Which Safety Features Can Give You a Discount on Your Auto Insurance?
Last Updated on January 8, 2026
Yes—many cars qualify for insurance discounts based on safety equipment, especially airbags/passive restraints, anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), anti-theft systems, and certain driver-assist features. The catch is that discounts vary by insurer and state, and they’re often applied to specific parts of your policy instead of your entire premium.
Most drivers know they can save money with a good driver discount, or by having the right age and credit profile. But one of the easiest “set it and forget it” ways to lower your price is making sure your insurer has your vehicle’s safety features listed correctly.
Below are the safety features that most often reduce auto insurance costs, plus tips to confirm you’re getting every discount you qualify for.
Key Takeaways
- Discounts Are Real, but Not Universal: Airbags, ABS, ESC, anti-theft, and ADAS may lower premiums, but which features qualify depends on the insurer and state.
- Discounts Often Apply to Specific Coverages: Anti-theft credits commonly affect comprehensive, while restraint-related credits may be tied to injury-related coverages.
- Missing Discounts Are Often a Data Issue: If your insurer has the wrong trim or equipment listed, you may not receive credits even if your vehicle has the features.
- Shop With Safety in Mind: When buying a car, check IIHS/NHTSA ratings and compare quotes—some insurers price advanced safety packages more favorably than others.
The Top Safety Features That Can Lower Your Auto Insurance
Insurers price risk. If your vehicle is more likely to prevent a crash—or reduce injuries and repair costs when a crash happens—you may see lower premiums, fewer surcharges over time, or both.
| Safety Feature | Where Discounts Most Often Apply | What Insurers Usually Call It | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags & Seat Belt Systems | Often affects injury-related coverages (varies by state) | Passive restraint / safety restraint | More restraint protection can reduce injury severity and medical claim costs. |
| ABS | May impact liability/medical-related pricing and overall risk scoring | Safety equipment / ABS discount | Commonly standard on newer vehicles; discounts may be small but worth verifying. |
| ESC | May be included in a general safety equipment category | Stability control / safety equipment | Often credited indirectly through lower crash risk rather than as a separate line item. |
| Anti-Theft (Alarms, Immobilizers, Tracking) | Most often affects comprehensive coverage | Anti-theft / vehicle recovery | Factory systems and immobilizers are commonly treated more favorably than basic alarms. |
| ADAS (AEB, Lane Assist, Blind Spot, etc.) | May be bundled into an “advanced safety” category | Collision avoidance / advanced safety | Not every carrier discounts every ADAS feature—even when it reduces crash risk. |
Airbags and Passive Restraints
Airbags are one of the most common discount-eligible features because they reduce injury severity. Many insurers group airbags and seat belt systems under a “passive restraint” category. If you’re curious how that discount is typically applied, see passive restraint discounts.
If you’re shopping for a used vehicle, prioritize models with modern restraint protection (front airbags plus side and curtain airbags) for better protection and better pricing potential. And if you’ve ever wondered what happens after a major airbag event, this guide explains whether airbag deployment can mean the car is totaled.
Anti-Lock Braking Systems
Anti-lock brakes (ABS) help prevent wheel lockup during hard braking, which can improve steering control and reduce certain types of crashes. On the insurance side, ABS is sometimes discounted directly and sometimes baked into the insurer’s vehicle risk model.
Even when the savings are small, ABS can influence pricing tied to both injury and damage outcomes, including:
- Liability coverage
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) (where applicable)
- Medical payments coverage (where offered)
- Collision coverage
Electronic Stability Control
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps prevent loss-of-control events by applying brakes and adjusting engine power when the vehicle senses a skid or slide. ESC may not always show up as a separate “line item” discount, but it can still improve your overall pricing because it reduces the likelihood of high-severity crashes.
Seat Belts
Seat belts are standard equipment, but insurers may still factor modern restraint systems (and how they’re categorized on your policy) into pricing. In practice, this usually shows up as part of a passive restraint or safety restraint category rather than a standalone “seat belt discount.”
Daytime Running Lights
Daytime running lights (DRLs) can help other drivers see you in low-contrast conditions. Some carriers apply a small credit for visibility features, while others treat DRLs as a baseline feature and don’t discount them separately.
Crashworthiness and Safety Ratings
Reinforced structures, crumple zones, and strong crash-test results don’t always create a named discount—but they can still influence your rate because insurers factor in expected injury and repair severity for a given make/model/trim.
If you’re car shopping, it’s smart to check safety ratings up front using authoritative sources like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
Anti-Theft Systems
Anti-theft devices help reduce theft-related claims, so discounts typically apply to comprehensive coverage. If your car has a factory alarm, engine immobilizer, or tracking/recovery feature, make sure it’s listed on your policy. More on what commonly qualifies is covered here: insurance discounts for anti-theft devices.
Lane Departure and Lane-Keeping Systems
Lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist can reduce certain sideswipe and drift-related crashes—especially those tied to fatigue or distraction. They also pair well with other driver-assist features to reduce the types of losses insurers pay most often. These features are particularly relevant to reducing the crash types discussed in dangerous driving scenarios.
Other Advanced Safety Technologies
Many vehicles now include advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). Depending on your insurer, these may qualify for an “advanced safety” discount or simply improve pricing indirectly through the vehicle’s risk profile.
- Automatic emergency braking (AEB) and forward collision warning: Can prevent or reduce the severity of rear-end crashes.
- Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert: Helps reduce lane-change and backing collisions.
- Adaptive cruise control: Helps maintain safer following distance on highways.
How to Make Sure You’re Getting the Discount
Safety discounts are often missed for one simple reason: the insurer doesn’t have the right vehicle equipment listed on the policy (or the VIN decode didn’t capture the trim-level features).
- Confirm the VIN and trim: A “base” vs. “premium” trim can change which safety systems are included.
- Ask what’s applied: Request a list of “vehicle equipment” or “vehicle safety” discounts on your declarations or rating summary.
- Verify anti-theft details: Factory immobilizers and tracking systems can matter more than add-on alarms.
- Compare quotes: If one insurer doesn’t credit your safety package, another might—especially for newer vehicles with ADAS.
Quick tip: If you’re not sure what your car has, ask your insurer to re-run the vehicle details using the VIN and confirm the safety/anti-theft equipment listed matches your trim level.
Is Upgrading for Insurance Discounts Worth It?
Upgrading a vehicle solely for the discount usually isn’t cost-effective. Safety features can reduce your premium, but the bigger financial win is that safer cars help you avoid crashes, injuries, and future premium increases tied to claims.
If you’re already shopping for a vehicle, choosing a model with strong safety ratings and a robust safety package can help on multiple fronts: fewer accidents, fewer injuries, and a better chance of qualifying for stacked, feature-based discounts.
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