Zip Codes and Credit Scores: Why Your Address and FICO Score May Be Driving Up Your Car Insurance
LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new analysis from CheapInsurance.com reveals that where you live and how you manage your credit may significantly affect what you pay for car insurance even more than your driving history. The findings are part of a broader education initiative tied to the company's latest report, How Often Should You Get a Car Insurance Quote?, which encourages drivers to regularly reassess their policies as insurers weigh unexpected factors in premium pricing.
Key insights from the report and supporting data include:
Your ZIP Code Can Add Hundreds to Your Annual Premium : According to CheapInsurance.com's analysis in Does Your Zip Code Impact Your Car Insurance Rates? , urban residents in high-density or high-claim areas can pay 20–40% more than drivers in neighboring ZIP codes—even when all other factors are equal. Theft rates, accident frequency, and even weather events can all play a role.
Credit Score is Quietly One of the Biggest Factors in Pricing : Many drivers don't realize that their credit score can be as impactful as their driving record when it comes to setting rates. In The Role of Credit Score in Determining Insurance Rates , CheapInsurance.com found that drivers with poor credit may pay up to 60% more than those with excellent credit even if they have a clean driving record.
2 in 3 Drivers Don't Know These Rules Exist : Consumer sentiment is one of confusion and frustration. According to internal surveys, fewer than 1 in 3 drivers are aware that non-driving factors like ZIP code and credit can impact their rates. The result? Many overpay without realizing they're being penalized for something unrelated to their behavior behind the wheel.
Americans can get the best deal by checking their quote every 6-12 months : The article emphasizes the power of regular comparison shopping. With rates shifting due to economic and underwriting trends, checking quotes every 6–12 months is one of the most effective ways to save especially for those who've recently improved their credit or moved to a lower-risk area.
"Drivers are often told that safe driving saves money. But too often, your ZIP code or FICO score does more to shape your premium than your time behind the wheel," said Fausto Bucheli, Founder & President at CheapInsurance.com. "We're committed to helping drivers take back control by understanding how the system works—and how to beat it."
The Bottom Line: Knowledge is Savings CheapInsurance.com offers a growing suite of tools and resources to help consumers better understand what's behind their rates and how to reduce them. From location-based quote comparisons to guidance on improving insurability, the platform helps drivers optimize their coverage without compromising protection.
Explore the Full Report Visit CheapInsurance.com to read How Often Should You Get a Car Insurance Quote? and access comparison tools, savings tips, and expert advice.
About CheapInsurance.com Founded in 1974, CheapInsurance.com is a trusted insurance solutions broker dedicated to helping individuals and families across the United States find affordable, high-quality insurance coverage. With nearly five decades of experience, the company partners with top-rated national insurers to offer a wide array of products, including auto, SR-22, motorcycle, home, renters, life, health, RV, and boat insurance. CheapInsurance.com simplifies the insurance shopping process through its user-friendly online platform, providing instant quotes tailored to each customer's unique needs. By combining unbeatable affordability with reliable coverage options, the company ensures that customers can secure the protection they need without compromising on quality. Headquartered in Chino Hills, California, CheapInsurance.com is committed to delivering exceptional service and value to its clients nationwide. For more information, visit www.cheapinsurance.com or contact info@cheapinsurance.com.
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Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Want more growth? Welcome more immigrants.
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Advertisement What is true nationally is true locally. At a presentation I attended in 2012, Boston's then-mayor Thomas Menino rattled off a slew of numbers that underscored how much foreigners added to the city's prosperity. There were 8,800 immigrant-owned small businesses in Boston, Menino said, producing nearly $3.7 billion in annual sales and employing more than 18,000 people. At the time, immigrants living in Boston were spending $4 billion per year, generating $1.3 billion in state and federal taxes. Since 2012, the To fully understand why robust immigration boosts American prosperity, it is crucial to take into account the contributions of their children . The United States would never have become the world's foremost economic powerhouse if not for the innovations of first-generation Americans — men and women whose parents were immigrants. Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, was the son of an immigrant from Syria. 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Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Social Security email says policy bill eliminates tax on benefits. Does it?
