Although safety standards are more stringent than ever, not all vehicles protect occupants equally well, according to insurance claim statistics compiled by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), a nonprofit research organization affiliated with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The HLDI gathers loss data based on make and model, sorting it by coverage type – collision, property damage liability, comprehensive, personal injury protection, medical payment and bodily injury.
Looking at loss data for personal injury protection (PIP) insurance claim rates can give car buyers a good sense of how well vehicles protect occupants in real-world crashes.
What is PIP insurance?
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a type of car insurance that helps pay for medical expenses after a car accident—no matter who was at fault. It’s sometimes called “no-fault insurance” because it covers you and your passengers regardless of who caused the crash.
Car accidents can lead to serious out-of-pocket costs, especially if injuries keep you from working. PIP offers a financial safety net that kicks in quickly, so you don’t have to wait for a claim decision or figure out who’s responsible before getting help.
“The analysis is meant to accurately reflect the contribution of the vehicle itself to insurance losses,” said Joe Young, director of media relations for the IIHS and HLDI. “Demographic variables like driver age, gender, marital status and risk level, are controlled, as are geographic variables like vehicle density and garaging state. So, a vehicle’s insurance losses under PIP largely reflect the inherent characteristics and safety features of the vehicle.”
The most recent HLDI report available covers model years 2021 through 2023. The report was published in December 2024 and results reflect losses through about mid-2024.
- Drivers should pay attention to a car’s overall safety record—it’s one of the key factors insurers look at when setting your rates. The safer the car, the better your chances of getting more affordable coverage.
- The following states require PIP: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Utah.
Loretta Worters, vice president of communications for the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), said consumers should pay attention to a car’s general safety history — including information gathered by the HLDI — because it’s a significant element that insurers use when underwriting policies and deciding what drivers pay for coverage.
She said that rising medical costs, in connection with personal injury protection coverage, can significantly affect a policy’s cost.
“There are many factors that go into auto rates, including the cost to repair a car, its overall safety record and the likelihood of theft,” she said. “How much damage a car receives in an accident impacts how badly injured a person can be as well.”
PIP is optional in most states, but several states require it as part of a car insurance policy: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Utah.
Which vehicles have the lowest PIP claims?
Luxury SUVs dominate the HLDI’s list of vehicles with the lowest personal injury protection (PIP) claim rates.
The Rivian R1S is an electric, seven-passenger, all-wheel-drive SUV with a price tag starting at nearly $76,000. It had the lowest PIP claim rate, 69% less than the average.
The Porsche 911 Carrera, a sports car that starts at $127,700, had the second-lowest claim rate, 63% below average. The Rivian R1T, an all-wheel-drive electric truck that costs more than $69,000, had the third-lowest rate, 62%. Other brands that made the top 10 include Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Volvo, Lincoln and Ford.
Big, expensive vehicles like these have fewer PIP claims in part because of their size, weight and safety features, Young said.
“Vehicle size and weight play important roles in this. PIP frequencies tend to decrease with increasing vehicle size, reflecting the inherent protective nature of larger, heavier vehicles,” he said. “Luxury models also tend to have the latest and greatest crash-avoidance technology and other safety features, which may help explain the prevalence of larger luxury models on the list of lowest claim frequencies.”
Young said the frequency with which a vehicle is driven also matters. A high-end luxury or sports model may only be used occasionally, reducing the risk of an accident.
“While the analysis controls for many factors, it doesn’t control for miles driven. So, sports cars that may not be driven daily may have lower PIP frequencies to some extent simply because they aren’t exposed to as much driving,” he said.
Study results are adjusted to reduce possible distortions from non-vehicle factors including operator age, calendar year, density, gender, marital status, model year, risk (standard or nonstandard) and state.
