What is the most crashed car in America?
If you're buying a new car, consider the vehicle's safety ratings and insurance costs. Here is what you need to know about the most crashed cars in America.
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Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Michael earned a degree in Business Management degree with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Au...
Insurance Operations Specialist
UPDATED: Dec 28, 2023
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UPDATED: Dec 28, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) periodically publishes collision losses by make and model every few years
- This body also publishes a list of driver death rates by type and make
- You can refer to vehicle crash test ratings for more information
If you’re in the market for a new car, you’ll want to ensure that you and your family are as safe as possible when you’re out on the road. You likely understand that some vehicles have a higher safety rating than others.
Driving a safer vehicle can reduce your insurance rates, especially if you’ve been in an accident.
What is the most crashed car in America? We researched several safety and insurance reports to find the least safe cars in the U.S. This guide discusses driver death rates by make and model and breaks down car accident statistics and insurance rates so you can buy the safest new car for your family.
What are the most crashed cars in America?
When looking for the most crashed car in America, we researched the highest rates of driver deaths per make and model with statistics provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The Ford Fiesta tops the list with 141 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The Hyundai Accent follows with 116, then the Chevrolet Sonic with 98, the Nissan Versa Note with 96, and the Fiat 500 with 95.
These statistics are from 2017, and the IIHS only publishes data every few years. Typically, it can only access vehicle registration data from each model year about two years after release, with accident data taking approximately one additional year to gather.
The IIHS does point out that unless the company has redesigned the vehicle, previous year results would be a good predictor of current model performance.
Read more: Compare Fiat Car Insurance Rates
Collision Insurance Losses by Vehicle Type
This body also publishes a list showing collision losses by make and model, indicating the rate of crashes per vehicle type. It analyzes how likely owners of particular vehicles are to claim collision insurance losses.
The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 was 79% more likely to have claims than all cars in the mini category. For the small car class, the Honda Civic Type R hatchback was 48% more likely to have collision claims.
The Kia Optima hybrid was the worst performer at 72% in the mid-size class, while the Dodge Charger models fared poorly in the large vehicle category, closely followed by the Kia Stinger.
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What is the safest car type?
We examined crash test performance by category for various makes and models to determine the safest car type. The IIHS develops a list of top safety picks using annual crash test data. The body does not single out individual vehicles but has as many as 25 “winners” in each vehicle category.
While small cars like the Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Accent are among the most wrecked cars in America, SUVs head the list of vehicles with the lowest driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The GMC Yukon XL, the Infiniti QX 60, and the Lexus NX 200t are the safest car types, while the Subaru Outback is the leading station wagon.
What is the safest small car? The Nissan Leaf leads the safety ratings for small, four-door cars.
How To Save Money on Insurance for the Most Crashed Cars in America
Insurance companies use a range of different variables when setting rates. The factors that affect car insurance rates the most are your age, gender, ZIP code, and driving history.
If you drive one of the most crashed cars in America, these statistics are not likely to make a significant difference regarding your auto insurance quotes. However, you will definitely pay higher rates if you’ve been in an accident.
You may want to buy a vehicle with high safety ratings and reduced insurance costs if you have accidents or reckless driving tickets on your record.
Some government bodies publish statistics showing collision losses, driver death rates, and how individual vehicles perform in crash tests. These statistics can help you to decide whether to buy a particular make and model of vehicle.
Case Studies: What is the most crashed car in America?
Case Study 1: Ford Fiesta’s High Driver Death Rates
David purchased a Ford Fiesta, unaware of its high driver death rate. Unfortunately, he got into a serious accident and suffered severe injuries. This case study highlights the importance of considering safety ratings and crash test data when buying a new car to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.
Case Study 2: Mitsubishi Mirage G4’s High Collision Claims
Emily owned a Mitsubishi Mirage G4, which had a significantly higher rate of collision claims compared to other mini cars. She experienced a collision and had to file an insurance claim, leading to increased insurance costs. This case study emphasizes the impact of collision claims on insurance rates and the importance of choosing a vehicle with lower collision risk.
Case Study 3: SUVs as the Safest Car Type
John opted for an SUV due to its low driver death rates. He was involved in a minor accident but escaped with minimal injuries, thanks to the vehicle’s safety features. This case study showcases the benefits of choosing an SUV as a safer car type and the potential for reducing injuries in accidents.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most crashed cars in America?
The most crashed cars in America, based on driver death rates per make and model, are as follows:
- Ford Fiesta with 141 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
- Hyundai Accent with 116 driver deaths.
- Chevrolet Sonic with 98 driver deaths.
- Nissan Versa Note with 96 driver deaths.
- Fiat 500 with 95 driver deaths.
What are the collision insurance losses by vehicle type?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) analyzes collision losses by make and model to determine the rate of crashes per vehicle type. Some examples include:
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4 had 79% more claims than all cars in the mini category.
- Honda Civic Type R hatchback had 48% more collision claims in the small car class.
- Kia Optima hybrid performed poorly at 72% in the mid-size class.
- Dodge Charger models and Kia Stinger fared poorly in the large vehicle category.
What is the safest car type?
According to crash test data analyzed by the IIHS, SUVs have the lowest driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, making them the safest car type. Some examples of safe car types include:
- GMC Yukon XL
- Infiniti QX60
- Lexus NX 200t
- Subaru Outback (leading station wagon)
What is the safest small car?
The Nissan Leaf holds the highest safety rating for small, four-door cars.
How can I save money on insurance for the most crashed cars in America?
While driving one of the most crashed cars in America may not significantly affect your insurance quotes, having a record of accidents or reckless driving can increase your rates. To save money, consider buying a vehicle with high safety ratings and reduced insurance costs. Additionally, comparing quotes from different insurance companies can help you find the best rates for your circumstances.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Michael earned a degree in Business Management degree with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Au...
Insurance Operations Specialist
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.