Understanding Safety Ratings in New Zealand • Autotalk

For many New Zealanders, the primary reference point when assessing vehicle safety is the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) rating.

It is prominently advertised and serves as an important marketing element for new cars.

However, it is very important for dealers and consumers to understand that there are a variety of safety ratings used in New Zealand, each used for different subsets of vehicles and all supported by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).

EXPLANATION OF SECURITY RATINGS

There are three main safety rating systems that assess vehicle safety: ANCAP, Used Vehicle Safety Ratings (UCSR) and Vehicle Safety Risk Ratings (VSRR).

Each system has its own unique methodology and focus and contributes to a comprehensive understanding of vehicle safety across our uniquely diverse fleet of vehicles.

Only one of these ratings can be applied at any one time.

ANCAP (AUSTRALIAN NEW VEHICLE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM)

ANCAP ratings apply to new vehicles entering the New Zealand market through official distributors.

This system is based on extensive crash laboratory testing and evaluation of collision avoidance capabilities.

ANCAP tests are comprehensive and cover adult occupant, child occupant and vulnerable road user protection as well as safety assist technologies.

Vehicles with Euro NCAP may receive additional data from OEMs to develop ANCAP ratings that match local specifications.

ANCAP tests are regularly updated to reflect the latest developments in safety technology and consumer expectations, so ratings become obsolete six years after the test.

UCSR (USED VEHICLE SAFETY RATINGS)

The UCSR system assesses the safety of used imported vehicles and vehicles arriving new from New Zealand once their ANCAP ratings have expired.

These ratings use real crash data collected across New Zealand and Australia, taking into account factors such as speed, driver age and crash location.

UCSR provides insights into how well specific models perform in real crashes.

The primary rating in the UCSR system is “overall safety,” which indicates the probability that all individuals involved in a crash would be protected.

Additionally, the driver safety rating assesses drivers’ likelihood of serious or fatal injury compared to other vehicles on the road, and Other Road User Safety indicates how well a vehicle will protect crash partners.

VSRR (VEHICLE SAFETY RISK RATINGS)

The VSRR system is for vehicles without ANCAP or UCSR ratings. This includes models with insufficient data for model-specific crash analysis or new models that entered the market prior to ANCAP assessment.

VSRR ratings are approximate values ​​based on average safety data for similar vehicle types and production years.

The VSRR provides a preliminary safety assessment until more detailed data becomes available and provides a rating based on the vehicle’s market group and midpoint or average year of production.

THE DIFFICULTY OF COMPARISONS

One of the significant challenges in using these ratings is making accurate comparisons between vehicles of different makes, models and ages.

Each rating system has its own unique criteria and methodology, which can make it difficult for consumers to directly compare the safety of a new car to a used imported car, for example.

This complexity can sometimes lead to confusion or misinterpretation of available safety information.

SIMPLE MESSAGE: THE MORE STARS THE SAFER THE VEHICLE

Given these challenges, it is important for dealers to understand when ANCAP, UCSR or VSRR ratings apply individually.

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of these safety ratings, so you want to make sure you have the correct rating for the cars you supply.

For example, a used import or an older New Zealand-new vehicle should not be described as having an ANCAP rating (even if it once had one).

You can confirm the points you need by checking the Rightcar website.

Regardless of which rating system applies (ANCAP for new and tested vehicles, UCSR for used vehicles with sufficient crash data and VSRR for vehicles without sufficient specific crash or test data), the simple message for all is the same.

The more stars, the safer the car.