Safety Features That Could Get You Cheaper Car Insurance
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Written byJ.J. Starr
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J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
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Edited byLequita Westbrooks
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Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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Owning a car with certain safety features car could lower your auto insurance premiums. Many insurance companies offer savings through vehicle safety discounts for features like anti-lock braking systems (ABS), blind-spot detection, airbags, and adaptive cruise control. For example, GEICO offers up to 23% off for vehicles with airbags.
The amount you can save with the discount depends on the insurer, the safety features, and the type of car you drive. Some companies automatically lower your premiums if your vehicle has certain safety features but may not inform you about the discount.
Our guide explores how you can lower your car insurance rates with a safety feature discount, including insurers offering the discount and how to get one.
Do Safety Features Directly Lower Car Insurance Rates?
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Vehicle safety features can lower auto insurance rates, but whether they directly or indirectly affect your rates will vary by insurer, vehicle model, and state. Some insurers offer direct discounts for technologies like anti-lock brakes or advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), while others automatically factor these features into premiums to reduce rates.
For example, State Farm offers a vehicle safety discount, which replaced the passive restraint discount in 2000 to offer as much as 40% off medical payments coverage (MedPay) and personal injury protection (PIP) premiums. On the other hand, Clearcover says it automatically factors vehicle safety features into your premium.
Keep in mind that state-of-the-art safety equipment can raise collision and comprehensive insurance premiums due to higher repair costs. For example, ADAS-equipped vehicles can cost up to $5,300 to repair after a minor collision — that’s about 2.5 times more than cars without these systems, according to a study by AAA.
7 Safety Features That Could Lower Your Rates
Vehicle safety features could reduce car insurance premiums directly through discounts or indirectly by reducing the chance of an accident. Insurers view cars with advanced safety features as less risky, so companies may offer you a lower rate.
But not all insurers value features equally, so it’s useful to know how each may affect your premiums. Below, we cover seven key safety features and how they can potentially get you cheaper car insurance.
1. Seat belts
Seat belts are passive restraint safety features that most states require (except New Hampshire). They automatically protect you when you get into an accident. While seat belts typically don’t qualify for specific insurance discounts, their role in overall safety can indirectly lower premiums.
Insurers may view vehicles equipped with advanced seat-belt systems, such as seat belt reminders or pre-tensioners, more favorably and offer lower rates, as they help reduce the severity of injuries in accidents.
2. Airbags
Insurance companies often factor airbags into risk assessments. Airbags not only significantly reduce injury and death in crashes but also lower claim costs, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Since insurers view vehicles with airbags as less risky to insure, companies often offer discounts if you have this safety feature.
The more airbags a vehicle has — such as front, side, and curtain — the better the passenger protection and the higher the chances of earning a discount. Keep in mind that the discount amount and availability depend on the insurer and the installed airbags.
3. Anti-lock brakes
Standard on almost all new cars and motorcycles, ABS prevents wheels from locking up during emergency braking, reducing skidding and helping drivers maintain control. Many insurance companies offer discounts for vehicles equipped with ABS because it helps prevent accidents and fatal collisions.
Because this safety feature reduces the frequency and severity of accidents, insurers value it as a safety enhancement. But not all insurers advertise an ABS discount, so it’s worth checking your policy for details.
4. Anti-theft devices
Vehicles equipped with anti-theft systems, such as alarms and tracking systems, can earn you a discount on your comprehensive coverage. Anti-theft devices reduce the risk of vehicle theft and stolen car claims, so most insurers provide a discount.
The discount varies, and most insurers don’t advertise its value. Factors that affect the discount include the type and effectiveness of the device installed and your location.
You should verify which anti-theft systems your insurer approves to see if you’re eligible for the discount.
5. Electronic stability control
Many cars have a safety feature called an electronic stability control (ESC) system. Also called traction control, it helps you maintain control of your car in difficult driving conditions, such as sharp turns or slippery roads.
The system reduces accidents under many conditions and is particularly effective in reducing single-vehicle rollovers during first-event crashes, according to the NHTSA. Insurers like Amica may offer you a discount depending on the system you have.
6. Blind-spot monitoring
Blind-spot monitoring systems use sensors to alert you when another vehicle is in your blind spot, reducing the risk of lane-change accidents. Vehicles with blind-spot monitoring cause 14% fewer crashes than the same models without it, and they’re effective in preventing police-reported lane-change crashes, according to the IIHS.
