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Dear Terry,
I wanted to check into the cost for auto insurance since I have not compared pricing in more than 15 years. However, when
I called to make an inquiry, I was told they needed our driver's license numbers, Social Security numbers, etc.
I asked why they needed our Social Security numbers and was told they pull credit reports of prospective
customers. Does this credit pull affect the credit score? If I check with eight different insurance companies, could that
cause an adverse effect on the credit score?
Please advise me, because now I'm dragging my feet to do this comparison since I don't really want them pulling
my credit score until I know if it affects the score.
-- Wilma
Dear Wilma,
Your credit situation -- along with your driving record -- can affect your auto insurance rates. The thinking is that someone
with bad credit is less likely to take proper care while driving. So, most agencies will check your credit before giving you a quote.
Because it's not an application for credit, the inquiries shouldn't drive down your credit score. But I don't
think you'll need to check with eight companies for the best rates. A check with about three should give you a good range of
what's out there. And you can compare insurance rates on InsureMe.com (a Bankrate company).
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