When i request auto insurance quote, why do they check my credit file?

Because you auto insurance rate is partially based on your credit rating. The better the credit rating, the lower the insurance rate. It's stupid, but another way for them to increase the rate. It's based on the theory that people with good credit ratings are more responsible and thus less likely to have an accident. There may be some actuarial truth to this.

When you get an insurance quote they do pull at least two reports ~ a credit report and believe it or not we all have an auto insurance report that insurance companies look at ~ it's contents is similar to DMV because it contains some of your driving history (I'm not sure as to what exactly it contains) and similar to the credit report a score is formulated to determine your risk factor ~ the most popular one that I know of is Choice Trust

I believe that they may check your credit file as a form of identification ~ also insurance rates are higher for the city and state you live

They view poor credit ratings as a sign of being irresponsible and therefore an insurance risk.

Mountain said it right on!

Responsibility is not easily measured but credit rating is a pretty good indicator don't ya think?

It's pretty simple. The insurance companies have statistics showing that people who don't pay their bills get into more car accidents and have more claims filed by and against them. It's the same reason young drivers receive higher insurance rates; they are higher risk drivers.