Lowest personal injury protection claim rates
| Vehicle | Size and class | Claim frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Rivian R1S electric 4dr 4WD | Large luxury SUV | -69% |
| Porsche 911 Carrera 2dr | Midsize sports car | -63% |
| Rivian R1T 4dr electric 4WD | Large pickup | -62% |
| Mercedes-Benz G class 4dr 4WD | Large luxury SUV | -62% |
| Land Rover Range Rover 4dr 4WD (NEW) | Large luxury SUV | -56% |
| Lincoln Navigator 4dr 4WD | Very large luxury SUV | -55% |
| Porsche Taycan electric 4dr 4WD | Large sports car | -55% |
| Volvo XC40 electric 4dr 4WD | Small luxury SUV | -55% |
| Mercedes-Benz G class AMG 4dr 4WD | Large luxury SUV | -53% |
| Ford Bronco 2dr convertible 4WD | Midsize SUV | -53% |
Which cars have the highest PIP claim rates?
Conversely, smaller, less expensive vehicles dominate the HLDI’s list of vehicles with the highest personal injury protection claim rates.
The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 is a small four-door sedan that retails for less than $18,000. It had the highest PIP claim frequency of any vehicle the HLDI has data for, 203% above the average. The Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback, which starts at $16,995, had the second-highest claim frequency, 112% above average.
“The Mirage G4 recently topped our list of driver death rates. Smaller, lighter and often less expensive vehicles offer less protection in a crash but they also may lack the latest safety features or best crash test results,” Young said. “The Mirage, for example, earns the second-lowest rating of marginal in our driver-side small overlap crash test. This is a test that most vehicles have been acing for years.”
The Kia Rio, another budget-priced hatchback, had the third-highest rate, 107% above average. Mitsubishi had two more models in the top 10; other manufacturers that had vehicles with higher-than-average PIP claim rates include Nissan, Chrysler, Dodge and Chevrolet.
Young said driver behavior shouldn’t be discounted, even though the vehicles with the highest rate of PIP claims tend to be smaller and may not have the best crash-test ratings.
“While we control for demographics in the analysis, we can’t control for behaviors like speeding that can contribute to crash and injury risk. It’s possible that a few of the models on this list tend to be driven in a way that results in more crashes,” he said. “Some of these may be models that simply rack up a lot of miles and have more exposure to crash risk.”
Highest personal injury protection claim rates
| Vehicle | Size and class | Claim frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Mirage G4 | Mini four-door car | 203% |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | Micro four-door car | 112% |
| Kia Rio | Mini four-door car | 107% |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 4dr 4WD | Small SUV | 104% |
| Chrysler 300 | Large four-door car | 103% |
| Dodge Charger | Large four-door car | 100% |
| Nissan Versa | Small four-door car | 96% |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 4dr 4WD | Small SUV | 92% |
| Chevrolet Malibu | Midsize four-door car | 91% |
| Dodge Charger HEMI | Large four-door car | 90% |
How to buy a safe car
Not everyone can afford a luxury vehicle like a Rivian, Porsche or Mercedes-Benz. So, what steps should a car buyer on a budget take to ensure they find a safe vehicle?
Young said a good place to start is the crash-test results published by the IIHS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“If someone is considering a new or used vehicle, we’d encourage them to buy as much safety as they can afford. Check and compare crash test ratings, look for crash avoidance technologies like blind spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking and always check for open safety recalls if you’re buying a used vehicle,” he said.
Using seatbelts and obeying traffic laws are simple yet effective ways to optimize your safety.
“Every vehicle has seat belts, and they remain the most important safety feature in any vehicle. Watch your speed, don’t drive impaired and don’t drive distracted. If everyone did those things, our roads would be significantly safer for everyone,” Young said.
Sources
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “Auto insurance.” Accessed April 2025.
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “Driver death rates by make and model.” Accessed April 2025.
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “Insurance losses by make and model.” Accessed April 2025.
Get advice from an experienced insurance professional. Our experts will help you navigate your insurance questions with clarity and confidence.
Browse all FAQs