Used Car Safety Ratings
If you are in the market to buy a car, the Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) are a reliable source of information on a used car's safety performance.
The Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) is updated and released each year, making it simple to choose the safest used car in your budget.
Statistics show that a driver of the worst vehicle rated is over eight times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in the same crash than the same driver in the safest vehicle.
In the 2022 release, there are ratings for hundreds of vehicle models covering most of the popular vehicles in the Australian fleet manufactured from 1987 to 2020.
Before purchasing a car, please take a few minutes to read the ratings for the vehicles you are considering and always prioritise safety over other factors. Those few minutes could save a life—your own, your passengers' or that of another road user.
Go to the How Safe is Your Car website or download the Used Car Safety Ratings 2022 brochure.
If you want to know more about vehicle safety, we recommend completing the vehicle safety course we have made available online. It consists of 3 modules you can complete at your own pace, teaching you all about vehicle safety and how to choose a safe car.
It is entirely free and can be accessed here.
How are the ratings determined?
The Monash University Accident Research Centre (MURC) analysed the records from more than 9 million vehicles in police-reported road crashes in Australia and New Zealand between 1987 and 2020. The ratings were calculated using an internationally reviewed method and are influenced by the vehicle's mass, the structural design of the body, and the safety features fitted to the vehicle, such as airbags and types of seat belts.
The score for each individual model can be compared against the ratings for all other vehicles. The driver protection ratings are about the risk of death or serious injury to the driver in the event of a crash. The ratings do not consider the risk of being involved in the crash in the first place, which is generally determined by various factors, including vehicle technology, driver behaviour, vehicle condition and the road environment.
In 2022, 13 cars were awarded 'Safer Pick' status. To achieve the "Safe Pick" label, models must:
- provide excellent protection for their own driver,
- cause less serious injury to other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists in a collision,
- and have a lower risk of being involved in a crash,
- and be fitted with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and reversing cameras or sensors.
Some of the highest performing used vehicle models in this year's analysis—each achieving five stars and qualifying as a 'Safer Pick'—included:
- Volkswagen Golf VII (2013–2020)
- Toyota Camry (2017–2020)
- Honda Civic (2016–2020)
- Subaru Liberty/Legacy/Outback/Exiga (2009–2014)
- BMW 1 Series (2011–2019)
- Mercedes Benz E–Class W212/C207/A207 (2009–2016)
- Audi A5/S5/RS5 (2007–2016)