ISO Symbols are in on Smarts!

[Springlering]

ISO symbols are just in for the Smarts, release date of 2-29-8.

Insurance Services Office (ISO) is the industry group that tracks cost new, crash, theft, injury, frequency, and severity statistics on every make and model of vehicle on the road. Based on the stats, they assign each car a "Symbol", which is simply a number on a scale of about 1 to 27.

The higher the number, the higher the rates on the car, particularly the comprehensive (fire, theft, vandalism) and collision rates. Most, but not all companies, use ISO factors, or a tweaked variation of them.

ISO has assigned symbols since the late 50's, so the scale nowadays generally runs from 7 to 27.

On the 2008 list, the lowest cars carry a Symbol 7 and 8, and include stripped versions of Chevy and Ford trucks and low-end SUVs, base model Chrysler minivan, and the ilk.

The highest cars carry a Symbol 27, and include (no surprise) Jags, Lexus hybrid, high end BMWs, and the like.

(Not all 2008 models have been assigned symbols yet, so the list is incomplete, and doesnt' include Mercedes, for example. We don't generally get the complete list til mid-year.)

The Smarts have been assigned a symbol 13 for the cabrio, and a symbol 8 for the 2 door hatchback. (The Pure and the Passion are both counted as hatchbacks).

It is entirely possible for a symbol to be changed on a new make or a new model, once more of them hit the road and more reliable statistics start filtering in, but it is unusual, unless a car has really horrible "loss experience". The redesigned Chevy Cavalier a few years back was one of the more eye-popping instances of a symbol going through the roof. But generally, they stay they same, or only go up a notch, maybe two at most.

The closest comparable vehicles I can think of offhand are a Mazda Miata (symbols 13 & 15), and a Chevy Aveo (symbols 12, 14, and 16). That one's not really a fair comparison since it's a four door.

[Springlering]

>>>On the 2087 list, the lowest cars carry a Symbol 7 and 8,

argggh. that should read "2008 list". Sorry, I got happy fingers.

[Springlering]

PS....now that ISO symbols have been assigned, it should be easier to get quotes on insurance for your Smart.............assuming it ever comes. Ahem.

Insurance companies have pack mentality. "I'm not going to insure it if they won't insure it. Oh look!!! ISO has assigned a symbol, and it's in the book now. That means someone's quoting it, so yeah, sure we'll quote it now......."

[E-SMART]

as I already rec'd a prelim quote from my Allstate agent and she was only able to do it based on the estimated vehicle cost (was still lower than my Mazda3 rate) about a month or so ago. I already own a 'vert (happens to be a Miata) so I'm to get a passion coupe. Less money to insure is just an extra bonus to ownership costs, nice!

I'll be sure to mention this when the time comes if its not lower than the first quote now that this news is out.

[SmartPassion]

Thats great information to have. Thanks for sharing Springlering! FWIW, I was able to get insurance through Century 21st for my smart.

[dennyrex]

That is great news! If anybody does TCO studies on vehicles, like they do on computers, the smart fortwo should come out on top.

[Springlering]

You know, as kneejerk as it sounds, I'm not so much worried about saving a couple of hundred bucks on insurance rates. That's just a lagniappe.

I'm reassured that ISO, as conservative as it is, seems to be getting good vibes or data or whatever on the Smart, since we plan on turning our seventeen year old daughter loose in one of the two we have on order.

I've spent too many years trying to talk people into safer vehicles, and out of crumple-cars, or holding their hands when someone barely bumped their car and totalled it.

Had they assigned the Smart a high symbol, I would have cancelled both our reservations. :-)

[saronian]

Another big thank you! This will help when I start shopping for insurance.

[dancote]

Thanks for this. I didn't know such a rating existed.

[Smartport]

Thanks for the ISO information, I am an insurance agenct and the ISO symbol said alot about the vehicle.