Crash Test Ratings

Crash tests provide information on how well a vehicle protects the driver and passengers during a crash. Crash tests are performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an agency of the Department of Transportation, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a nonprofit organization financed by insurance companies.

Both NHTSA and IIHS conduct crash tests of new vehicles to determine the level of protection for drivers and passengers during frontal- and side-impact crashes. For frontal impacts, NHTSA crashes are full-width and IIHS crashes are offset from the center, exposing only 40% of the vehicle’s front to the impact. For side impacts, NHTSA uses a low barrier and IIHS uses an elevated barrier to simulate the impact of an SUV.

In addition to frontal and side-impact crash testing, IIHS conducts rear crashes that focus on whiplash protection.

Because NHTSA and IIHS crash tests can result in different ratings for the same vehicle, both organizations’ crash test ratings should be considered before purchasing a vehicle. The latest NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings can be found at www.safercar.gov. IIHS crash test ratings can be found at www.iihs.org.