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How Vehicle Safety Ratings Affect Insurance Rates

Do Vehicle Safety Ratings Affect Insurance Rates?

Insurance companies consider various factors when determining your insurance premiums, including your vehicle’s crash-test ratings and safety features. Organizations like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) provide safety ratings that measure the injury risk for vehicles in crash tests.

Vehicles with higher safety ratings often have fewer and less expensive claims, making them cheaper to insure. However, safety features that reduce accidents can also make vehicles more expensive to repair, which might offset any savings from safety ratings.

Can Added Safety Features Reduce Your Rate?

Many newer vehicles come with safety features that can lower your insurance rates. These features include:

• Forward collision warning
• Lane departure warning
• Rear cross traffic warning
• Blind spot warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Pedestrian automatic emergency braking
• Rear automatic braking
• Blind spot intervention
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane centering assistance
• Lane keeping assistance
• Automatic high beams
• Backup camera
• Automatic crash notification

To determine if these features are worth the investment, contact auto insurance providers for quotes on vehicles with and without these optional safety features. Compare premiums to see how much you could save over the life of the vehicle.

Factors Beyond Safety Ratings That Influence Insurance Costs

While safety ratings are important, other factors also influence your insurance costs:

• Anti-theft devices: Vehicles with alarms or tracking devices are less likely to be stolen and cheaper to insure.
• Vehicle size: Larger vehicles may have better crashworthiness, potentially resulting in lower premiums.
• Your driving history: Speeding tickets, accidents, and other violations can increase your insurance rate.
• Your driving activity: The more you drive, the higher the chances of an accident, which can raise your insurance costs.
• Where you live: Insurance rates are higher in areas with more congestion or higher crime rates.
• Credit history: Poor credit can affect insurance rates in states where insurers use insurance-based credit scores.
• Age: Younger, less experienced drivers are more expensive to insure.
• Coverage options: The coverage amounts you choose affect your insurance costs.
• Deductibles: Opting for a lower deductible can increase your insurance rate.

Because of these factors, buying a safer vehicle won’t automatically result in cheaper insurance premiums. It’s essential to consider all aspects when choosing a vehicle and insurance policy.

The Bottom Line

Owning a car with the latest safety features not only protects you and your passengers but can also reduce your insurance costs. Check your owner’s manual to learn about your vehicle’s safety features and ask your insurance provider about potential discounts.

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