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A passive restraint discount is an insurance discount given to cars with airbags or automatic-locking seat belts installed. Your insurance company should apply this discount automatically when you start your policy or switch to a different car.
To receive a passive restraint discount, simply:
Many car insurance companies offer passive restraint discounts between 20% to 40% off your premium. If your annual premium is $1,300, that means a 30% discount could save $32.50 per month when applied to your premium as a whole or around $6 per month when applied to PIP coverage.
As you can see, the exact discount can vary based on how the company applies it to your premium. Some providers apply the discount to your total premium, while others apply it to the cost of medical-related coverage like personal injury protection. In this case, you might save 30% off your PIP coverage, as opposed to a total percent off your total premiums. That’s because your insurer is assuming a safer car will reduce your future medical claims.
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A passive restraint is any car safety feature designed to keep drivers or passengers safe from harmful movement during an accident. A restraint doesn’t prevent accidents. Instead, it’s constantly in use when you’re driving, ready to protect during a collision.
The two most common passive restraint systems are airbags and seat belts. However, you might need more than simple seat belts to qualify you for this discount. Most insurers want to see the automatic-locking seat belts to qualify.
Passive restraints are features that protect passengers automatically without any extra effort on their part, such as your car’s airbags. On the other hand, active restraints require a person to perform some action to get protection, like putting on a seat belt properly.
Both systems shield passengers from severe injuries during an accident. Because these restraints help everyone in the car stay safe, many companies offer separate discounts for each that you could qualify for.
Yes, especially since you don’t have to do much to get it. The passive restraint discount is often applied automatically if you have a newer car.
If you have an older car, it’s likely not cost-effective to add a passive restraint system for the discount, however. For instance, installing airbags in a vehicle that doesn’t already have them will cost more than you can save with the discount.
If your car is newer than a 2000 model, it likely comes with at least front airbags. When your agent inputs your car’s VIN into the quoting system, the insurer’s system may select the discount for you. If you drive an older car with passive restraint systems, notify your agent or select the appropriate restraint system online.
If your car has advanced restraint systems, however, the system may not automatically reveal that. Either tell your agent about the advanced safety features or manually select them when inputting information about your car into the company’s online quoting system.
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Car insurance companies offer many discounts based on different categories. Most people are eligible for numerous discounts, but companies set a limit for how much you can save.
However, the maximum you can have applied varies with each company. Insurance companies use rating systems based on things such as location, age, gender, driving history, type of vehicle and credit score. They then factor in different discounts and come out with a rate, but the final rate will still result in a premium of at least a few hundred dollars.
The passive restraint discount can save you a significant amount on your insurance premium–as much as 30% with some companies. Many offer this discount alongside other safety feature discounts you might be eligible for, like active restraints when using seat belts properly.
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