INVESTIGATION: These could increase your auto insurance rates!

[Consumer Reports]   Friend, We’ve all heard the sales pitch — Flo from Progressive and the Gecko from GEICO promising us big savings on our auto insurance. But a new Consumer Reports investigation has revealed a potentially discriminatory practice that Flo and the Gecko don’t mention when quoting a rate: Both companies ask some prospective customers about their education level and job title to help set their rate quotes. And our investigation found in some states that Progressive and GEICO actually quote higher premiums to those consumers who have less education and lower-paying job titles! No one should have to pay a penny more for auto insurance just because they haven’t graduated college or have a lower-paying job! [Sign our petition to Progressive and GEICO to immediately stop this unfair practice.](  [Sign the petition](  Our investigation of nine major auto insurers in six states and Washington, D.C., found that Progressive and GEICO were the only two companies to use both education and job title in quoting preliminary rates. For consumers with less education, GEICO quoted $115 more per year on average, and Progressive $101 more annually. The companies also quoted higher rates for applicants with typically lower-paying job titles than those with better-paying jobs, like management positions (Geico $97, Progressive $31, more annually on average). Consumer Reports continues to call on auto insurance companies to price consumers on how they drive, not who they are. In 2015, our investigation found that credit scores could have a greater impact on premiums than any other factor — including driving records. This latest report underscores the unfairness of using socioeconomic factors to set consumers’ auto insurance rates — and could result in Black and Latino drivers paying more. Because of systemic racism and economic disparities, people of color have historically had less access to higher education and employment opportunities. [Join us in demanding Progressive and GEICO immediately stop using education and occupation in rate-setting. It’s blatantly unfair!](  [Sign the petition](  Together, we can change the auto insurance marketplace so it’s fair for everyone. But we need all consumers to be aware of these companies’ controversial practices — and join us in pressuring them to stop. Please forward this email to friends and family, and share our petition on your social media channels. Thank you, Marcus Jones Consumer Reports [Unsubscribe from Consumer Reports action alerts.]( © 2020 Consumer Reports, 101 Truman Avenue, Yonkers, NY, 10703 [Contact Consumer Reports](