Free Tool · Official NHTSA Tests
Crash Test Ratings Lookup
Before you buy, see how the car performed when the US government actually crashed one — overall, frontal, side and rollover star ratings.
Questions
Crash Test Ratings — FAQ
What do the NHTSA star ratings mean?
5 stars = the lowest injury risk in NHTSA's crash tests, 1 star = the highest. The overall score combines frontal crash, side crash and rollover-resistance tests performed on real production vehicles at certified labs.
Is a 4-star car unsafe?
No — but risk differences between stars are real. NHTSA's scale is relative to other modern vehicles: a 4-star car has measurably higher injury probability in the tested scenarios than a 5-star one, and crash physics compounds that with speed.
Why can't I find my vehicle?
NHTSA only tests vehicles sold in the US, prioritising high-volume models — and this lookup covers model year 2011 onward, when the current rating system started. Try the closest model year, and check the model name matches NHTSA's spelling.
Are these the same as IIHS ratings?
No — IIHS is an insurance-industry lab with different tests (small-overlap, headlights). NHTSA is the US government program. A genuinely safe car scores well in both.
Data: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (US DOT, public domain), cached up to 7 days. The full used-car safety kit: Recall Checker · Problems Checker · Tire Age Checker · VIN Lookup.