Some insurers offer explicit discounts for blind-spot monitoring, but not many do. Still, it can help reduce premiums over time by preventing accidents.
7. Dashcams
Dashcams record the road ahead and can serve as valuable evidence if you get into a car crash. Insurance companies don’t typically offer a discount for dashcams, but they can indirectly save you money by protecting you from fraudulent insurance claims or disputes over who’s at fault in an accident.
How to Get a Safety Features Discount
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To qualify for a safety features discount, make sure your car has the necessary safety technologies and contact your insurance company. Each insurer may have slightly different processes, but here are some general steps to follow:
Check your insurance policy: Review your current insurance coverage or call your insurer to see if it offers discounts for specific safety features.
Document your vehicle’s safety features: Know your car’s make, model, and list of installed safety features (airbags, ABS, etc.) so you can verify your eligibility.
Request a discount: Call or log into your insurer’s website or app to request the applicable discount for your vehicle’s safety features.
Provide proof if needed: Some insurers may ask for proof, such as installers’ receipts, to verify aftermarket features.
Compare policies: If your current insurer doesn’t offer discounts, you can always compare car insurance quotes from auto insurers that offer incentives for safety features.
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Companies That Offer Discounts for Vehicle Safety Features
Vehicle safety feature discounts are fairly common but vary by the type of feature. Some auto insurance companies offer a discount for specific features, like airbags or ABS. Other companies group multiple systems under an umbrella discount (like the vehicle safety discount).
Our research uncovered 18 car insurance companies that offer some type of vehicle safety feature.
Most insurers don’t advertise the value of the safety discount, but we found that State Farm offers one of the largest discounts for passive restraint features — up to 40% off. GEICO offers a discount of up to 23% off premiums for airbags and ABS.
Erie and Allstate name a large number of features that qualify for the discount but don’t say how much it’s for. Finally, most insurers, like State Farm, apply this discount only to parts of the policy where the safety feature is applicable, such as MedPay or PIP premiums.
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Can Aftermarket Safety Features Get You a Discount?
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Aftermarket safety features can sometimes earn you a car insurance discount, but it varies based on the feature, the insurance company, and state regulations. Devices like aftermarket anti-theft systems may qualify for discounts depending on the insurer.
Not every insurer recognizes aftermarket installations the same way it does factory-installed features.
Some may offer additional savings, while others require professional installation and certification. Before investing in an anti-theft device, check with your insurer to confirm whether these upgrades qualify for discounts and what documentation you might need.
FAQs About How Safety Features Affect Insurance
Safety features can improve your driving experience and affect car insurance rates. Below are answers to some common questions about how safety features influence insurance costs.
Is insurance cheaper for cars with safety features?
Not necessarily. While cars with safety features like backup cameras, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control may qualify for lower premiums, the repair costs of some car safety features may require higher premiums. Insurance companies balance each feature’s reduction in car accident risk with the cost of its repair or replacement.
Do car safety features reduce accidents?
It depends on the feature. For example, automatic emergency braking (AEB) can reduce pedestrian crash risk by 25%–30%, but it’s less effective at night, on turns, or when driving over 50 mph, according to the IIHS. Additionally, the IIHS and Highway Loss Data Institute found partial automation doesn’t significantly lower crash rates, even calling it a “convenience feature.”
Are car safety features worth it?
It depends. Many safety features provide notably better protection during a crash while lowering insurance premiums. But some have higher repair costs after an accident, which in turn raises rates. Look for cars with features that are low-cost but high-impact.
Sources:
AAA, New Vehicle Technologies Double Repair Bills for Minor Collisions,” accessed October 10, 2024.
Insurance Journal, “State Farm Introduces Vehicle Safety Discount,” accessed October 10, 2024.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Air Bags,” accessed October 10, 2024.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Statistical Analysis of the Effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Systems – Final Report,” accessed October 10, 2024.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “Effects of blind spot monitoring systems on police-reported lane-change crashes,” accessed October 10, 2024.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “Effects of automatic emergency braking systems on pedestrian crash risk,” accessed October 10, 2024.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “IIHS-HLDI research finds little evidence that partial automation prevents crashes,” accessed October 10, 2024.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “Convenience or safety system? Crash rates of vehicles equipped with partial driving automation,” accessed October 10, 2024.
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J.J. StarrInsurance Writer
J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.