Key takeaways
- NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings rate how new vehicles protect people in frontal, side and rollover crashes. One star is the lowest and five stars the highest.
- Side and rollover ratings can be compared across all vehicles. Frontal ratings, and the Overall Vehicle Score that includes them, should only be compared with vehicles in the same class and within 250 pounds of each other.
- A “Not Rated” label doesn’t mean unsafe: NHTSA says every vehicle sold in the US must be certified as meeting federal safety standards.
- A ⚠ symbol on a label flags a safety concern that is not counted in the stars, so a car can have high stars and still carry one.
This article is general information based on NHTSA’s website. It isn’t a recommendation of any vehicle.
What the 5-Star program is
NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, runs the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Its 5-Star Safety Ratings program provides “information about the crash protection and rollover safety of new vehicles beyond what is required by federal law.” NHTSA says more stars equal safer cars. It began using the 5-star system in 1993, started side-crash ratings in 1996 and rollover testing in 2000, and since 2006 window labels on new vehicles must include the ratings.
The three tests
NHTSA says it conducts frontal, side and rollover tests “because these types account for the majority of crashes on America’s roadways.”
1. Frontal crash. A vehicle crashes into a fixed barrier at 35 mph. The test uses an average-size adult male dummy in the driver seat and a small adult female dummy in the front passenger seat, both belted. NHTSA evaluates the risk of injury to the head, neck, chest and femur (leg). It represents “crashes between two similar vehicles with same weight.”
2. Side crash. There are two side tests:
- Side barrier: a 3,015 lb moving barrier hits a standing vehicle at 38.5 mph, representing an intersection crash. Dummies are an average-size adult male driver and a small adult female in the rear seat. NHTSA evaluates the head, chest, abdomen and pelvis.
- Side pole: the vehicle, angled at 75 degrees, is pulled sideways at 20 mph into a 25 cm diameter pole at the driver’s seat position, with a small adult female dummy. NHTSA evaluates the head, chest, lower spine, abdomen and pelvis.
3. Rollover resistance. This rating is based on a measurement called the Static Stability Factor, which determines how “top-heavy” a vehicle is, plus the results of a driving maneuver that tests whether a vehicle is vulnerable to tipping up in a severe maneuver. NHTSA says it is the only organization that rates rollover resistance in addition to frontal and side crashworthiness.
The Overall Vehicle Score
NHTSA also gives an Overall Vehicle Score. It is calculated from the injury probabilities used in the frontal and side ratings, plus a projected injury probability based on rollover resistance, weighted “to reflect the proportion of real-world injuries associated with each type of crash.” The result is compared with the average injury risk across all vehicles:
| Stars | Overall injury risk compared with average |
|---|---|
| 5 | Much less than average |
| 4 | Less than average to average |
| 3 | Average to greater than average |
| 2 | Greater than average |
| 1 | Much greater than average |
The big rule: compare like with like
This is where most people go wrong. NHTSA explains:
- Side and rollover ratings can be compared across all classes, because every vehicle is hit with the same force by the same barrier or pole.
- Frontal ratings and the Overall Vehicle Score can be compared only with vehicles in the same class whose weight is within plus or minus 250 pounds. That’s because the frontal test into a fixed barrier “represents a crash between two vehicles of the same weight.”
NHTSA’s examples: you can’t compare the frontal or overall score of a 4,500 lb SUV with a 3,000 lb sedan. You also can’t compare a 3,600 lb pickup with a 3,400 lb van, because the classes differ. You can compare a 3,400 lb passenger car with a 3,650 lb passenger car.
The classes, by curb weight, are: mini (1,500–1,999 lb), light (2,000–2,499), compact (2,500–2,999), medium (3,000–3,499) and heavy (3,500 and over) passenger cars, plus SUVs, pickup trucks and vans.
What the ⚠ symbol means
If a ⚠ appears on a vehicle’s ratings label, it “alerts consumers to a safety concern the government has about the vehicle,” for example “structural failure or some type of unintended performance of a vehicle component such as a fuel leakage or a door opening.” NHTSA notes that safety concerns “are not part of the calculation for an Overall Vehicle Score. A vehicle can have a high star rating, but still have a safety concern.”
What “Not Rated” means
“Not Rated” appears if the vehicle hasn’t been tested for a particular crash condition. NHTSA says that even if a vehicle isn’t rated, all vehicles sold in the US are certified by the manufacturer as complying with the federal motor vehicle safety standards, which cover everything from windshield wipers and brakes to crashworthiness and fuel integrity. So “Not Rated” means “not tested in this program,” not “unsafe.”
Beyond the stars: recommended technologies
NHTSA’s ratings page also lists driver assistance technologies that “have met NHTSA performance tests”: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, crash imminent braking and dynamic brake support. It also suggests checking other safety equipment such as air bags, seat belts and a tire pressure monitoring system. See our guides to driver assistance technology and tire pressure and the TPMS warning light.
How to use the ratings when you shop
- Search the vehicle by year, make and model at NHTSA.gov/ratings.
- Compare only cars in the same class and within 250 lb for frontal and overall scores.
- Look at the side and rollover results separately. They can be compared across classes.
- Check for the ⚠ symbol.
- Look at recalls for the model. NHTSA’s comparison tool shows ratings and recall information together.
Frequently asked questions
What do the stars mean? One star is the lowest and five the highest. More stars mean safer cars, according to NHTSA.
Can I compare an SUV with a sedan? Side and rollover ratings, yes. Frontal ratings and the Overall Vehicle Score, no.
Is a “Not Rated” car unsafe? No. NHTSA says all US vehicles must be certified as meeting federal safety standards.
Does 5 stars mean no safety problems? Not necessarily. A ⚠ symbol can appear on a highly rated vehicle.
Who rates rollover resistance? NHTSA says it’s the only organization that rates rollover in addition to frontal and side crashworthiness.
Information checked on: November 13, 2026. Test procedures and rated models are updated, so check NHTSA for the vehicle you are considering.
Sources
- NHTSA, Car Safety Ratings (nhtsa.gov/ratings), including the 5-Star Safety Ratings frequently asked questions