crash test

A crash test is a controlled, instrumented collision conducted by safety regulators or independent organizations to evaluate how well a vehicle protects its occupants (and, increasingly, pedestrians) in common accident scenarios. Engineers use sensor-equipped crash test dummies, high-speed cameras, and structural measurements to score a vehicle’s performance in frontal, side, and rollover impacts. The results are published as star ratings or letter grades that shoppers can look up before buying.

In the United States, two organizations produce the crash test data most used-car shoppers rely on:

• NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) awards 1–5 stars for frontal crash, side crash, and rollover resistance, plus an overall vehicle score. Ratings are free at NHTSA.gov.
• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a private insurance-funded group, rates vehicles Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor in tests such as the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint evaluations. Top performers earn “Top Safety Pick” or “Top Safety Pick+” designations.

For example, a 2020 Toyota Camry earned a 5-star overall NCAP rating and IIHS Top Safety Pick+ status, while some older or smaller vehicles—such as certain subcompact cars from the early 2010s—scored only 3 or 4 stars and lost points in small-overlap testing.

Why it matters for used car shoppers: Crash test scores are one of the most objective ways to compare the real-world safety of vehicles from different model years, automakers, and classes. Because test protocols evolve (NHTSA added side-pole and updated dummy criteria over time; IIHS added the small overlap test in 2012 and a tougher side test in 2021), a 5-star rating from 2008 does not mean the same thing as one from 2023. Always check the specific model year you are considering.

Pair crash test results with two other federal data points before you buy:

• NHTSA recalls and complaints (via the VIN lookup tool at NHTSA.gov) to confirm any open safety campaigns have been addressed.
• EPA fuel economy ratings (fueleconomy.gov) to balance safety with long-term operating costs, since heavier, safer vehicles sometimes trade off mpg.

A vehicle with strong crash test scores, no outstanding recalls, and reasonable EPA mileage is generally a smart used-car bet.

Sources: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) ratings; NHTSA Recalls and Complaints database (NHTSA.gov VIN lookup); U.S. EPA fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov).

Reviewed by the CarCabin editorial team.