Six million car accidents happen each year, and road crash costs amount to $500 billion globally. North Carolina drivers who worry about their road safety will benefit from driving a safety-rated car. But did you also know that getting a safer car can save you money on car insurance?
If you live in North Carolina and worry about your car insurance costs, there are steps you can take to get great coverage at a price you can afford. Certain safety features like anti-lock brakes or car alarms can lower the price you pay each month for coverage.
What are this year’s safest cars and how can they affect your insurance? Read on to learn about 2019’s winners so you can make the best choice for yourself and your wallet.
Car Safety Features and Auto Insurance
When you’re getting your North Carolina auto insurance, there are plenty of details to think about to choose the best coverage. What’s more, worrying about the safety of your family on the road can add another layer of stress to the process.
The number one trick to lowering your Raleigh car insurance costs is to boost your vehicle’s safety features. Features like anti-theft alarms and anti-lock breaks will keep your car safe. They will also cut monthly insurance costs.
How do you choose a safe car? Learning about certain car safety tests and evaluations will help you make the best purchase.
Understand Safety Tests and Ratings
As you shop around for the safest car that suits your lifestyle, you’ll need to understand safety ratings to make the best selection. All cars undergo rigorous testing to assess its safety and construction.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an organization that works to reduce losses from car crashes. Each year it performs evaluations to decide on a list of the safest cars available.
The IIHS gives ratings based on a scale of “Poor to Good” or “Basic to Superior.” It measures a car’s crashworthiness by conducting six different tests. Additionally, the IIHS evaluates braking systems and headlight systems. Understanding these scores will help you choose the safest car that will protect your young driver and lower insurance rates.
Nine Safest Cars to Help You Save on Car Insurance
The level of your car’s safety features is one of the top factors that affect car insurance costs. Finding ways to lower monthly costs is great for financial stability, but you don’t want to skimp too much on car insurance.
As a North Carolina car owner, you’ll want to make sure you purchase insurance that meets state requirements. So how do you get an affordable rate that still offers necessary coverage?
Start with choosing a car that received high safety ratings. Here’s a list of nine of the IIHS top safety picks to help you decide.
1. Minicar Safety Pick: 2019 Hyundai Accent
The 2019 Hyundai Accent was an IIHS award winner for safest mini-cars. It scored high ratings in crashworthiness tests and superior ratings in front crash prevention.
This mini-car was one of three to earn high scoring from the IIHS’s rigorous testing. Although larger and heavier vehicles generally offer more protection than small cars, individuals shopping for a mini-car will gain essential safety features with the Hyundai Accent.
2. Small Car Safety Pick: 2019 Honda Insight
The 2019 Honda Insight became an IIHS top safety pick for the small car category due to its high crashworthiness scores. It also scored high for crash avoidance and child seat anchors.
3. Midsize Car Safety Pick: 2019 Kia Optima
This 4-door sedan scored high ratings for all crashworthiness tests. It also earned superior ratings for front crash prevention using both standard and optional systems.
4. Midsize Luxury Car Safety Pick: 2019 BMW 3 Series
This luxury 4-door sedan made it to the IIHS safety pick selection due to its high crashworthiness ratings across the board. It also features highly-rated child seat anchors and superior front crash prevention. This BMW makes a great option for individuals who don’t want to sacrifice safety for luxury.
5. Large Car Safety Pick: 2019 Toyota Avalon
The 2019 Toyota Avalon was one of three in its category to make it to the IIHS safety list. It scored clear ratings for all crashworthiness tests and also did well in front crash prevention testing.
6. Large Luxury Car Safety Pick: 2019 Audi A6
This large luxury car made it to the IIHS safety picks list due to its good ratings for almost all test criteria. Its roof strength, head restraints, and seats all scored high for crashworthiness tests. It’s built with modern safety features like blind-spot detection to keep you safe on busy roads.
7. Small SUV Safety Pick: 2019 Hyundai Kona
This 4-door SUV makes a great option for families with older children. It scored high ratings for all crashworthiness tests and a “moderate” rating for child seat latches. It scored superior ratings for front crash prevention and also features blind-spot detection.
8. Midsize SUV Safety Pick: 2019 Honda Pilot
The 2019 Honda Pilot boasts safety features like blind-spot detection and lane departure prevention. It earned good crashworthiness ratings and superior front crash prevention ratings.
9. Minivan Safety Pick: 2019 Honda Odyssey
Honda’s 2019 Odyssey has modern safety features like lane departure warning and blind-spot detection. It scored clean ratings for crashworthiness and earned a “superior” rating for front crash prevention.
Drive Safely
Buying one of 2019’s safest cars will lower the stress of worrying about your family’s safety while also lowering car insurance rates. Safety features like anti-lock brakes, motorized seat belts, and stability control can save you up to 10% or more on your insurance cost.
Want to learn more about getting the best car insurance in North Carolina? Call our insurance agents today to get set up with the best coverage for your vehicle.
