Check a Car's Safety Ratings by VIN: See Crash Test Results & More

Vehicle safety ratings have become one of the most important factors buyers consider when purchasing a new or used car. These seemingly simple star ratings represent complex engineering, rigorous testing, and decades of safety research—all designed to save lives. Let's explore how these ratings work, why they matter, and how you can use them to make informed decisions.

The Evolution of Vehicle Safety Ratings

The story of modern vehicle safety testing begins in the late 1970s when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) started its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Before this initiative, consumers had almost no standardized way to compare vehicle safety. Auto manufacturers rarely published crash test data, and safety features were often treated as luxury add-ons rather than essential components.

When NHTSA began publishing crash test results in 1979, it created a significant shift in automotive safety. For the first time, manufacturers had to compete on safety performance. Today, multiple organizations worldwide conduct comprehensive safety assessments, with the NHTSA and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) leading these efforts in the United States.

How Safety Ratings Are Determined

Modern safety ratings are far more sophisticated than many consumers realize. When organizations like NHTSA evaluate vehicles, they conduct multiple types of crash tests, each simulating different real-world accident scenarios:

Frontal Crash Tests: Vehicles are crashed into a fixed barrier at 35 mph, measuring how well the structure protects occupants in head-on collisions.
Side Impact Tests: Include both side barrier tests (simulating being hit by another vehicle at an intersection) and side pole tests (simulating sliding sideways into a telephone pole or tree).
Rollover Resistance Tests: Measure how top-heavy a vehicle is and how likely it is to roll over in emergency maneuvers.
Crash Prevention Tests: Newer evaluations that assess automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and other crash avoidance technologies.

During these tests, sophisticated crash test dummies equipped with numerous sensors measure the forces experienced by human occupants. These dummies continue to evolve to better simulate the human body and measure more precise data points.

Understanding the Rating Systems

The two primary safety rating systems in the U.S. use different approaches, which can sometimes confuse consumers.

NHTSA Star Ratings System

The NHTSA uses a 5-Star Safety Rating system, with more stars indicating better performance:

★★★★★ (5 stars): Injury risk is much less than average
★★★★ (4 stars): Injury risk is less than average
★★★ (3 stars): Injury risk is average
★★ (2 stars): Injury risk is greater than average
★ (1 star): Injury risk is much greater than average

These ratings are based on the probability of injury to occupants in standardized crash tests. The overall vehicle score combines results from all test categories.

IIHS Rating System

The IIHS uses a different approach with descriptive ratings:

Good: The highest rating, indicating excellent protection
Acceptable: The second-highest rating, with good protection but some room for improvement
Marginal: The second-lowest rating, indicating areas of concern
Poor: The lowest rating, indicating significant safety concerns

The IIHS is known for implementing tests that often go beyond federal requirements. Their Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ designations are highly coveted in the industry.

Why Safety Ratings Matter

The significance of safety ratings extends far beyond marketing materials—they have a real impact on survival rates during accidents. Research consistently shows that vehicles with higher safety ratings generally result in fewer fatalities and serious injuries.

These ratings also drive innovation. When the IIHS introduced its small overlap frontal test in 2012 (simulating when the front corner of a car strikes another vehicle or object), many popular vehicles performed poorly. Manufacturers subsequently redesigned their vehicles to perform better in this test, improving real-world safety.

Consumer demand for safety has increased substantially over the years, making safety features an important selling point for manufacturers rather than just optional add-ons.

Using Your VIN to Access Safety Information

While general safety ratings for vehicle models are widely published, your specific vehicle may have different safety equipment depending on its trim level, optional packages, and manufacturing date. Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) provides access to your exact vehicle's safety configuration.

Our VIN-based safety rating tool provides detailed information about your specific vehicle's safety features and crash test performance. Simply enter your 17-digit VIN to get comprehensive safety data:

Check Your Vehicle's Safety Ratings

Key Safety Features That Improve Ratings

Modern vehicles achieve their high safety ratings through a combination of passive safety features (that protect during a crash) and active safety features (that help prevent crashes). Understanding these systems helps consumers make more informed decisions.

Passive Safety Systems

These systems are designed to protect occupants during an accident:

Advanced Airbag Systems: Modern vehicles contain multiple airbags, including front, side, knee, and curtain airbags that deploy rapidly to cushion occupants.
High-Strength Safety Cages: Vehicle structures now use high-strength steel and strategic crumple zones that absorb impact energy while maintaining cabin integrity.
Pre-Tensioning Seatbelts: These automatically tighten during a crash to keep occupants properly positioned as airbags deploy.
Enhanced Side-Impact Protection: Door beams, reinforced B-pillars, and side airbags work together to protect from one of the most dangerous crash types.

