It is difficult to overstate the importance of a good credit report and high credit score to your financial future. The credit report is one of the most important factors determining the interest rate you will pay on mortgages, personal loans and car loans. Generally speaking, the higher your credit report the lower your interest rate, and vice versa.

A negative entry on your credit report can cause you to be charged a higher than necessary interest rate, or even to be turned down altogether for the money you need to buy a car or a home.

Beyond the obvious impact on your financial life and interest rate, however, there are a number of other places your credit report comes into play. For instance, did you know that credit reports play a significant role in auto insurance rates. It is a little known fact of the insurance industry that those with spotty credit histories often pay more for their car insurance than those with better credit, even if their driving records are exactly the same.

Insurance experts say that this is because those with poorer credit records have historically experienced a higher rate of auto accidents and insurance claims. Therefore, it is important to make sure your credit report is as good as possible before applying for insurance coverage.

Credit reports and credit scores can even have an impact on your employment. It is a little known aspect of the credit reporting industry that employers often pull credit reports when deciding whom to hire. Often when the choice is down to two or three candidates, the employer will review their credit reports to determine the best candidate for the job. The thinking behind this is that those with better credit reports tend to have a greater degree of dependability and stability. Whether this is actually true or not, it is important to keep your credit report as clean as possible. Doing so can lower your cost of car insurance, get you a better interest rate on a mortgage or loan, and even help you land your dream job.

More