Quick poll for the curious: when you’re shopping for a car, do you actually check out the safety ratings because you think it’ll save you money on insurance? Or is it just a “nice to have” but not a dealbreaker? I always assumed safer = cheaper insurance, but then my buddy got a tank of an SUV with top ratings and his premium barely budged compared to his old beater.
Personally, I look at the numbers, but honestly, I care more about monthly payments than star ratings (unless it’s like… 2 stars or something sketchy).
What about everyone else? Do you think safety scores really make a difference in what you pay, or is it mostly marketing hype?
Does your car’s crash test score actually matter for your insurance rate?
I always thought better safety ratings would mean lower insurance, but honestly, I haven’t noticed much difference. When we got our minivan (hello, family life), I checked the scores just for peace of mind, not really expecting a discount. Turns out, the premium was almost the same as our old sedan. Maybe it’s more about theft rates or repair costs? The safety thing feels more like a “nice to have” for me too—unless it’s really low, then I’d worry.
Honestly, I’ve noticed a bit of the opposite with my last car. Here’s my take:
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“The safety thing feels more like a ‘nice to have’ for me too—unless it’s really low, then I’d worry.”
For me, the crash test score actually bumped my premium *up* a little when I switched from a mid-range sedan to a luxury coupe. The coupe scored lower on side impacts, and the agent specifically mentioned it as a factor.
- Theft rates and repair costs definitely play a big role, but safety scores aren’t ignored. Especially if you’re looking at higher-end models—parts are pricier, and if the car doesn’t protect you as well, insurers seem to factor that in.
- I did some comparison shopping and found that cars with “Top Safety Pick” badges sometimes got me a slightly better rate (not huge, but noticeable). But yeah, if the score is just average or above average, it doesn’t seem to make much difference.
- Funny enough, when I asked about discounts for extra airbags or driver assist stuff, they said those features helped “overall risk,” but didn’t always equal direct savings.
It’s not the biggest piece of the puzzle, but in my experience, it’s still in the mix—especially if you’re looking at something flashy or less common.
I get what you’re saying about the luxury coupe and higher premiums, but I’ve had kind of a different experience with my last two cars. I drive a pretty average compact sedan—nothing fancy, but it’s got good crash test scores. When I was shopping for insurance, I actually asked the agent point-blank if the safety rating would help lower my rate, and she basically shrugged it off. She said unless the car was known for being super unsafe, it didn’t really move the needle much compared to things like repair costs or how likely it is to get stolen.
I guess I’m just wondering how much of this is about the specific car versus the insurance company? Like, maybe some companies weigh safety more than others? Or maybe it’s more of a factor if you’re looking at sports cars or luxury stuff, like you mentioned. I’ve always leaned toward cars with good safety ratings just for peace of mind, but if I’m honest, I don’t think it’s ever saved me a noticeable amount on insurance.
One thing that’s always confused me: if extra airbags and driver assist features don’t get you a discount, what’s the point from an insurance perspective? Shouldn’t reducing risk mean lower premiums? Or is it just that those features are so common now that they don’t make your car stand out?
I’m probably overthinking it, but I’d rather pay a little more for a car that’s safer in a crash than gamble on saving a few bucks on insurance. Maybe that’s just my cautious side talking. Still, I’d love to know if anyone’s actually seen a big drop in their rate just because of a top safety score, or if it’s mostly about other stuff like theft and repair costs.
Title: Does your car’s crash test score actually matter for your insurance rate?
It’s a fair question about the airbags and driver assists—people expect those to mean cheaper premiums, but it’s not always that straightforward. Insurers mostly look at claims data: how much does it cost to fix, how often does it get in accidents, and how expensive are those accidents? Safety features can help reduce injury claims, but if repairs are pricey (like sensors in bumpers), that can offset any savings. I’ve seen some discounts for things like automatic emergency braking, but they’re usually pretty minor. Honestly, unless you’re driving something with a really poor safety record, the difference in rates is usually pretty small compared to factors like theft risk or repair costs.