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The email, which went out Thursday, said the new law 'includes a provision that eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries,' and, 'additionally, it provides an enhanced deduction for taxpayers aged 65 and older.' But the enhanced deduction will help reduce households' tax bills on their overall income, including Social Security income. 'The SSA statement implies there is a direct tax cut on Social Security benefits,' said Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan think tank, 'which there is not.' Instead, older single filers will get the extra $6,000 deduction ($12,000 for couples), as long as their income falls under a certain ceiling (below $75,000 for single filers or $150,000 for married joint filers). Above those income levels, the deduction begins to decrease, and it goes away once single taxpayers' income reaches $175,000 ($250,000 for couples). 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Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Miami Herald
The Rise of 84-Month Car Loans: Why Buyers Are Trapped
Regardless of whether you've nervously scrolled through endless listings on dealer websites or wasted hours of your life configuring your dream cars online, it hurts to know that new cars are expensive. According to analysts from Kelley Blue Book and Cox Automotive, dealers are doing the most they can to keep car prices steady; however, the average new car in the U.S. still costs a whopping $48,799 in May 2025, a 2.1% increase from the same month in 2024. Although data shows that tariffs have influenced some buyers in the U.S. to defer or delay their buying decisions, other buyers must finance their cars, which keeps a disturbing trend alive among new car buyers. According to new data released by car buying authority Edmunds, Americans' auto loans are reaching a point where Dave Ramsay and Caleb Hammer would declare a personal finance armageddon. While automakers and dealer groups would advertise their single-digit promotional financing rates as terms that extend over 60 months (5 years) or 72 months (6 years), buyers are stretching their payment plans for much longer. Edmunds reports that in Q2 2025, more buyers than ever are taking out loans over the course of 84 months (7 years), making up about 22.4% of new-vehicle financing in the quarter, up from 20.4% in Q1 2025 and 17.6% during the same period last year. Though buyers are willing to stretch and spread out their loan terms for a lower monthly payment, they aren't being spared from paying out the wazoo every month. According to Edmunds, over 19.3% of new car buyers had monthly payments that exceeded $1,000 in Q2 2025, a notable increase from the 17.7% in the previous quarter. As more buyers opt for extended loan terms, Edmunds' consumer insights analyst Joseph Yoon warns that this could have later consequences, especially as the risks and tribulations of car ownership, such as upkeep costs and depreciation, kick in. "While extended loan terms may make a monthly payment more palatable, consumers need to keep in mind the risks associated with a loan extended that far into the future, including increased costs for upkeep down the line and the risk of being underwater on the loan if the car is traded in before it's paid off," Yoon said. "If payments on a more standard 60- or 72-month loan don't fit your budget, you might consider leasing. While you won't be building equity in your vehicle the way you do with a purchase, leases afford time to get your finances in better shape with lower monthly payments in the meantime." Although ads on TV during select promotional periods, like certain federal holidays, show that your local [insert automotive brand here] dealer is offering 0% APR loans, or a number close to it (such as 0.9%) on a specific model, these kinds of rates are far out of reach for the average new car buyer. Edmunds says that the average buyer financed their cars at an annual percentage rate (APR) of 7.2%. However, this doesn't mean that 0% finance deals don't exist; in fact, they accounted for 0.9% of new-vehicle loans in Q2 2025. This was the lowest share Edmunds recorded since 2004, down from 1% in Q1 2025 and 2.9% in Q2 2024. However, while it is commonly known that a sizable down payment is required to achieve manageable monthly payments, in addition to accepting longer loan terms, Edmunds found that buyers are putting less money down on their new car loans than ever before. According to their data, the average down payment that buyers put down on their new-car loans was $6,433 in Q2 2025, which is down from $6,511 during the previous quarter and $6,579 during the same time last year. At the same time, Edmunds found that new car buyers are financing increasingly expensive vehicles. They found that the average amount financed for new cars climbed to an all-time high of $42,388 in Q2 2025, up from $41,473 during the last quarter and $40,873 during the same time last year. In a statement, Ivan Drury, Edmunds' director of insights, noted that while it would be easy to assume and point fingers at the Trump administration's tariffs, car prices remain steady at a level that car buyers still can't afford. "It's clear that buyers are pulling the few levers they can control to manage affordability, whether that's by taking on longer loans, financing more, or putting less money down - even if some of those decisions increase their total costs," Drury said. "Consumers are continuously stretching to afford new vehicles in this market, and while tariffs haven't directly driven these Q2 numbers, they're certainly not going to make things any easier for shoppers moving forward." We are seeing automakers react to the reality of extended loan payments, too. In fact, the Stellantis-backed Ram Trucks began to offer a best-in-class 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which gives Ford and Chevy something to think about. However, in its press release, Ram acknowledges that the warranty comes as "more buyers opt for extended loan terms." "Everything is more expensive, and trucks are certainly no exception. Truck buyers are financing purchases for longer periods of time, with nearly 80% of new truck loans exceeding five years," Ram Trucks CEO Tim Kuniskis said in a statement. It is one thing for automakers to recognize this reality, but it is another to enable it. This data comes at the same time when auto loan delinquency is at its highest, as 1.4% of auto borrowers were at least 60 days behind on their auto loan payments during the first quarter of 2025, per TransUnion. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
