(Posted on Sep 12, 2018 at 11:27AM by Patrick Wensink)
Hey Patrick,
I recently bought a Nissan Pathfinder and was surprised to find that my insurance went down for this large-and-in-charge ride. I’m not complaining, but I’m wondering what gives?
-Luke
Hi Luke,
Now that’s what I call a pleasant discovery! You aren’t alone, either. Many people who buy larger vehicles discover their coverage suddenly softens up quite a bit. There’s a really simple reason for this: safety.
An SUV like yours is a big, sturdy automobile that is loaded with airbags and a reinforced frame. In addition, adjusters take into account little things such as visibility when making their calculations. They really like rides that get high marks from crash testing organizations, including the IIHSA and others.
The explanation why a more protective model lowers your bills is easy. Providers trust a driver will probably be in fewer accidents in this case. Also, if you are involved in a collision, they can also take comfort in knowing that the chance of injury is lower. So, these companies encourage drivers to get behind the wheel of cars like this by making it affordable.