what can car insurance companies not ask you

[BraxtonRose]

Car insurance companies are legally prohibited from asking you questions about certain protected personal characteristics, as these are not considered valid factors for determining your insurance risk or premium. The core restrictions are based on federal laws like the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and state-specific regulations, which prevent discrimination. They cannot ask about your race, religion, national origin, or genetic information. Questions about your credit score are permitted in most states as a risk factor, but insurers cannot use this information to discriminate based on those protected classes.

The primary categories of prohibited questions include:

Prohibited Question Category	Specific Examples	Legal Basis / Reasoning
Race, Color, & National Origin	Inquiring about your ethnicity, birthplace, or ancestry.	Civil Rights Act, ECOA; these are not indicators of driving risk.
Religion & Creed	Asking your religious affiliation or if you observe certain holidays.	ECOA; considered discriminatory and irrelevant to insurance.
Genetic Information	Requesting results from genetic tests or family medical history.	Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA); prevents discrimination based on predispositions.
Disability	Asking about the nature of a disability unless it directly impacts your ability to drive safely.	Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); must focus on functional ability, not the disability itself.
Marital Status (in some contexts)	Using marital status to unfairly discriminate (e.g., against same-sex couples).	State laws and court rulings; while often asked, its use is regulated.
Income or Education Level	Directly asking for salary or diplomas as a rating factor.	Considered a proxy for discrimination; insurers typically use credit-based insurance scores instead.
Participation in Loyalty Programs	Inquiring about membership in certain retail or warehouse clubs.	Some states, like California, have banned the use of this data for pricing.

If you encounter an application that asks these types of questions, it's a significant red flag. You are not obligated to answer and should consider seeking a quote from a different, more reputable company. The focus should always be on factors directly related to driving risk, such as your driving record, vehicle type, annual mileage, and location.

[StElliot]

Honestly, it’s stuff that’s just none of their business. They can’t ask about your family’s health history or your DNA—that’s protected by law. Your race and religion are totally off-limits, too. If an application starts prying into those areas, it feels sketchy. I’d just close it and find a different company to get a quote from. Stick with questions about your car and your driving history; that’s what actually matters for insurance.

[PaisleyAnn]

Think of it as your personal privacy shield. Insurers are legally blocked from digging into your genetic info under GINA. They also can't ask about your race or religion. While they can check your credit-based insurance score in most areas, they can't use it to discriminate based on those protected categories. If a question feels too personal or unrelated to your driving, you have every right to question why it's being asked. The law is on your side.

[VanAdriel]

From a legal standpoint, the key is relevance to risk. An insurer cannot ask about your ancestry or genetic predispositions, as these have no bearing on your driving ability. Similarly, questions about your faith are prohibited. The gray area often involves credit and marital status; while commonly used, their application is heavily regulated to prevent unfair discrimination. Your best defense is knowledge—understanding that questions about your personal identity, rather than your driving behavior, are likely improper.

[DiThomas]

It’s simple: they can’t ask anything that would lead to unfair discrimination. Federal law stops them from questioning you about your race, your religion, or your family’s medical history. Even though they’ll pull your credit report in most states, they can’t use that information to discriminate based on those other protected factors. The bottom line is that the questions should be about you as a driver, not about who you are. If an agent crosses that line, it’s a sign you’re not dealing with a reputable company.