The SaferCar App: What You Need To Know
Learn how this app and others like it can help you to drive more safely and possibly lower your insurance premiums.
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More than 30.8 million vehicles in the U.S. were affected by vehicle safety recalls in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This is no small number. If it’s difficult to wrap your head around it, picture this: If all vehicles affected by a vehicle safety recall in the U.S. in 2022 were lined up bumper to bumper, they could wrap around the Earth a little over eight times. And that number is just the year’s vehicle safety recalls; it doesn’t count car seats, tires and other equipment.
When you stop to consider the many things going on in the average American’s life, it’s easy to imagine that your vehicle or equipment may have been recalled without your noticing the notifications.
One tool that can help you make sure your equipment is properly registered so you can track various national recalls is the SaferCar app from NHTSA.
Increase peace of mind.
In 2023 alone, Hyundai and Kia together recalled over half a million vehicles. The companies were forced to do so when it came to their attention that the tow hitch harness on some of their vehicles presented a fire risk. They urged owners to park those vehicles outside until they could get them to a professional for repair, to help prevent fires.
According to USA Today, Ford issued a recall on 870,000 F-150 pickup trucks during the summer of 2023. The 299 complaints of “unexpected parking brake activation,” 19 of which were experienced while driving, compelled Ford to issue the recall.
These are just two examples of the hundreds of thousands of vehicles affected by safety recalls this year. With the SaferCar app, you can keep up with vehicle and equipment recalls in real time. It’s a three-step process:
- Download the app.
- Enter the vehicle identification number (VIN) for your vehicle(s)/equipment.
- Opt in for notifications.
While vehicle manufacturers will only notify you of a recall by first-class mail, the SaferCar app will conveniently notify you on your phone.
Lower your insurance premiums.
After downloading and registering with the app, check with your auto insurance provider to see if you might be eligible for a lower premium. Safe-driving apps such as AAADrive encourage attentive driving with the incentive of cheaper insurance rates.
Take the step yourself.
According to a report by Carfax, over 2.5 million cars that have been issued “do not drive” or “park outside” safety recalls have not been repaired. While apps like SaferCar make recall awareness easier than ever, it is up to drivers to make sure that needed repairs are made by a professional. It’s this final step that will truly make the roads a safer place.
*AAADrive not available in Colorado or the Carolinas