually will. Your insurance provider will give you car insurance for a year and allow you to pay it off monthly. You’re entering into a credit agreement with them, which is a type of high-interest loan.
This credit agreement will leave a small mark on your credit score, much like when you apply to a loan. Your insurer will review your credit file to see if you are able to repay them. This “hard check” may also be seen by future creditors.
These marks can make it appear that you are in serious financial trouble. This can lower your score.
Paying monthly is also more expensive, because you’ll be charged interest on the amount you owe.
Spreading the cost of your car’s insurance can be a good way to budget, but there are many downsides. We’re changing the way this works at Cuvva with a new kind of pay-monthly car insurance.
Do insurers check your credit report?
Many insurers will verify your credit reports. There are two types of credit checks: soft searches and hard searches.
Soft checks
A soft search or “soft check” is a credit report that’s checked to ensure you aren’t lying about your identity.
Soft checks won’t affect credit scores and you will only be able to see the record.
Your insurer will not run a soft test if you have car insurance for one year.
Hard checks
If you wish to make monthly payments, your insurance company will usually run a thorough check.
This is because most pay-monthly policies are credit agreements. Your insurer will not allow you to conduct a hard check if you aren’t being granted credit.
Anyone who checks your credit report in the future will see these hard checks.
Credit score can be affected by having your credit report re-examined a lot, especially if you are continually rejected.
This is a good reason to pay upfront, especially if your goal is to get a large loan (like a mortgage) in the near future.
Before they do a thorough credit check, a company should inform you.
A bad credit score can mean that you won’t be able to get insurance
Most insurance companies require a deposit when you spread out the cost of your car insurance over a year. You will still need cash on hand.
An insurance company may require you to pay monthly if that is the only option. They could reject your application if you have poor credit scores.
You might find a better way to pay your car insurance, such as a credit card. This is more cost-effective than getting another loan from an insurer if you have poor credit. You should also keep in mind that credit cards can be more expensive than insurance companies.
A bad credit score can cause your price to go up
Insurance companies calculate the price you pay based upon how risky you are.
They consider many factors when setting your price, including your job title and your postcode. Bad credit scores are a sign that you are not able to manage debt well.
People with bad credit scores are also more likely to make a claim, and that can add a hefty chunk to the price of your car insurance.
It could also increase your excess.
These additional costs are in addition to the monthly interest you will be paying. Unfortunately, this can be higher for people with bad credit histories.
How car insurance quotes can impact your credit score
Getting a quote for car insurance (whether that’s through a comparison site or directly with the insurer) won’t affect your credit score.
Insurance companies will only run a minimal check when you request a quote.
Only when you apply for the service will a hard check be applied. This is only true if you pay monthly.
When you take out an insurance policy, you’ll be given a 14-day ‘cooling-off period’ in which you can change your mind. By law, insurance companies must give you a cooling off period.
If you decide to change your mind and go with another insurance company, the first hard-check will remain on your file and another one will be available for your application.
This could be a problem if your goal is to improve credit scores.
How paying monthly can help you improve your credit score
It’s not all bad news, if you have monthly car insurance.
Monthly car insurance payments are a type of ‘instalment loans’. These monthly payments appear on your credit report. This can help build your credit score.
Your credit rating will be affected if you miss or are late with a payment. Your insurer could also cancel your policy. This is why setting up direct debit payments is so important.
(Failing to pay car insurance could also result in a County Court Judgement. This is not fun.
Your credit score and your excess
Your compulsory excess, like the total price of your car insurance is calculated using lots of different pieces of information about your life.
It usually includes things like your age, postcode, and the car you drive. It could also include your credit score. Because of the fact that claims are more likely for those with lower credit scores,
You could have a negative impact on your credit score if you don’t cancel your auto insurance.
Cancelling your car insurance policy shouldn’t affect your credit score, whether you pay monthly or annually. You must cancel it in writing.
If you pay monthly, you can’t just cancel your direct debit. You will need to inform your insurance company that you wish to cancel, and pay any admin fees.
You’ll be liable for missed payments if you don’t cancel your policy in a timely manner. Pay-monthly car insurance can be a credit agreement which could negatively impact your credit score.
If you do miss any payments, it’ll stay on your car insurance record for about 7 years.
Your credit score won’t be affected by temporary car insurance policies.
Temporary car insurance policies usually last between 1 day and 1 month. The cover is paid upfront, and doesn’t affect your credit score.
Named drivers are not subject to credit checks. The named driver does not have to worry about the credit score showing up on their credit report. The main policyholder does not have to worry about their insurance price going up if the named drivers has poor credit scores.
The three major Credit Reference Agencies (CRAs),
Three Credit Reference Agencies (CRAs), located in the UK, collect data about you and give it to lenders: Experian Equifax, TransUnion, and Equifax.
Each one has its own rating system and scoring system. This means that you don’t just have one credit score; you have three.
A lender will check your credit history with at least one of these companies before you apply for credit. They will see basic information about you such as your name and address, along with your date of birth. You will also be able to see how many times your loan applications have been approved, how much you owe and your repayment history.
Different insurers may use different Credit Reference agencies to conduct credit checks, just like other credit companies. It’s worthwhile to check your score with each agency to ensure you are covered.
How to determine your credit score
Knowing your credit score is useful because it will give you an idea of how successful and successful you will be applying for credit.
You can get better loans if you keep your credit score in good standing.
Any of these companies can provide a free statutory report. This is the same information that a lender will see on you.
The Information Commissioners’ office can help you get a copy.
You can also sign up for one of these companies to have regular access to your score as well as the information in the file. Sometimes, you will need to pay a monthly charge for access.