What is a Crash Test Rating?

Who Conducts Crash Tests?

Crash test ratings are given out by different teams and organizations that perform a battery of tests in order to determine the durability and the safety of a particular vehicle.  While many companies will perform their own tests in order to determine the initial stability of their car, a few key organizations act as impartial third parties charged with determining the neutral and fair crash test ratings for the vehicle.  These companies also provide the public with their findings, so individuals can compare prospective vehicles based on their auto crash test ratings. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which uses the acronym NHTSA, is a company within the United States of America that can provide crash test situations and auto crash test ratings.  Part of the Executive Branch of the government, the NHTSA is a specific division of the Department of Transportation.  Among other things, the division is charged with saving lives through their crash tests and other automobile safety services.  Another American-based organization, the non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), can also submit their own crash test ratings.  The IIHS’ research is considered by many to be more basic than the findings offered by the NHTSA.  In Europe, the European New Car Assessment Programme, also designated Euro NCAP, was founded in the year 1997.  The United Kingdom Department of Transport sets forth the goals for the organization, including their ability and responsibility for performing safety assessment tests for vehicles.  Another test safety rating establishment is the Australasian New Car Assessment Program. 

Some of these organizations do not test every type of vehicle.  For example, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, does not perform tests on all manufactured vehicles.  The vehicles they test to assign crash test ratings are those that have the highest volume, or those that are most frequently purchased and utilized.  High-end and specialty vehicles are rarely tested because of their relatively lower consumer demand.  The NHTSA, as well, does not test every vehicle created, so it is important to do the appropriate research to ensure that crash test ratings were assigned, so they can be reviewed properly by the individual.  For the NHTSA, the number of vehicles they are able to test annually in order to assign the proper crash test ratings is directly proportional to the amount of funding allocated by Congress.  As a result, the number of vehicles that are tested and given auto crash test safety ratings can vary from year to year in accordance with the budget of Congress. 

What Are Crash Test Ratings?

Crash test ratings are the scores given to vehicles in response to their performances in crash tests.  There are a number of different types of crash tests that are performed on the vehicles, each of which provides their own overall score for functioning throughout the test.  These auto crash test ratings are given by impartial companies in order to provide the general public with unbiased information about the vehicles.  Many consumers are interested in how vehicles perform during these tests because they want to be traveling in a safe vehicle.  At the same time, individuals want to know that their investment is sound and well founded.  Crash test ratings aid individuals in getting accurate and relevant information.  Some of the most common tests are frontal crashes, real crashes, and side crashes.  Other tests include timing the deployment of air bags and other key safety features.

Types Of Vehicles Tested

Since not all vehicles are built the same, crash test ratings are given to vehicles of the same type for easier comparability on the part of the consumer.  While the vehicles will go through the same or similar tests to receive their auto crash test safety ratings, they will be broken down by category.  This helps assure a fair comparison of vehicles.

There are nine main categories of vehicles that are tested.  They are classified under five main headings and types, those being cars, SUVs, vans, convertibles, and trucks.  Specifically, the different types that are tested are full size pickup trucks, compact SUVs, midsize SUVs, full size SUVs, minivans, convertibles, compact cars, midsize cars, and full size cars.  Since each of the vehicles is designed to its own separate standards and capabilities according to type, they are grouped in different categories in the interest of balanced and accurate crash test ratings.

Understanding Crash Test Rating Results

Although crash test ratings may seem slightly arbitrary, much like the reviews given by movie critics, the stars in crash test ratings actually have specific meanings.  One star means that the individual who gets in the type of accident being tested, for example a frontal crash, will have a forty-six percent chance, or higher, of getting injured.  Two stars given to a vehicle in a test means the individual has a percentage of injury ranging from thirty-six to forty-five percent.  Three stars means there is an injury rate of twenty-one to thirty-five percent assigned to the vehicle, and four stars means a percentage of eleven to twenty is likely.  Vehicles that are able to score five stars means that there is a ten percent or less chance of the individual getting injured as a result of the specific type of test that is being performed.  As a result, cars that have more stars are safer than those with lower stars and crash test ratings.

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