SAFETY RATINGS
Familiarise yourself with the various safety ratings to choose the safest car that fits your budget.
Understand the safety ratings
Almost every vehicle has an overall safety rating from 1 to 5 stars, calculated from its safety ratings in various specific categories. Both Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) and the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) can give you an indication of how well the vehicle protects everyone on our roads.
Vehicles with 4- and 5-stars are the safest, while 1- and 2-star vehicles provide less protection in a crash and are likely to have fewer of the key features which help prevent crashes.
When considering the purchase of a car, it's essential to choose one that prioritises safety within your budget. Safety ratings can vary widely among vehicles, so be sure to check these ratings before making a decision. With ongoing advancements in car safety technology, newer models tend to offer better protection than their older counterparts. Modern cars are often equipped with features designed to significantly lower the risk of accidents and enhance your chances of survival in the event of a crash. Aim for the safest car model you can afford; if a vehicle scores below four stars, it's best to steer clear.
The ratings given to vehicles assessed by ANCAP generally expire after 6 years. At this time, USCR ratings 'replace' them. For new cars or used cars with a manufacture date of less than 6 years, use ANCAP. For used car with a manufacture date of 6 years or more, use the Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR).
The difference between UCSR and ANCAP ratings
Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR)
UCSR are calculated from data on injury outcomes to people involved in real world crashes in Australia and New Zealand. The ratings reflect your relative risk of being killed or admitted to hospital in the event of a crash, with more stars indicating lower risk. A vehicle needs to be involved in a large number of crashes to be accurately rated, so some less common or relatively new makes and models will not have a UCSR.
UCSR is an initiative of the Monash University Accident Research Centre, one of the world’s most comprehensive injury prevention research centres.
Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP)
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program rating is based on a car’s performance in a range of simulated crashes, inclusion of vital safety features and technologies. For new models, it is the best marker of safety. Our search tool lists the ANCAP safety ratings for newer vehicles that don’t yet have a UCSR rating.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
High-powered (performance) vehicle restrictions apply to P1 and P2 licence holders under the age of 25. The definition of high-powered vehicles depends on the year of manufacture but can include vehicles with features such as:
- Engines with 8 or more cylinders
- A turbocharged or supercharged engine that is not diesel powered
- A power-to-weight ratio of more than 130kW/t
- Engines with a power output of more than 210kW
You can find more details on TMR’s webpage.
The ’Safe Car Pick’ markers are assigned to vehicles manufactured in the last 10 years that score a 5-star UCSR rating, and a 5-star ANCAP rating.
For new cars or used cars with a manufacture date of less than 6 years, use ANCAP.
For used cars with a manufacture date of 6 years or more, use the Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR).
You can find vehicles with 4- or 5-star Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) starting from around $5,000.
UCSR’s are based on real-world crash statistics rather than laboratory tests. If a vehicle is less common or has been involved in fewer police-reported crashes where someone has been killed or injured, it may take longer for there to be enough data to be assessed.
If you’re looking at a vehicle that has a manufacture date of 6 years or more and it doesn’t have a UCSR, we recommend looking at its ANCAP rating to determine safety.
We only provide search results for Queensland-issued numberplates. Some personalised plates issued by Personalised Plates Queensland may not show in search results.
Vehicles with 4- or 5-star safety ratings have in-built features that can reduce the risk or death or serious injury to the driver, passengers or others in the event of a crash. These features cannot be purchased or fitted after manufacture and are much more important than other features such as stereo systems.
For younger drivers and older drivers in particular, driving a car with a higher safety rating can be the difference between walking away from a crash and not.