Some Car Insurers Charge More to Those with Less Education

Debate over whether that's a valid demographic factor

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.