When it comes to setting premium rates, the make and model of the vehicle you propose to drive is the most important factor after your own safety record as a driver. Some models attract thieves either because they are easy to steal or provide a thrill factor when driven at speed. But for everyday use, the way the model performs in crash tests is the real issue. Let's take just two issues. If there's plenty of metal between you and other drivers, you are less likely to be injured in an accident. So, for example, sport utility vehicles have size and weight on their side. Now that new electronic stability controls have been fitted to reduce the risk of roll-over, these are among the safest vehicles to drive. The only drawback is the gas-guzzler tag. With gas back up to around $4 a gallon, filling up the tank on an SUV means you have to be in good standing with your credit card providers.

So, if the cost of putting and keeping an SUV on the road is too high, what are the safest low-cost vehicles? The answer is provided by two bodies, working more or less together: the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). The IIHS does the crash testing and general talking with the manufacturers about design to improve the safety of vehicles on the road. The HLDI analyzes all the available data from the insurance industry to put numbers on the human and economic losses that flow from traffic accidents. When you put the two sets of results together, you get a good picture of which vehicles to drive. When the IIHS first started, it preferred bigger vehicles. So long as the driver was wearing a seat belt, driving a truck or stable SUV was always going to give you the most protection. But now the tests have grown more open, measuring front, side and rear strength, as well as the risk of roll-over, small vehicles are outperforming the heavyweights. The top fuel economy cars are now safer than SUVs.

In part, this is due to their speed. You can often move out of the way of danger in a small car. The latest round of results show the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Juke and Toyota Prius as the top safety picks. Note the Prius. The hybrid delivers an estimated 51 miles to the gallon on the highway. If you are going to buy secondhand, check the archives for the listing of makes and models by year. Small vehicles used to lack the safety equipment now supplied as standard. Designs change from one year to the next. So, for example, the Elantra has gone from being one of the worst vehicles to one of the best.

Before you buy, check the lists published on the IIHS site and then get auto insurance quotes to confirm the current premium rates. You are looking for the best balance between price on the road and insurance costs. The good thing about free auto insurance quotes is you can get premium rates for as many different makes and models as you can afford. This lets you make the best overall decision on safety and cost.