Active Safety Technologies

These systems work to prevent accidents altogether:

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): Uses sensors to detect potential collisions and automatically applies brakes if the driver doesn't respond in time.
Lane Departure Warning/Lane Keep Assist: Alerts drivers when they unintentionally drift from their lane and can apply subtle steering correction.
Blind Spot Detection: Monitors areas difficult for drivers to see and provides warnings when vehicles enter these zones.
Adaptive Cruise Control: Maintains a set distance from vehicles ahead by automatically adjusting speed.
Cross-Traffic Alert: Warns of approaching vehicles when backing out of parking spaces.

The impact of these active safety features is significant enough that the IIHS now includes their effectiveness in their rating criteria. Vehicles must have certain automatic braking capabilities to earn their highest safety ratings.

Limitations of Safety Ratings

While safety ratings provide valuable guidance, they do have important limitations consumers should understand:

Test Evolution: Rating systems change over time as test procedures become more stringent. A 5-star rating from 2010 is not equivalent to a 5-star rating in 2025 due to constantly evolving standards.
Limited Crash Scenarios: Tests represent common crash scenarios but cannot cover every possible accident situation.
Vehicle Weight Discrepancies: Ratings compare vehicles within similar weight classes—a 5-star small car may not provide the same protection as a 5-star SUV in a collision between the two.
Driver Behavior: Even the safest vehicles cannot fully compensate for high-risk driving behaviors like speeding or distracted driving.

These limitations don't diminish the value of safety ratings but highlight the importance of using them as one factor in a comprehensive approach to vehicle safety.

Finding Safety Ratings for Used Vehicles

When shopping for a used vehicle, finding accurate safety information presents unique challenges. Older vehicles may have been tested under different protocols, and some may have missed recalls or safety updates over the years.

The manufacturing date of a vehicle can significantly impact its safety features. For example, electronic stability control became standard in all vehicles in 2012, while backup cameras became mandatory in 2018. A 2011 model of the same vehicle might lack critical safety features found in a 2012 version.

Additionally, used vehicles may have unaddressed recalls that affect safety performance. A significant percentage of recalled vehicles never get repaired, creating potential safety risks for subsequent owners.

Verify Your Used Vehicle's Safety Profile

When considering a used vehicle, it's essential to check both its safety ratings and recall status. Our comprehensive VIN tools can help you:

Check Safety Ratings

See crash test results and safety features specific to your vehicle's year and trim level

View Safety Ratings →

Verify Recall Status

Check if your vehicle has any unaddressed safety recalls that need attention

Check Recalls →

The Future of Vehicle Safety Ratings

Safety rating systems continue to evolve as technology advances. Several important trends are shaping the future of how we evaluate vehicle safety:

Automated Driving Assessment: As semi-autonomous driving features become more common, rating systems are developing new tests for these technologies.
Pedestrian and Cyclist Protection: Newer tests evaluate how vehicle designs minimize injuries to vulnerable road users outside the vehicle.
Real-World Data Integration: Rating organizations are increasingly incorporating real-world crash statistics to validate and improve their test procedures.
Expanded Crash Scenarios: New test protocols are being developed to address a wider range of accident types, including more severe overlap crashes and various angle impacts.

These advancements mean that safety ratings will become even more comprehensive and predictive of real-world performance, helping consumers make better-informed decisions and pushing manufacturers toward ever-higher safety standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do safety ratings change over time?

Yes, safety rating systems evolve regularly as testing organizations implement more stringent criteria. A 5-star rating from 2010 represents a different safety standard than a 5-star rating from 2025. Testing protocols are updated to reflect new understanding of crash dynamics and to encourage continuous safety improvements from manufacturers.

Are safety ratings comparable between different vehicle classes?

Safety ratings are primarily designed to compare vehicles within the same weight class or category. A 5-star small car and a 5-star SUV have demonstrated excellent performance relative to their respective classes, but the larger, heavier vehicle generally offers better protection in crashes between vehicles of different sizes due to the physics of collision forces.

How do safety ratings affect insurance premiums?

Vehicles with higher safety ratings often qualify for insurance discounts. Many insurance companies offer discounts for vehicles with advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking or comprehensive airbag systems, as these features typically help reduce the severity and frequency of claims.

Are safety ratings the same for all trim levels of a vehicle?

Not necessarily. Different trim levels may have different standard safety features that can affect overall safety performance. Base models might lack advanced safety technologies that come standard on higher trims. Using your specific VIN to check safety information ensures you get data relevant to your exact vehicle configuration.

Ready to Check Your Vehicle's Complete Safety Profile?

Knowledge is power when it comes to vehicle safety. Use our comprehensive VIN-based tools to access detailed safety information specific to your exact vehicle: