The Michigan Supreme Court supported the practice of using credit scores to set auto and home insurance rates of policyholders. Some say that using credit history discriminates against poor and middle-class people. But those in the insurance industry says it makes sense because credit scores are often indicative of whether a person will file claims. Michigan’s high court voted 4-3 in a case that questioned whether the state’s insurance examiner exceeded her authority in 2005 by trying to ban the credit-based scoring, according to the Detroit Free Press. “We’re very pleased with the ruling,” Peter Kuhnmuench of the Insurance Institute of Michigan told the Detroit Free Press. “The evidence was overwhelming.”

Those against the policy are now trying to get the legislature to ban it. The state House did approve the ban, but early predictions show a different outcome is likely in the Senate. Kuhnmuench told reporters that approving the ban would actually cause rates to increase for two-third of insurance policyholders. On the contrary, a state insurance consumer advocate claims the ban would cut rates for nearly three out of four insurance customers.

Chief Justice Maura Corrigan voted in favor, saying that insurance companies “have demonstrated a clear correlation between insurance scores and risk of loss,” justifying the use of credit scores. Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly who was against eliminating the ban said that the evidence supporting the connection between credit scores and insurance risk was not conclusive or complete.

Did you know that your credit score can impact what your insurance company charges you? Many companies review your credit report to determine the rate you’ll pay. If your less-than-perfect credit is causing you to pay more for car insurance, here are some steps to take.

Review Your Credit Report: Make sure your credit report is accurate. Every consumers in the US is allowed free access to their credit report every twelve months from each of the three main credit reporting agencies. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com for access to yours. Look for any inaccuracies that could be forcing your credit score to be lower than it should be. Make sure there are no signs of identity theft.

Pay Delinquent Accounts: Eliminating any outstanding debts that are in collection will help improve your credit score. Make sure to pay your bills by the due date to avoid an even lower credit score.

Ask for Proof: If your insurance company charges you  higher rates based on your poor credit score they are required to tell you based on the Fair Credit Reporting Act. If they tell you that be sure to ask for proof. They must give you a copy of the credit report they used to obtain the information about your credit score.

Check Around: Quotes vary with different insurance companies. If you’re not pleased with the quote you receive from one company, check around. You may get a better rate for car insurance from someone else.

In these days of the Internet, finding out about getting an auto insurance rate has never been easier. When you visit some insurance company websites to get an online quote, you can actually get several quotes at one time in less than half an hour. Be aware that there can be a vast difference in insurance rates from one company’s website to another. In fact, statistics have proven that the rates can differ as much as 300 percent! For the best rates, it is a good idea to check out as many different companies as possible.