A consumer’s socioeconomic status is an indicator of race, according to a consumer advocacy group, and that is why minorities often pay higher car insurance premiums.

A 2017 review of the auto insurance industry found that non-driving behaviors were factored into the rates.

Details like zip code, credit score, martial status, education, profession and more can drive up premiums.

Michael DeLong of the Consumer Federation of America said little has changed in the four years since the study.

Of the non-determining factors, “credit information appears to be the most important,” DeLong said.

A person with a perfect driving record but bad credit will pay a lot more than a person with a perfect driving record and good credit.

Postal codes also play a key role, which, according to insurers, explains enough the density of the population.

“The Consumer Federation of America and other consumer advocacy groups have conducted studies and found that even after controlling for population density, most African American neighborhoods and zip codes and Hispanic neighborhoods and zip codes end up paying significantly higher premiums, ”DeLong explained.

DeLong recommends that consumers shop around for their auto policies, but cautions that all of the major insurance companies are “bad actors” when it comes to factoring credit scores into premiums.

He also suggests contacting your state’s insurance commissioner and legislators to request a ban on the use of non-determining factors in rate calculations.