Does Paying My Car Insurance Help Improve My Credit?

Consistency deserves to be rewarded, right? Millions of people make payments on time every month for a lot of things—cell phone, internet, electricity, health insurance, car insurance, etc. Yet, there’s no solid reward for making these payments on time—there are no positive credit consequences for these timely payments.

Credit, of course, is an important part of your financial health, enabling people to access loans, mortgages, and other services to get ahead in life. A person's credit score is calculated based on their history of borrowing and repaying debts.

One major expense that many people have is car insurance. Car insurance provides financial protection against vehicle damage and liability. Paying for car insurance doesn’t directly impact your credit score currently. However, there are some indirect ways that staying insured and making regular premium payments can demonstrate responsible financial behavior and support credit-building.

The question of whether paying car insurance premiums helps build credit is an interesting one to explore. This blog will provide background on credit scores and car insurance. It will then analyze the relationship between making consistent insurance payments and credit profile. The goal is to understand if and how maintaining auto insurance coverage can play a role in developing good credit. Let’s drive!

Understanding Credit & Credit Scores

Credit refers to the ability of a consumer or business to borrow money in order to purchase goods, services or property now with the understanding that it will be paid back in the future, usually with interest. Having good credit and a high credit score is extremely important for obtaining loans, mortgages, credit cards and other types of financing at favorable terms (interest rates, loan length, etc.).

A credit score is a number calculated based on an analysis of a person's credit report and credit history. The score represents their creditworthiness and likelihood of repaying debts. Credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax and TransUnion use scoring models such as FICO to generate credit scores ranging from 300-850—the higher the score, the better.

Key factors that influence credit scores include the payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new credit accounts opened, and types of credit used by the individual. Having a high credit score demonstrates financial responsibility and trustworthiness to lenders. Monitoring and maintaining a good credit score allows consumers to qualify for the best rates on financial products, while a low or non-existent score can prevent approval or lead to higher interest costs. Understanding how to properly manage credit and keep credit scores high is a critical personal finance skill that can set you up for what you want in life.

The Relationship Between Car Insurance Payments & Credit Scores

Unlike lines of credit, car insurance companies typically do not report on-time payments to the major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). As a result, timely payments for car insurance do not directly contribute to improving your credit score. Credit bureaus mainly assess payment history related to loans, mortgages, credit cards and similar credit accounts—not insurance payments.

However, if you miss, pay late, or default on car insurance payments, this can get reported to credit bureaus and negatively impact your credit score. When an auto insurance policy lapses due to non-payment, insurers may submit this to credit agencies who can list it on your credit report as a collections account. Too many late payments may also lead the insurer to cancel your policy altogether.

Limited credit history and low credit scores can also impact your car insurance rates. In fact, according to ValuePenguin, “Poor credit increases annual car insurance rates by 72% compared to good credit.” Many auto insurers use credit-based insurance scores as a factor in pricing policies and determining eligibility. Maintaining a good credit score shows financial responsibility, which equates to lower-risk and, thus, lower premiums.

Are Car Insurance Payments A Credit-Building Strategy?

Paying car insurance on time isn’t an effective direct credit-building strategy since auto insurers do not report timely payments to credit bureaus. However, it may indirectly help credit scores by preventing lapsed policies and collections from being reported. Individuals new to credit should instead focus on other tools to build history.

If you have limited or poor credit, using secured credit cards, becoming an authorized user on a family member's account, or opening a credit builder loan can directly strengthen your credit file by demonstrating responsible use over time. These get reported to bureaus to show payment history.

Car insurance helps credit indirectly by minimizing negative marks if you maintain payments. A lapsed policy due to non-payment would negatively impact your credit history. As you build credit with other tools, keeping up with bills like insurance prevents setbacks. And as you learned above, maintaining good credit scores can lead to lower car insurance rates over time.

While timely car insurance payments support financial responsibility, it is better to directly focus on credit cards, loans, or other tools that creditors actively report on. Paying insurance bills on time avoids negatives, but more proactive credit history building yields faster results.

Credit Builder Loans As An Alternative Credit-building Option

A credit builder loan is a unique financial product specifically designed to help consumers with limited credit history establish and build credit. With a credit builder loan, the loan is kept in a locked savings account right away, and the borrower receives the funds after it is paid off. The borrower makes monthly payments over a set repayment term (typically 6-24 months), which are reported to the major credit bureaus.

Unlike auto insurance payments which are not reported for positive credit history, credit builder loans allow borrowers to demonstrate responsible usage of credit to potential future lenders. The key benefit is actively building a positive payment record. Interest rates are also typically lower than unsecured personal loans or credit cards.

By making on-time payments each month, borrowers establish positive payment history in their credit file. This can significantly improve credit scores over time provided the loan is paid as agreed. The funds in the locked savings account are then unlocked and released to the borrower at the end of the loan term.

