Updated December 2023

What is a passive restraint discount? These days, it is almost impossible to find an automobile that does not come with some sort of passive restraint system in place. Motorists who own vehicles that have automatic seatbelts or driver-side and passenger-side air bags can receive a passive restraint discount.

Numerous automobiles come pre-packaged with some sort of passive restraint system, usually in the form of motorized seatbelts or air bags (which are usually installed on the assembly line).

Restraint systems discounts are just one of the car insurance discounts you should be aware of in order to get the best deal on car insurance. You can compare auto insurance rates with our FREE search tool.

How can I get a passive restraint discount?

There are a lot of discounts available to drivers, and discounts for restraint systems are among the most common since most vehicles can qualify.

In fact, it’s one of the biggest discounts available at a lot of auto insurance companies. You can save up to 40% just by having these safety features in your vehicle and qualifying for a passive restraint discount.

Do you qualify for a passive restraint discount?

Passive restraint systems are defined in one of the following ways:

  • A system that is constantly operating while a driver sits inside the automobile and the vehicle is in motion
  • A system that restrains the individuals within from moving if a collision occurs
  • A system that deploys automatically without any intentional action having to be undertaken by any of the individual(s) inside of the vehicle

Airbags are one of the most popular restraint systems found in modern-day vehicles. And the more secure your air bag system is, the more likely you are to receive a very large passive safety features discount. For example:

  • Driver-side air bag installations get a 20% premium discount on average
  • Driver-side and passenger-side air bag installations get a whopping 30% discount on average

In the event of a serious accident, your restraint system will help protect you and any other passengers in your vehicle against serious injury. Airbags are designed to inflate on impact, preventing you from dangerously high impact levels.

Once air bag construction in vehicles became widely popular, automobiles with automatic seatbelts started to go out of fashion. However, if your automobile was made before 1995, is still in good condition, and doesn’t have too many miles on it, your automatic seatbelts might get you a safety feature discount as well.

Can you qualify for additional discounts for your safety restraints?

In addition to an overall premium reduction, you might be eligible for a 10-25% discount on the areas of your policy that cover bodily injury to the occupants of your automobile. Some qualifying features include:

  • An air bag built-in in the dashboard or the steering wheel for the driver’s seat position (protects against front-end collisions)
  • Airbags are incorporated for both the front driver and the front passenger seating positions (both you and your passenger will be protected from forceful trauma in the event of an accident)
  • Automatic across-torso and shoulders seat belts (in pre-1995 models) built-in for both the driver and the front passenger seat

If your automobile was built in 1995 or earlier, make sure its passive safety features conform to federal guidelines. This way, you won’t be missing out on important discounts for the personal injury protection or supplemental medical payments coverage areas of your auto insurance policy.

Get discounts today and save on your car insurance policy! You can compare rates with our FREE search tool right now.