Does not paying your auto insurance affect credit?

Your auto insurance payment history won't affect credit, although late payments may cause other issues.

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Laura Gunn

Insurance and Finance Writer

Laura Gunn is a former teacher who uses her passion for writing and learning to help others make the best decisions regarding finance and insurance. After stepping away from the classroom, Laura used her skills to write across many different industries including insurance, finance, real estate, home improvement, and healthcare.  Her experience in various industries has helped develop both her ...

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Laura Gunn
Brandon Frady

Licensed Insurance Agent

Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi...

Reviewed by
Brandon Frady

Updated December 2024

Times may have been challenging, and you’ve run into some financial issues. You may be struggling to pay some bills. If you can’t make your car insurance payments, will that impact your credit? Does unpaid car insurance go on your credit? Alternatively, does making on-time payments build your credit?

does not paying your auto insurance affect credit?

Let’s take a look at answering questions such as how does car insurance affect credit score, does car insurance build credit, and does a late insurance payment affect credit.

Here's what you need to know...

  • As insurance companies do not report to credit agencies, making your payments will not affect your credit score
  • If you don’t pay your auto insurance premiums, this will not impact your credit score, but it may affect your ongoing coverage
  • Some insurance companies may check credit scores before quoting an auto insurance premium

Does paying for insurance build credit?

If you’ve been juggling bills due to a short-term cash crunch, you may be worried about being able to make your auto insurance premium payment on time. In this case, you may have concerns that a late payment could find its way onto your credit report and affect your score.

Does not paying insurance affect credit? Do insurance companies report to credit bureaus? The insurance companies do not report payment histories to rating agencies, so a late payment should not impact your score.  

However, does auto insurance affect credit score in a positive way? For example, can insurance build credit instead? It’s always best to pay your insurance premiums on time and maintain a good payment history. However, this won’t help build your credit as the insurance companies do not report your record to the credit rating agencies.

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What happens if you don’t pay your auto insurance bill?

But on the other hand, you may ask, if I don’t pay my car insurance, will it affect my credit? Does an insurance lapse affect credit If you only make late payments here or there, this won’t affect your credit score.

However, if you fall into significant arrears or don’t pay your bill at all, the company may initiate debt collection activities. This type of activity could find its way onto your credit report to be accessed by future lenders. So, does not paying your car insurance affect credit? Potentially, yes.

Is there any correlation between auto insurance and credit scores?

There is a slight correlation between your credit and car insurance. When you’re looking for auto insurance, you might wonder, do car insurance companies check your credit? And yes, some auto insurance companies may check your credit score when applying for coverage, although you can find a car insurance quote without a credit check. Car insurance companies will assess your score, which may impact the size of your premium.

Companies that match auto insurance and your credit score may determine that an individual with a low credit score might cost them more money over the long term, and they may charge them a higher rate in this situation. However, even the insurance company does perform a credit check for car insurance, they will also consider many other factors when setting premiums, including previous claims, age, and driving history.

What if you don’t pay your insurance bill on time?

So, what happens if you don’t pay your car insurance on time? Does not paying car insurance affect credit? In other words, do late insurance payments affect credit? While late payments may not affect a credit score, your coverage could be impacted.

Some companies may automatically suspend coverage if they do not receive an installment on time or within a grace period for car insurance payments. You can check specific companies’ details by looking up the car insurance lapse grace periods such as the Mercury insurance payment grace period, State Farm insurance lapse grace period, or the USAA auto insurance grace period.

Should this happen, you have an auto insurance lapse. If your insurance lapses, and you continue to use the vehicle, you may be committing a traffic offense. 

Most states require that you have a minimum level of insurance coverage. Should you be stopped by a law enforcement officer, you could face a fine. They may impound your vehicle. Also, you may be personally liable if you cause a crash when driving without insurance.

Running Into Trouble With the DMV

Insurance companies notify the state DMV whenever there is a lapse in coverage. If you fail to make payments on time, this may result in you getting a letter from the DMV. If so, you need to act quickly, get up to date with the payments, and ensure that your coverage is back on track. 

You must respond to the DMV as there is a risk that they could suspend your vehicle registration and driver’s license. As this may take some time and effort on your part to fix, it’s always best to ensure that you pay the premiums by the due date.

