Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR)

The Department of Transport and Main Roads, together with the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), releases vehicle safety information to help used car buyers. 

Used car buyers can access a list of Used Car Safety Ratings 2025 for 561 used vehicle models manufactured from 2000 onwards. The list provides safety information through Overall, Driver Protection, and Other Road User star ratings based on Monash University’s statistical analysis of police-reported road crashes for more than 9.5 million vehicles and 2.6 million injured road users. Used car buyers can use these ratings to compare vehicles to help choose the safest vehicle that meets their needs.

The rating scale goes from 1 to 5 stars, with the lowest performing 20% of vehicles in a category receiving 1 star and the top 20% receiving 5 stars. Some models are marked as a 'Safer pick', which means they have:

• a 5-star Overall Safety rating
• a 5-star Driver Protection rating
• at least 4 stars for Other Road User safety and Crash Avoidance.

According to the analysis, a driver of the worst scoring vehicle is 8 times more likely to be seriously injured or killed than a driver in the best scoring vehicle.

Safe vehicles are accessible across all price ranges. Almost all ‘Safer Pick’ vehicles are available second-hand for under AU$25,000, with more than half priced below AU$10,000, making them a safer choice for young and first-time drivers.

Downloads

• Used Car Safety Ratings 2025.
• 2025 Used Car Safety Ratings reveal safest second-hand vehicles and the first electric ‘Safer Pick’.
• Vehicle safety ratings estimated from police-reported crash data: 2025 evaluation – Australian and New Zealand crashes during 1987-2023 (MUARC Report No. 384).