Consumer Reports Issues Warning to Consumers on Insurance Scores

Yonkers, N.Y. – The August issue of Consumer Reports warns consumers that even drivers who have spotless driving records and have never had an at-fault accident may be faced with higher premiums if their insurer uses credit-based insurance scores.The report describes credit-based insurance scores as numbers that are computed from bill-paying and loan data collected by the major credit bureaus. They have become as important in determining annual premiums as driving records and neighborhoods, the magazine states.

Consumer Reports' investigation found that scores and their uses vary among insurers and that credit-based insurance scoring could cost many drivers hundreds of extra dollars.