Which Safety Features Can Give You a Discount on Your Auto Insurance?
Last Updated on December 11, 2025
Most drivers know you can save money with a good driver discount, or by having the right age and credit profile. But one of the most overlooked ways to cut your premium is built right into your car: its safety features.
Modern vehicles come with more safety tech than ever—airbags, stability control, lane-keeping systems, and more. Because these systems reduce injuries and prevent crashes, many insurers reward them with lower rates. Not every company discounts every feature, but if your car has the right equipment, you may be missing out on easy savings.
Below, we break down which safety features commonly qualify for discounts and how they can help reduce your auto insurance costs.
Key Takeaways
- Many insurers offer auto insurance discounts for common safety features like airbags, ABS, ESC, and anti-theft systems.
- Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS)—such as lane departure warnings, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking—can lower crash risk and may qualify for extra savings.
- Safety feature discounts vary widely by insurer and state; some states even require certain discounts (for example, ABS in New Jersey, New York, and Florida).
- Checking crash-test ratings and standard safety equipment before buying a car can help you save on both insurance and long-term repair costs.
The Top Safety Features That Can Lower Your Auto Insurance
The more safely a car behaves in a crash—or helps you avoid a crash altogether—the less insurers typically pay out in claims. That’s why companies often encourage drivers to buy safer cars by offering feature-based discounts.
Airbags
Airbags are one of the most widely recognized safety features for discount purposes. The more airbags a vehicle has, the more you may save.
For example, a car with both front and side-curtain airbags usually qualifies for more savings than a vehicle with only front airbags. Insurers like airbags because they reduce the risk of serious injuries, which means fewer and smaller PIP claims and medical payments payouts.
Almost all major insurers offer a discount for airbags, so if you’re shopping used, it can be worth prioritizing vehicles with full side-curtain and front airbag protection.
Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS)
Anti-lock brakes (ABS) help prevent wheel lockup and skidding during hard braking, improving control and reducing crash risk. ABS discounts are optional for insurers in many states, but some—like New Jersey, New York, and Florida—require carriers to provide a discount if your vehicle is equipped with ABS.
Even where not mandated, many companies still reduce premiums slightly on:
- Liability coverage
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Medical payments
- Collision coverage
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps prevent spinouts and rollovers by selectively applying brakes and adjusting engine power when it senses loss of control. ESC is standard on most vehicles built in the last decade.
Only some insurers currently offer a specific ESC discount, but even without a direct price break, ESC significantly reduces the risk of single-vehicle crashes in wet, icy, or emergency situations—saving you money by helping you avoid claims in the first place.
Seat Belts
Seat belts have been standard for decades, but many insurers have only recently begun rewarding their use more aggressively. Some companies offer discounts—sometimes up to 10–15%—on medical payments and PIP portions of your policy when your vehicle is equipped with modern, automatic, or enhanced seat-belt systems.
These discounts don’t usually apply to your entire premium, but they can still add up over time.
Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)
Daytime running lights automatically turn on whenever the vehicle is moving, helping other drivers see you in low-contrast conditions. DRLs are standard on most modern vehicles, but older models may not have them.
Not all insurers reward DRLs, but those that do may offer small discounts (often around 5% or less) on:
- Liability coverage
- Medical payments or PIP
- Collision coverage
While the savings are modest, DRLs are a “set it and forget it” feature that can reduce crash risk year-round.
Crash-Resistant Door and Body Structures
Some vehicles are designed with reinforced doors, improved side-impact beams, and advanced crumple zones. These features help absorb energy and protect occupants in a crash. A handful of insurers offer small discounts (often up to 5%) for vehicles with high crash-test ratings or specific crash-resistant design features—even if they don’t advertise them by name.
Checking IIHS and NHTSA safety ratings when you buy your next car is a smart move both for safety and for potential insurance savings.
Anti-Theft Systems
Anti-theft devices aren’t active while you’re driving, but they protect your vehicle when it’s parked. If you have an anti-theft system, most insurers will reward you with a discount, especially on comprehensive coverage.
