Insurance Institute For Highway Safety

Updated: 05 May 2026

What Does Insurance Institute For Highway Safety Mean?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a non-profit organization based in Arlington, Virginia, with the goal of reducing highway accidents.

Funded by auto insurance companies, the IIHS conducts safety testing and provides safety ratings for many vehicles on the road. Buyers comparing quotes from the best car insurance companies often check IIHS ratings before settling on a vehicle, since cars with stronger crash test scores can qualify for lower premiums.

Insuranceopedia Explains Insurance Institute For Highway Safety

Car accidents on highways result in significant financial damage, serious injuries, and even fatalities. They also lead to substantial claims payouts by auto insurance companies. National car accident statistics show how frequent these crashes are across the U.S., which is the kind of data the IIHS uses to set priorities for its testing. For this reason, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s efforts to reduce vehicular accidents can benefit both drivers and the insurance companies that insure them by helping to lower accident-related costs and improve road safety.