Does Getting a Car Insurance Quote Affect Your Credit Score?
Last Updated on February 5, 2026
Shopping around for car insurance is smart—but it’s normal to wonder: does getting a car insurance quote affect your credit score?
In most cases, no. Insurers may review credit information for pricing in states where it’s allowed, but quote-related checks are generally treated as soft inquiries, which aren’t supposed to impact your credit score.
Below is what actually happens when you request quotes, how soft vs. hard inquiries work, and what to do if you live in a state that limits the use of credit in auto insurance.
- Quotes Usually Don’t Lower Your Score: Car insurance quotes typically involve soft inquiries, which generally don’t affect credit scores.
- Soft and Hard Checks Aren’t the Same: Hard inquiries are tied to credit applications; soft inquiries are common for insurance and other permitted reviews.
- Insurance Scoring Uses a Different Model: Many insurers use a credit-based insurance score derived from credit report data, not the lender-style score you see for loans.
- State Rules Vary: Some states restrict or prohibit credit use in auto insurance pricing—always confirm your state’s rules before assuming credit is a factor.
- Do Car Insurance Quotes Affect Your Credit Score?
- Soft vs. Hard Inquiries
- When Insurers Check Credit for Auto Insurance
- Quotes Without a Credit Check
- Insurers Use Credit-Based Insurance Scores, Not Just “Your Credit Score”
- States That Limit the Use of Credit in Auto Insurance
- What Actually Can Hurt Your Insurance Costs
- Final Word
- FAQs on Car Insurance Quotes and Credit Scores
Do Car Insurance Quotes Affect Your Credit Score?
No—requesting car insurance quotes typically does not lower your credit score. Most insurers use a soft inquiry when they check credit-related information for insurance purposes. Soft inquiries can show on your personal credit report, but they aren’t usually visible to lenders and generally don’t affect scoring.
Soft vs. Hard Inquiries
Credit inquiries generally fall into two buckets. The key difference is whether you’re applying for credit (hard) or your credit file is being reviewed for another allowed reason (soft).
| Type of Inquiry | Common Examples | Does It Affect Your Credit Score? |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Inquiry | Insurance quote review, employment screening, checking your own credit | Typically no |
| Hard Inquiry | Applying for a credit card, mortgage, auto loan, new line of credit | Can have a small, temporary impact |
For more detail on how inquiries are categorized, see the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s explanation here: What is a credit inquiry?
When Insurers Check Credit for Auto Insurance
Depending on where you live and the insurer’s underwriting rules, credit-related information may be reviewed at different points in the policy lifecycle:
- Quote stage: Some insurers review credit-based data to refine pricing.
- New policy underwriting: The insurer may re-verify details before binding coverage.
- Renewal: In some states, insurers can re-run rating factors at renewal (rules vary).
If you want the deeper “why,” see our breakdown of how credit can affect car insurance rates.
Quotes Without a Credit Check
You can often get a ballpark estimate without sharing credit-sensitive information. Many tools and insurers can show preliminary ranges using basics like your ZIP code, vehicle, and driving history—then finalize pricing after verification.
If you’re trying to minimize what you share up front, start here: compare quotes without a credit check.
Quick tip: You can usually get a rough price range without entering an SSN. Save sensitive info until you’re ready to finalize a policy, and review these safeguards first: no sensitive personal info for an auto quote.
Insurers Use Credit-Based Insurance Scores, Not Just “Your Credit Score”
When insurers use credit-related information, they typically don’t rely on the same score a lender uses for a loan. Many use a credit-based insurance score (sometimes called an “insurance score”), which is derived from credit report data but built to predict insurance risk rather than loan repayment risk.
If you want to understand how these scores work and what goes into them, see our guide to credit-based insurance scores and the NAIC’s overview: Credit-Based Insurance Scores (NAIC).
States That Limit the Use of Credit in Auto Insurance
Auto insurance is regulated at the state level. While credit-based insurance scoring is allowed in many states, some states restrict or prohibit how insurers can use credit information for underwriting or pricing. The restrictions can differ (for example, limiting credit’s use for renewals, limiting adverse actions, or banning credit-based pricing entirely).
Because rules change and the details matter, the most reliable approach is to check your state’s Department of Insurance guidance and review the NAIC summary here: state approaches to credit-based insurance scores (NAIC).
What Actually Can Hurt Your Insurance Costs
Even though requesting quotes usually doesn’t affect your credit score, there are other issues that commonly raise premiums or create underwriting problems—especially around payment history and continuous coverage.
- If you’re late paying, learn what can happen next: what if my car insurance payment is late?
- If your coverage ends, it can get expensive to restart: what if my car insurance lapses?
Final Word
Getting a car insurance quote typically does not affect your credit score because quote-related checks are generally handled as soft inquiries. You can shop multiple insurers without treating it like a loan application.
If you’re privacy-conscious, start with estimates that don’t require sensitive information, then confirm final pricing when you’re ready to move forward. And if you live in a state that restricts credit use in auto insurance, double-check the rules with your state insurance department.
