Economics

Some Car Insurers Charge More to Those with Less Education

Debate over whether that's a valid demographic factor

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Blue-collar workers without college degrees may pay as much as 21 percent more for car insurance in Chicago than a more highly educated plant supervisor, a study has found.

The non-profit Consumer Federation of America studied online rate quotes from 10 big insurers serving 10 big cities.

It found that five—GEICO, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, Farmers and American Family—"apparently" use education and occupation in their rate-making in most states. It commended State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Nationwide and Travelers for not using education or occupation in their rate-making, at least not in the 10 states studied.