Final Thoughts: Does your insurance payment history affect your credit?

While your auto insurance payment history will not directly affect your credit, you’ll want to avoid any significant payment issues that may be turned over to a collection agency or reported to your state’s DMV. A late payment could invalidate your insurance, lead to a fine, or result in personal liability in the event of an accident.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does not paying your auto insurance affect your credit?

A lot of drivers ask, will not paying car insurance affect credit? If so, can not paying car insurance affect credit in a bad way? And yes, not paying your auto insurance can have a negative impact on your credit. But there’s also the matter of late payments. Does paying your car insurance late affect your credit? Insurance companies often report non-payment or late payment of premiums to credit bureaus, which can result in a negative entry on your credit report. This negative information can lower your credit score and potentially make it more difficult for you to obtain credit in the future.

How does non-payment of auto insurance affect credit?

You might ask, does unpaid insurance go on your credit? Does a car insurance company report to credit bureaus? When you fail to pay your auto insurance premiums on time, your insurance provider may report the missed payments to credit bureaus. These missed or late payments can be viewed as a sign of financial irresponsibility and can lower your credit score.

So, there can be a correlation between a missed insurance payment and your credit score.

A lower credit score can affect your ability to obtain loans, credit cards, or other forms of credit, and it may even result in higher interest rates or insurance premiums.

Can non-payment of auto insurance lead to debt collection?

What about the relationship between car insurance and debt collection? Can car insurance companies send you to collections? Yes, non-payment of auto insurance can lead to debt collection efforts. If you consistently fail to pay your premiums, your insurance provider may consider your account in default and take steps to recover the outstanding balance. This can involve hiring a debt collection agency to pursue payment on their behalf.

Debt collection activities can further damage your credit and may result in additional fees and legal consequences. So pay your car insurance or collections agencies could come after you.

Are there any exceptions or grace periods for non-payment of auto insurance?

You are probably wondering, do I have a grace period on my car insurance? Each insurance company has its own policies regarding non-payment and grace periods. Some companies may offer a grace period, typically a few days, during which you can make a late payment without penalty.

However, it’s important to review your insurance policy or contact your insurance provider directly to understand their specific policies and any potential consequences for non-payment.

Can I rebuild my credit after non-payment of auto insurance?

Alternatively, you may ask, can paying car insurance build credit? Yes, you can work towards rebuilding your credit after experiencing negative impacts due to non-payment of auto insurance. The key is to establish a positive payment history by making timely payments on all your financial obligations, including insurance premiums.

Over time, as you demonstrate responsible financial behavior, your credit score can improve. Additionally, you may consider working with a credit counseling service or seeking professional advice to help you develop a strategy for rebuilding your credit. So, do car insurance payments build credit? Yes, if you go about it the right way.

What happens if you don’t pay your insurance premium?

Some drivers might have many questions, such as, if I don’t pay my insurance, will it affect my credit? Or does a late car insurance payment affect credit? Can unpaid car insurance policies go to collections? Yes, not paying your insurance or having a history of late payments can affect your credit. And in some cases, you can be sent to collections if you do not pay your car insurance premium.

Does changing car insurance affect credit score?

When looking for coverage, you may be curious about does checking car insurance affect credit? Typically no, your credit score should not be impacted simply by checking out or switching car insurance companies. However, the inverse question – does credit score affect car insurance? – is different. If you have an insurance lapse, you may be required to pay higher rates, and if you have a low credit score, you may be considered a higher risk driver and thus have more expensive premiums.

How does paying car insurance build credit?

If you are trying to improve your credit score, you might ask, how does paying for car insurance build credit? By proving you can reliably make payments, you can increase your credit rating.

Is there a grace period for car insurance payments?

If you are struggling to make your car insurance payments on time, you might find yourself wondering, what if I miss my car insurance payment? Is there a late fee for car insurance or is there a grace period with car insurance? Yes, most car insurance companies offer a grace period, but the specifics could vary.

However, you should do whatever you can to ensure that you do not have a late car insurance payment. Not paying your car insurance could result in you having to pay a car insurance late fee or even having your coverage dropped.

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