Anti-lock brakes (ABS) are one of the standard safety features that can get you cheap car insurance. Many auto insurance companies provide incentives for features that reduce the danger of your vehicle, such as anti-lock braking. Even though anti-lock brakes have been required on all new vehicles for several years, most insurers still provide specific ABS discounts on auto insurance.
When you are looking for car insurance quotes, you can get lower car insurance rates when you opt for an anti-lock braking system. You can see the lower rates when comparing car insurance quotes. Inquire with the insurance agent for an anti-lock brake discount. Alternatively, you can compare car insurance quotes online to find the best car insurance rates. If your car insurance company offers a special discount for getting anti-lock brakes, you can expect to save 2% to 5% by having ABS.
Some insurance providers combine ABS discounts with a more significant ‘safety equipment discount, which may be worth anywhere from 5% to 20% of the vehicle’s accident rate. Insurance premiums for a vehicle with extensive safety features would be lower than for a vehicle with minimal safety features.
What do Anti-lock Brakes mean?
- Sensors that are programmed to measure the speed of the wheels.
- The application and reapply of the brake pressure of the valves in the brake line.
- Hydraulic fluid-filled pumps that apply pressure to the brake drums and calipers.
- A controller that analyzes sensor data to decide when the anti-lock braking system should be activated.
For decades, anti-lock brakes have become standard on new vehicles. They were, however, invented in the 1920s as a braking mechanism for aircraft. Vehicle manufacturers introduced the scheme in the 1970s to improve vehicle safety. As you move, this mechanism occurs behind the scenes in milliseconds. Here’s the simple step-by-step procedure that happens when you slam on your brakes:
- You depress the brake pedal.
- The detection of skidding and locking by the sensors in the wheels
- During a skid, the ABS pumps the brakes hundreds of times per second, allowing you better control of the car.
A good number of vehicles sold in the last ten years have an in-built anti-lock braking system. Though the braking system has become a new normal in the auto industry, some insurers continue to offer discounts ranging from 2% to 5% for the vehicles that come with ABS. It is observed that the system has saved lives, minimized injuries in collisions, and lowered insurance rates. Insurance firms offer a small discount as a result of the lower risk. In the United States, the average total coverage car insurance premium is in the range of $1,400 to $1,600 a year. Based on your policy type and insurer, anti-lock braking could save you $20 to $70 a year on car insurance. However, new cars come already equipped with anti-lock brakes
How does ABS (Anti-lock braking) work?
Anti-lock braking devices address a critical issue for cars. When you slam on your brakes in slick weather, your brakes lock up, and you slide. This reduces momentum and makes steering difficult. People used to suggest ‘pushing the brakes’ to prevent locking the brakes in slippery conditions. If you feel your vehicle slip, repeatedly press the brakes to slow down and gain traction without locking the brakes.
Unfortunately, in an emergency, few people remember to pump the brakes. If someone steps in front of your car on an icy lane, for example, you don’t have time to think: you slam on the brakes.
Anti-lock brakes save lives in this manner. They help you to maintain control and come to a stop faster, even if your vehicle is skidding. Anti-lock braking systems operate by constantly releasing and reapplying the brakes. When you push the pedals for a hard braking, the ABS senses it and pumps the brakes hundreds of times per second. This prevents the wheels from skidding and allows you to maintain complete control of the car.
Importance of ABS to your Car Insurance
All major insurance agencies offer discounts on protection features. Many insurance companies have a special discount on anti-lock braking. Typically, insurance providers group protection feature discounts together. If your car has new safety features or was manufactured during the last few years, you should be eligible for this discount.
However, some insurers continue to give a special anti-lock brake discount, lowering car insurance rates by 2% to 5% only for providing anti-lock brakes. Some insurers classify safety features and offer different discounts on the basis of the type of safety feature.
To determine how much you can save with anti-lock brake car insurance discounts, contact your insurer or compare rates online.
Depending on where you work, anti-lock brakes have been standard safety features on cars for 7 to 20 years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has made anti-lock brakes mandatory on new vehicles since September 2013. In other words, since September 2013, every new car sold in the United States must have anti-lock brakes. However, anti-lock brakes are also used on many older cars. If your car is more than 20 years old, it might have anti-lock brakes.
Anti-lock brakes have been shown to save lives by lowering the risk of collisions and injuries. That means anti-lock brakes save car insurance companies money, which is why getting anti-lock brakes gets you a discount.
However, when calculating insurance premiums, insurance providers consider more than just safety features. Insurance firms also take into account your risk as a driver (based on your driving background, experience, and demographics) as well as the risk of your car.
Due to the make and features of some cars are less involved in accidents than others. And, some other cars, due to the higher rollover or crash survival scores, need to be fitted with safety features to reduce the fatality rate. When it comes to assigning rates, insurance firms look at all of this information. To measure risk, insurers examine accident data from across the United States. The insurer calculates premiums based on the probability of the driver and the car.
Sara Sam may not look like your typical car and finance expert, but don’t let that fool you. With over four years of experience in the industry, she knows all the ins and outs of cars, car insurance, and refinancing. You can trust Sara to help you navigate the often-confusing world of automobiles and financing.