The discount amount depends heavily on the system type:
- Basic alarms and steering locks = smaller discounts
- Engine immobilizers, GPS recovery, and factory-installed systems = higher discounts
Overall, anti-theft discounts can range from about 5% up to 30% for comprehensive coverage on some policies.
Lane Departure & Lane-Keeping Systems
Lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems use cameras and sensors to monitor lane markings. They alert you—or gently steer you back—if you drift out of your lane without signaling.
Insurers see these as effective tools to reduce drowsy- and distracted-driving crashes. Discounts vary widely and may depend on whether your system is:
- Warning only: Alerts you when you drift.
- Active assist: Applies steering to help keep you centered.
Newer vehicles that combine lane-keeping with other advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) may qualify for additional “advanced safety” or “collision-avoidance” discounts as well.
Other Advanced Safety Technologies
Beyond the features above, many insurers are beginning to reward:
- Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking (AEB) – Help prevent or reduce the severity of rear-end crashes.
- Adaptive cruise control – Helps maintain safe following distances at highway speeds.
- Rear cross-traffic alert and backup cameras – Reduce parking-lot and backing collisions.
These systems may not have standalone “named” discounts yet at every company, but vehicles equipped with them often receive favorable overall safety ratings, which insurers factor into their pricing.
Safety Feature Discounts by Insurance Company
Every insurer has its own list of eligible features and discount amounts. Some provide detailed breakdowns, while others roll multiple safety technologies into a single discount category.
Below are the current safety discounts offered by some of the major auto insurance companies in the United States:
| Insurer | Safety Features Eligible | Typical Discount (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | Airbags/passive restraints, anti-lock brakes (ABS), anti-theft devices, selected ADAS features | Up to ~10% on certain coverages (varies by state and feature) |
| Amica | Anti-theft devices, electronic stability control (ESC), passive restraints, forward collision warning, adaptive headlights | Varies; generally small per-feature discounts that can stack |
| Farmers | Standard factory safety features (airbags, ABS, ESC), anti-theft systems | Typically 5–10% depending on feature and coverage type |
| GEICO | Airbags/passive restraints, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft systems, daytime running lights, newer vehicles | Up to ~23% off MedPay/PIP for restraint devices Up to ~5% off for ABS Additional savings on comprehensive/collision for anti-theft |
| Liberty Mutual | Airbags, anti-lock brakes, ESC, advanced safety/ADAS features (via TechSafety™), anti-theft systems | Varies; typically small per-feature discounts, plus up to ~30% via telematics (RightTrack) |
| Progressive | Standard safety and security features (airbags, ABS, anti-theft, newer vehicle safety tech) | Often 5–10% combined; larger savings available through Snapshot (usage-based program) |
| State Farm | Vehicle safety package (airbags, ABS), passive restraints, anti-theft devices, some driver-assist tech | Up to ~40% on medical-related coverages for passive restraints/airbags Additional discounts for anti-theft and safety packages (amount varies) |
| The Hartford | Airbags, anti-theft systems, selected advanced safety features (especially in AARP Auto program) | Varies; generally modest discounts applied to specific coverages |
| USAA | Airbags, ABS, anti-theft systems, ESC, newer-vehicle safety tech | Varies; typically small per-feature discounts that may be combined with safe-driver savings |
Is Upgrading for Insurance Discounts Worth It?
Adding safety features or buying a newer, safer car just for the insurance discount rarely pays for itself in premium savings alone. You could spend hundreds or thousands upgrading a vehicle and only see modest reductions in your policy.
However, if you’re already in the market for a new car—or you’re prioritizing safety for your family—choosing a model packed with the latest safety tech is still a smart financial decision. A safer vehicle:
- Reduces your risk of crashes and injuries
- Helps you avoid claims (and future rate hikes)
- May qualify for multiple small discounts that add up over time
Insurance is there to protect you when something goes wrong—but the best situation is avoiding accidents altogether. The right safety features can help you do exactly that, while also trimming your auto insurance costs along the way.