Benefits of Credit Builder Loans for Poor or Nonexistent Credit Histories

Credit builder loans are a great tool for those who don’t have access to traditional loans or credit cards quite yet. Here are the main benefits of getting a credit builder loan:

• Build credit history - If you make your monthly payments on your credit builder loan on time and in full, this shows potential future lenders that you can responsibly repay your debts each month. After 12-24 months of consistent payments, you'll have an established credit history.

• Improve credit score - Making all your payments on time will improve your credit score over time. A higher score makes you eligible for better loan terms from lenders. The main purpose of a credit builder loan in the first place is to establish a solid credit history and raise your credit score.

• Low fees - Credit builder loans charge lower interest rates and fees compared to alternatives like payday loans or title loans. Typical APR is around 15-20%.

• Flexible terms - You can often choose the loan repayment term, such as 6, 12 or 24 months. Longer terms mean smaller monthly payments, and a longer time for your credit score to rise.

• Fixed payments - Your monthly payment stays the same over the loan term, making it easy to budget for. There are no surprises or changes.

• Fast approval - Credit builder loans don't require a credit check. As long as you have income, you can likely qualify.

• Build savings - Some lenders report your monthly payments to the credit bureaus, but hold the loan amount in a savings account. Once paid off, you get access to the savings plus an improved credit score.

Qualities To Look For In A Creditbuilder Loan Lender

Borrowers want (and deserve) quality lenders that prioritize them as a person, and not just a number or someone to make money off of. Here are key things you should look for in a lender when researching creditbuilder loans:

• Reputable company with positive customer reviews and many years in business. Avoid new or sketchy lenders.

• Reports loan payments to all 3 major credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. This ensures it will build your credit.

• Flexible loan terms between 6-24 months, so you can choose an affordable monthly payment.

• Fixed interest rate that stays the same over the loan term, with no surprises.

• No prepayment penalties if you pay off the loan early.

• Fast and easy application and funding process.

Complementary Strategies for Credit Improvement

Having a mix of credit types can help build a strong credit profile. Carrying a reasonable amount of debt through an installment loan demonstrates you can manage longer-term payments. Having a credit card or two and keeping balances low shows lenders you can responsibly manage revolving credit.

Make sure to use each credit account periodically to keep it active, and make at least the minimum monthly payments on time, ideally paying statement balances in full (helps with credit utilization ratio).

Keep credit utilization below 30% across all cards. High balances relative to your credit limits damage your credit score even if you pay on time. Also, limit new credit applications to avoid too many hard inquiries on your report, which will bring your score down.

You should also check your credit reports regularly and dispute any errors with the credit bureaus. Mistakes like duplicated accounts or debts belonging to someone else can negatively impact your score. Provide evidence when disputing items and follow up until resolved.

Lastly, pay all bills on time including utilities, rent and car insurance. Even non-credit accounts get reported as a collection on your credit report when there are missed payments.

Making Smart Credit-building Decisions

Before applying for new credit, reflect on your financial goals and how potential accounts may help build credit responsibly. Those looking to buy a home within a few years should focus on installment loans and moderate use of credit cards to demonstrate long-term payment history. Someone needing a credit boost quickly could open a new card but minimize utilization. Know your goals before choosing credit products.

Another important strategy at the beginning of your credit builder loan journey is to build a budget to ensure you can manage new credit payments without taking on excessive debt. Factor in income, existing obligations, and projected credit payments before assuming more financial responsibilities.

For personalized strategies or more complex help, seek professional financial advice. A credit counselor can evaluate your reports and suggest optimal types of credit, ideal utilization ratios, and ways to maximize positive reporting. Their guidance can help you avoid common credit pitfalls while efficiently improving your profile.

Being an informed consumer when building credit leads to responsible decisions that improve scores. Assess your needs, budget wisely, and tap financial experts to chart the best credit-building course.

Bottom Line

While paying car insurance premiums on time supports financial responsibility, it does not directly help build credit history. This is because auto insurers typically do not report positive payment information to credit bureaus. However, missed or late payments can negatively impact credit.

For those with limited credit, it is better to focus on tools like secured credit cards, authorized user status, and credit builder loans which are actively reported for positive payment history. These allow you to demonstrate responsible usage over time and significantly improve credit scores. Before taking on new credit, assess your financial goals and budget to ensure you can manage additional payments.

The journey to good credit requires informed decision-making, responsible usage of credit products, and help from experts. With a thoughtful approach, you can establish and maintain a strong credit profile over time to access better financial products and reach your goals.

Maybe someday on-time car insurance payments will be able to be on your credit profile, but in the meantime, there are other great credit-building strategies you can utilize, like credit builder loans. Keep making those insurance payments on time though—it will pay off in the end!

Want to learn more in-depth about other credit-building strategies you can do to take your credit to the next level? Learn more here.