AUTO INSURANCE ARTICLE
Driving Safer Cars Will Save You Money On Auto Insurance in 2009
By: coppeneur
Auto insurance rates are partly based on the safety mechanism installed on your car and its crashworthiness. Crashworthiness refers to how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash. This means that if your car is crashworthy, then your auto insurance bill, all other things being equal, would substantially be lower. But what are the cars with top safety mechanism and crashworthiness?
The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), a non-profit organization, recently released its 2009 Top Safety Pick. First, a car is chosen in this year’s Top Safety Pick if it earns n good ratings in all the three tests administered by the Institute. The Institute reportedly rates “vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor on the basis of its performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts”.
Second, the cars that made it to this year’s Top Picks also showed satisfaction with regards to electronic stability control. Based on the Institute’s research, ESC significantly reduces crash risk, especially the risk of fatal single-vehicle crashes, by helping drivers maintain control of their vehicles during emergency maneuvers.
This is good news for you if you are planning to buy a new car or switching to another car type. Choosing a car that is included in this list will make you hit birds in one stone – have the highest safety standard for your car, and at the same, avail yourself of lower auto insurance premiums.
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Large cars |
Midsize cars - |
Midsize convertibles - |
Small cars - |
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Acura RL Audi A6 Cadillac CTS Ford Taurus Lincoln MKS Mercury Sable Toyota Avalon Volvo S80 |
Acura TL Acura TSX Audi A3 Audi A4 BMW 3 series Ford Fusion |
Honda Accord Mercedes C class Mercury Milan Saab 9-3 Subaru Legacy Volkswagen Jetta Volkswagen Passat |
Saab 9-3 Volkswagen Eos Volvo C70 |
4-door models (except Si) with optional electronic stability control Mitsubishi Lancer |
Honda Civic Subaru Impreza Toyota Corolla Volkswagen Rabbit |
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Honda Fit |
Honda Odyssey Hyundai Entourage Kia Sedona |
Audi Q7 Buick Enclave Chevrolet Traverse GMC Acadia Saturn Outlook |
Acura MDX Acura RDX BMW X3 BMW X5 Ford Edge Ford Flex Ford Taurus X Honda Pilot Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Veracruz Infiniti EX35 Lincoln |
MKX Mercedes M class Nissan Murano Saturn VUE Subaru Tribeca Toyota FJ Cruiser Toyota Highlander Volvo XC90 |
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Small SUVs |
Large pickups |
Small pickup |
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Ford Escape Honda CR-V Honda Element Mazda Tribute Mercury Mariner Mitsubishi |
Outlander Nissan Rogue Subaru Forester Toyota RAV4 Volkswagen Tiguan |
Ford F-150 Honda Ridgeline Toyota Tundra |
Toyota Tacoma |
This list may not be definitive given the wide array of cars that may not be included in the Institute’s evaluation. But considering the test requirements that the Institute used, this could be guiding marks for you in choosing the right car that could offer you safety and cheaper insurance ratings.
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