As I sit here at a local car dealership, waiting for my oil change, I’m taken back to my days as a young salesman standing on a very similar showroom floor. Back then, I sold four of the top-ten safest cars on the road, and I believed—naively—that “safe” automatically meant “cheap insurance.”
Now, with years of experience on the insurance side, I understand how insurance works—and why that assumption doesn’t always hold true. Let me explain.
2025 Safety Highlights
According to the IIHS Top Safety Picks, vehicles like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Mazda CX-50, and Genesis GV70 earned Top Safety Pick+ awards this year. These models offer strong crash protection, advanced driver assistance systems, and excellent crash-avoidance ratings.
By all measures, these are some of the safest cars you can buy in 2025. But safety ratings don’t always translate directly to lower insurance premiums.
Why Safety Can Help Insurance Rates
There’s no doubt that safety features matter:
Crash avoidance systems like forward collision warning with auto-braking can cut rear-end crashes by 50%.
Airbags and restraint systems reduce injury severity, lowering bodily injury claims.
Crash test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA factor into insurer risk models.
The safer the car, the better it protects people—and that can reduce some insurance costs.
Why Safe Cars Can Still Cost More to Insure
Here’s the catch:
Repair costs: A bumper with sensors and cameras costs far more to fix than a simple steel bumper.
Vehicle value: A luxury SUV with strong safety ratings still costs more to replace.
Claim frequency: Some safe cars are more common in cities, where accidents happen more often.
In fact, 2025 full-coverage auto insurance premiums in the U.S. average about $2,680 per year—up nearly 12% from 2024. Fortunately, Ohio drivers typically pay 30–40% less than the national average.
Here’s a comparison of popular models:
| Vehicle (2025) | Safety Rating | Avg. Annual Insurance (U.S.) | Avg. Annual Insurance (Ohio) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Outback | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | ~$1,336 | ~$980 | Safe + affordable to insure |
| Honda Odyssey | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | ~$1,500 | ~$1,120 | Minivan, family-friendly rates |
| Toyota Camry | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | ~$1,700 | ~$1,250 | Reliable sedan, mid-range premiums |
| Tesla Model 3 | High crash ratings | ~$2,700 | ~$1,950 | Expensive repairs offset safety |
| Cadillac Escalade | Strong safety features | ~$3,300 | ~$2,420 | High replacement cost + frequent claims |
(Sources: IIHS, Kiplinger, NerdWallet, Bankrate – 2025 data; Ohio averages calculated at ~27–30% below U.S. averages)
📌 Thinking about buying one of these vehicles in Ohio?
Don’t guess on insurance costs—let us run the numbers for you.
At Bucklew Insurance, we compare rates across top carriers so you know what your new car will really cost to insure here in Ohio.
📞 Call us at 937-550-9596
📍 Visit us at 6 Sycamore Creek Dr STE A, Springboro, OH 45066
💻 Request a quote online
The Ohio Advantage
Here in Ohio, drivers pay much less than the national average:
Full coverage averages about $1,683/year (roughly $140/month).
Minimum coverage averages just $479/year (about $40/month).
Ohio consistently ranks as one of the 10 most affordable states for auto insurance—good news if you’re balancing car-buying costs.
Tips for Ohio Drivers
Even in a lower-cost state, you can save more by:
Get a Quote Before You Buy a Car – The same vehicle can vary hundreds in insurance costs, even if both have top safety ratings.
Bundle Policies – Combining home and auto can save up to 20%.
Ask About Telematics Discounts – Programs that track safe driving habits can reward low-mileage or careful drivers.
📝 How to Get a Car Insurance Quote Before Buying a Car
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Gather Vehicle Details – Write down the make, model, year, and VIN (if available).
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Provide Driver Information – Have your license number and a summary of your driving history ready.
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Request a Quote – Call 937-550-9596 or fill out our online form.
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Compare Coverage Options – Review how different vehicles affect your premiums.
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Decide With Confidence – Use the quote as part of your car-buying decision so there are no surprises after purchase.
What I Wish I Knew as a Car Salesman
If I could go back, I’d tell customers:
Safety is about protecting lives.
Insurance is about more than safety—it’s also about repair costs, theft risk, and real-world claim data.
Always check the insurance quote before driving off the lot.
Bottom Line
Buying a safe car is one of the best investments you can make for your family. But don’t assume “safe” means “cheap to insure.” The smartest move is to get insurance quotes up front and factor them into your car-buying decision.
At Bucklew Insurance, we help Ohio drivers balance safety, coverage, and affordability. If you’re thinking about a new car, call me at 937-550-9596, request a quote online, or contact our Springboro office—I’ll run the numbers so you’re never caught off guard.
