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Credit scores matter to insurance companies, car dealers, and landlords. Here’s why:

• Insurance companies: A lower credit score can result in higher insurance premiums. This is because insurance companies have studied the behavior of credit consumers and view a weak rating as a sign that you are more likely to file a claim.
• Car dealers: Making loans is an important part of an automobile dealership's business model. Many dealers charge fairly high car payment interest rates to begin with, but a sub-prime credit score can motivate a dealer to hike your interest rate to as much as 200% more than the rate charged to customers with credit scores of 700 and higher.
• Landlords: Some property owners reserve the right to check rental applicants' credit records. This right is spelled out in the application you fill out to rent a house or apartment. Landlords may use your rent check to pay their mortgages, and they want to be sure they'll get it on time.