Oregon Working to Ban This Controversial Car Insurance Practice
Andrew Koole
· 3 min read
Oregon Governor Kate Brown has introduced a bill to the state’s legislative assembly that targets credit-based
car insurance
policies. If passed, the bill would outlaw the use of credit history
"to determine eligibility, rates or premiums for motor vehicle liability insurance." House Bill 2043
is currently in the hands of the House Committee On Business and Labor.
How your credit score affects your car insurance
The bill was introduced as pressure grows to curb discriminatory insurance practices across the country. The use of a credit score to set rates is particularly under fire after the
Consumer Federation of America
(CFA) released a report revealing that the practice unfairly penalizes moderate- and low-income Americans.Credit scores are usually used by banks and businesses to determine whether you can be trusted to pay off loans over time through
financing agreements
.
Since you purchase your insurance policy before insurers cover you, it might seem odd that your credit score plays a role in setting your rates. But insurance providers decide what you pay for insurance based on perceived risk, and in 2007 the
Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) reported that "credit-based insurance scores… are predictive of the number of claims consumers file and the total cost of those claims." Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
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How does this impact drivers in Oregon?
If your credit score is low, you are statistically more likely to get into a
car accident
, and your insurance provider is more likely to lose money by covering you. To make up for that potential loss, the company will raise your premiums—the lower your score, the more you pay.Your credit history affects your insurance premiums differently based on where you live. But the CFA report shows that in some states, your credit score alone could cause your rate to double.
The state of credit-based insurance in America
There are already limits on how your credit score can affect your insurance in Oregon. Insurance companies can’t deny your application or refuse to renew it based on your credit score. Similar laws also exist in Illinois, New York, and Utah.
These are only a few of the many states currently tackling credit-based insurance. According to
Newsweek
, four other states have already outlawed the practice:- California
- Hawaii
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
Bills and/or temporary bans are in process in the following states
- Colorado (bill passed state Senate, in the House Health and Insurance Committee)
- Maryland (bill recently withdrawn by its sponsor)
- New Jersey (Senate bill awaits hearing from insurance committee)
- Washington (bill in committee with a three-year ban in place)
- West Virginia (in Senate committee)
Federally, a bill was introduced to
Congress
called the PAID Act in February. The bill would outlaw the use of credit scoring for setting insurance rates all over the U.S. It’s currently in the hands of the House Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.Navigating state insurance laws
Car Insurance
laws change drastically from state to state. In Virginia and New Hampshire, you’re not even legally required to have auto insurance! All this variety can make shopping for insurance complicated and scary. Fortunately,
Jerry
makes it quick and easy. Based on your profile, Jerry compares policies and premiums from up to 45 different companies so you know you’re getting the best deal, no matter where you live.
