When shopping for a new car, many people are looking towards fuel-efficient cars to help save money on gas, their insurance and help save the environment. The question looms, by purchasing a fuel-efficient car, normally a smaller model vehicle, are you putting yourself at risk in the event of an accident and will you cost yourself more money on insurance?
Overall, small, lightweight cars - the type that get the best gas mileage, are generally less safe that large, heavy ones. The most important aspects to a car's safety and its ability to keep you safe in the event of an accident are its safety equipment, weight and resistance to rollover. While small cars pass the roll over test easily - they are low to the ground and thus unlikely to roll, they lack weight and are less likely to have advanced safety features like stability control or full side curtain airbags.
How to find the safety rating of your small car
The first thing to look at when determining the insurance rates of small cars is the government agency responsible for conducting crash tests on cars; The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA. The NHTSA created a 5-star ranking program that rates the safety of cars by conducting different tests that show what happens to a car when it is in certain types of accidents.
The NHTSA conducts the major tests; front-end collision, rollover resistance, and a side crash with a moving target. A star rating is applied to the car based upon how it performs. By knowing this rating you can know what will happen to your car if it is in this type of common accident.
Next, look at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's safety ratings for your type of small car. The IIHS collects data from the state and from insurance companies around the country on various types of car collisions and also conducts their own safety tests. They are different from the NHTSA because the IIHS's tests are conducted with other vehicles and using data collected on real life crash's, whereas the NHTSA's crash tests are done with a wall. By using all of the information gathered by the IIHS you can determine whether a smaller car is statistically safer on the road filled with SUV sized cars.
Finally, check with the manufacturer of any small car you are interested in. Safety isn't always determined by how well a car performs in a crash test; it can also be determined by what equipment is provided by automotive companies to make the driving experience safer. Car manufacturers have been inventing and adding new safety equipment to both small and large cars. These type of safety features can be used as a major determining factor for car safety because it reduces the likelihood of a car being involved in an accident while on the road and this will save you money!
No matter what size your car is all experts agree that how you drive is the most important safety factor and the thing that will make the biggest difference when insurance companies set your rates. On Texas highways, crowded with big trucks and SUV's, a small car can seem like a dangerous alternative and indeed sometimes it is. If you are in the market for a new car and are looking to save money and considering a small fuel-efficient car, do all the research and find the safest models and add safety features as you can.
Overall, small, lightweight cars - the type that get the best gas mileage, are generally less safe that large, heavy ones. The most important aspects to a car's safety and its ability to keep you safe in the event of an accident are its safety equipment, weight and resistance to rollover. While small cars pass the roll over test easily - they are low to the ground and thus unlikely to roll, they lack weight and are less likely to have advanced safety features like stability control or full side curtain airbags.
How to find the safety rating of your small car
The first thing to look at when determining the insurance rates of small cars is the government agency responsible for conducting crash tests on cars; The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA. The NHTSA created a 5-star ranking program that rates the safety of cars by conducting different tests that show what happens to a car when it is in certain types of accidents.
The NHTSA conducts the major tests; front-end collision, rollover resistance, and a side crash with a moving target. A star rating is applied to the car based upon how it performs. By knowing this rating you can know what will happen to your car if it is in this type of common accident.
Next, look at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's safety ratings for your type of small car. The IIHS collects data from the state and from insurance companies around the country on various types of car collisions and also conducts their own safety tests. They are different from the NHTSA because the IIHS's tests are conducted with other vehicles and using data collected on real life crash's, whereas the NHTSA's crash tests are done with a wall. By using all of the information gathered by the IIHS you can determine whether a smaller car is statistically safer on the road filled with SUV sized cars.
Finally, check with the manufacturer of any small car you are interested in. Safety isn't always determined by how well a car performs in a crash test; it can also be determined by what equipment is provided by automotive companies to make the driving experience safer. Car manufacturers have been inventing and adding new safety equipment to both small and large cars. These type of safety features can be used as a major determining factor for car safety because it reduces the likelihood of a car being involved in an accident while on the road and this will save you money!
No matter what size your car is all experts agree that how you drive is the most important safety factor and the thing that will make the biggest difference when insurance companies set your rates. On Texas highways, crowded with big trucks and SUV's, a small car can seem like a dangerous alternative and indeed sometimes it is. If you are in the market for a new car and are looking to save money and considering a small fuel-efficient car, do all the research and find the safest models and add safety features as you can.
About the Author:
Looking to find the best deal on Texas insurance and Fort Worth auto insurance, then visit thanksal.com to find the best advice on auto insurance for you.
PLEASE HELP US SHARE THIS ARTICLE
About the Author
0Awesome Comments!