Do Car Insurance Rate Factors Discriminate?

What Happened to Auto Insurance Discrimination Act? (H.R. 3693 – 2019)

In 2019, lawmakers introduced a bold proposal to curb what many consider to be unfair practices in the car insurance industry. The Prohibit Auto Insurance Discrimination Act (H.R. 3693), introduced by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, aimed to ban insurers from using several non-driving-related personal factors—like credit score, ZIP code, or marital status—when setting rates. But what happened to this bill? And what would it have meant for everyday drivers?

What Was H.R. 3693 (2019)?

This bill sought to eliminate discrimination in auto insurance pricing by preventing companies from using factors unrelated to actual driving behavior. Specifically, it would have prohibited insurers from using the following when determining rates or eligibility:

Gender
Marital status
Credit score
Employment status
ZIP code or census tract

The legislation also required that underwriting rules and rate filings be made publicly available—promoting greater transparency for consumers and regulators alike.

Why Was It Introduced?

Supporters of the bill argued that using these non-driving factors often leads to systemic inequities. For example, drivers in predominantly minority neighborhoods or those with lower incomes could be charged significantly more—even if they had clean driving records—simply due to their credit history or ZIP code.

Rep. Watson Coleman described the bill as an effort to make car insurance pricing more equitable and data-driven, rather than relying on income-based proxies.

Did the Bill Pass?

No. H.R. 3693 was introduced on July 10, 2019, during the 116th Congress. It was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services and also to the Energy and Commerce Committee, but it did not advance beyond the committee stage. The bill ultimately expired with the close of that Congressional session in early 2021.

Was There Any Follow-Up?

As of 2025, no identical replacement bill has passed into law. However, some states have taken their own steps to limit or ban the use of credit scores or ZIP codes in auto insurance pricing. California, Michigan, and Massachusetts have led efforts in this area—while federal efforts have remained stalled.

Did You Know?
According to consumer advocates, a driver with a perfect record but poor credit may pay hundreds more per year than a driver with a DUI but excellent credit. That’s the kind of pricing gap H.R. 3693 hoped to eliminate.

Final Thoughts

While H.R. 3693 never became law, it spotlighted a growing concern about how car insurance is priced in the U.S. As more consumers and lawmakers call for fairness and transparency in insurance underwriting, similar bills may emerge in future Congressional sessions.

Want to Learn More?

Read the full bill text on Congress.gov, or check out our guides on how credit scores affect car insurance and state-by-state insurance pricing rules.