Does All That Fancy Tech Actually Make Your Insurance Any Cheaper?
Newer cars feel like rolling computers. Auto-braking. Blind spot warnings. Sensors for things you didn’t know needed sensing. But here’s a question worth asking: does all that high-tech safety actually help with your insurance premium?
You’d think it would. After all, fewer collisions, more awareness, and a car that practically drives itself should look brilliant to insurers; right? Well, sometimes yes… and sometimes it’s not quite that simple.
Which Features Might Lower Your Premium?
Some safety tech makes insurers breathe a little easier. Fewer claims, less damage, and fewer injury risks; that’s the goal.
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB); reacts faster than you during sudden stops
- Lane Keep Assist; gently nudges you back if you drift out of lane
- Forward Collision Warning; alerts you before it’s too late to slow down
- Driver fatigue monitors; spot when you're losing focus and suggest breaks
- Speed limit recognition; reduces the chance of getting caught out
- Factory-installed dashcams; give clear video evidence if a claim happens
Features like these might reduce the risk of accidents and make claims easier to settle; both of which insurers tend to like.
When Tech Might Actually Push Your Premium Up
It feels backwards, doesn’t it? You invest in a safer car, and suddenly your quote creeps up. But the truth is, some features increase repair costs; and insurers factor that in.
- Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS); sensors and cameras aren’t cheap to fix
- LED matrix headlights; brilliant visibility, but expensive to replace
- Keyless entry; adds convenience, but might attract tech-savvy thieves
- Electric and hybrid batteries; safety aside, their value inflates repair bills
- Radar and LIDAR systems; not standard parts, and often brand-specific
So while you might be less likely to crash, if something goes wrong; even a small knock; the repair bill might be much higher than with an older, simpler model.
Security Features: Do They Still Matter?
Yes. Very much so. Immobilisers, alarms, tracking systems; they still play a major role in how your risk is measured. But there’s a catch.
- Factory-fitted devices are often automatically accounted for
- Aftermarket systems might need to be declared; and professionally installed
- Trackers are particularly valued for high-end or at-risk models
One thing’s for sure: if your car lacks basic anti-theft systems, or it’s an older model without immobilisers, that might send a red flag; especially in higher-theft postcodes.
How to Make Safety Tech Work in Your Favour
- Tell your insurer what’s fitted; not all features are picked up automatically
- Shop around; some insurers are more tech-friendly than others
- Check for “group rating” differences; some trims with more features land in higher insurance groups
- Consider optional extras carefully; they might help with safety, but not always with cost
- Don’t assume all safety tech = lower premiums; sometimes, less is more (financially, at least)
Final Thought: Safe Doesn’t Always Mean Simple
There’s no doubt that safety tech has transformed driving. Fewer crashes, fewer injuries, and a sense of reassurance that didn’t exist even a decade ago.
But in the world of insurance, it’s not just about avoiding a claim; it’s about how much it might cost if something does go wrong. And sometimes, that ultra-safe car might be surprisingly expensive to fix.
So before you tick every tech box or splash out on optional gadgets, pause and think. Are you adding safety… or complexity? Because insurers notice both; and your quote might reflect more than just your driving.