Buying a car? Check the stars

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has updated the safety ratings for used vehicles on Rightcar.govt.nz. People are twice as safe in a 5-star safety-rated vehicle compared to a 1-star vehicle.

Based on data analysed by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), this year’s ratings draw from 9.5 million vehicles and 2.6 million injured road users involved in police-reported crashes across Australia and New Zealand between 1987 and 2023. 

This year, the Tesla Model 3 became the first fully electric vehicle to be rated and achieved 5 stars. 

Vehicle safety continues to improve, with the average risk of death or serious injury in the event of a crash for drivers in 2023 models 43% lower than in vehicles manufactured in 2001. The overall safety of the light vehicle fleet has improved by more than 50%. 

“Your choice of vehicle could make all the difference in avoiding a crash and in protecting you and your loved ones from serious injury or death if a crash happens. Buying a safe car is one of the most important decisions you can make, and you can find high-rated options in most price ranges and vehicle categories,” says Todd Wylie, NZTA’s Principal Advisor Vehicle Safety.  

“Novice drivers especially are at higher risk of crashes, so choosing a vehicle with the best protection can save lives.”  

Over 700,000 used vehicles’ safety ratings have changed this year, including some newer models moving from ANCAP (that apply to new vehicles and are based on crash-lab tests) ratings that have expired, to used car safety ratings (UCSR), which are based on real-world crash data. 

The updated ratings apply to most cars, SUVs, utes and other light vehicles on our roads. 

To achieve a 5-star overall safety rating, a vehicle must provide excellent protection of people in the car, good protection for other road users, and key crash avoidance features.  

“The worst vehicles for overall performance are responsible for more than a five-fold increase in road trauma resulting from crashes in which they’re involved. That’s why checking the rating before you buy is so critical,” says Mr Wylie. 

Safety ratings change over time, so make sure you check it out. It’s simple: just go to rightcar.govt.nz and type in the number plate or make/model of the vehicle. 

Rightcar website(external link)

Key highlights for 2025 

• Ratings changed for 16% of the light vehicle fleet; 642 models decreased by 1 star, driven by newer, safer vehicles entering the fleet.
• 46 models now have UCSR ratings instead of estimated ratings, including:  
  • Tesla Model 3 – first fully electric car to achieve a UCSR, rated 5 stars, and
  • popular models like Ford Everest, Mazda CX-30 and MG3. 
• SUVs lead in safety: medium and small SUVs have the highest proportion of 5-star models, followed by people movers and medium cars.
• Older vehicles perform poorly: 76% of 1-star vehicles are from before the year 2000.
• Commercial utes perform worst overall: 77% score only 1–2 stars and now have the poorest safety performance among recent models, despite growing popularity.
• Many poor-performing vehicles are driven by novice drivers, increasing their risk.
• Almost 1.5 million vehicles are now rated 5 stars.