Why might lower credit scores adversely affect insurance premiums?

Lower credit scores can adversely affect insurance premiums primarily because they are often seen by insurers as an indicator of potential risk. A lower credit score suggests that an individual may have a history of financial instability, which can correlate with higher claim frequency. Insurers analyze various data points to assess risk, and numerous studies have shown that individuals with lower credit scores tend to file more claims than those with higher scores.

The rationale behind this is straightforward: financial stress can lead to different behaviors, such as more claims being made or lesser care in managing risks (e.g., not maintaining a vehicle), which raises the likelihood of losses for the insurer. Therefore, a lower credit score can result in higher premiums being charged to account for this expected higher frequency of claims, as insurers seek to protect their financial interests by compensating for the increased risk.