In many states, insurers may use a credit-based insurance score as one factor in pricing home insurance. It is not the same as a lending credit score, but it draws on similar information from your credit report, such as payment history and how much debt you carry.

You do not need perfect credit to benefit from improvements. Paying bills on time, keeping credit card balances low and avoiding unnecessary new accounts can all help over time. Check your credit reports for errors at least once a year, and dispute anything that looks wrong. Mistakes are more common than many people expect.

Rules on using credit in insurance pricing vary by state, and some states limit or prohibit it. Ask your insurer whether it uses credit-based scores where you live and whether it will re-check your score at renewal. If your credit has improved noticeably since you bought your policy, that alone can be a good reason to request updated pricing and gather a few new quotes.