What Are Car Safety Ratings And How Do You Check Them?

When buying a car, you’ve probably got a make, model, and colour in mind. But have you considered the safety rating of the car you’re thinking of purchasing? 

While esthetics and accessories play a role in your ultimate choice, nothing should be more important than your safety and that of your passengers. 

Luckily, vehicles come with safety ratings that you can use to determine how safe a particular car is before you buy it. Read on to find out how and why these ratings should be a part of your car shopping endeavour.

Key Points

• Knowing the safety rating of a vehicle make and model can help you narrow down your options when buying a car.
• You can easily find the current safety rating of all vehicles with Transport Canada, the NHTSA, or the IIHS. 
• Safety ratings are updated every year, so check back often to find out what the latest award winners are before buying a vehicle.

What Are Car Safety Ratings?

Car safety ratings are scores given to specific vehicles that determine how safe a vehicle is when involved in a collision or how effective it is in avoiding a collision altogether. These ratings are established by different institutions and are determined based on different crash tests.  

Before you buy a car, it’s a good idea to find out what the safety rating is of the vehicle you are thinking of purchasing. 

Types of Car Safety Ratings in Canada

In Canada, 3 main entities establish car safety ratings, with each using a different rating system to determine vehicle safety. These include the following:

• National Safety Mark. This car safety rating is set by car manufacturers and must comply with the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR) in Canada. A national safety mark on cars serves as an indication of their safety and reliability.
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Safety Ratings. The NHTSA, a US-based organization, rates vehicle safety based on a 5-star rating program, with 5 stars being the highest rating and 1 being the lowest. 
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Safety Ratings. Also based out of the US, the IIHS rates a vehicle’s safety performance using colour codes on a scale, with each colour representing a range from “Poor” to “Good”, or from “Basic” to “Superior.”

Which Are The Safest Cars To Drive In Canada?

Every year, vehicles are assessed and rated according to their safety standards. The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluates vehicle safety with the titles of “Top Safety Pick” or “Top Safety Pick+”.

These awards are given to vehicles that are deemed to be the best choices for safety based on different size categories each year. Generally speaking, larger, heavier vehicles can provide occupants with more protection compared to smaller, lighter ones. Smaller cars may be eligible for an award, but they may not necessarily be able to protect occupants the way larger and heavier vehicles that don’t qualify for an award can.

For this reason, ratings are based on size and weight categories.

The following are the criteria for Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards for 2025:

TOP SAFETY PICK+:

• “Good” (G) ratings are given for: driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and side, roof strength, and head restraint tests.

• Advanced or superior ratings are given for front accident prevention.
• Acceptable or good (A or G) headlights are standard.

TOP SAFETY PICK:

• “Good” (G) ratings given for: driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and side, roof strength, and head restraint tests.
• Advanced or superior ratings given for front accident prevention.
• Acceptable or good (A or G) headlights are available.

Based on the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards for 2025, the following are rated as the top 5 safest cars:

Where Can You Find A Car’s Safety Ratings?

You can find out a specific vehicle’s safety rating with Transport Canada, which regulates motor vehicle safety in Canada. Car manufacturers must test their vehicles for safety themselves in compliance with guidelines established by the National Safety Mark.

Other companies that you can check within North America include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), both of which rate vehicles for safety. 

You can quickly and easily find out a car’s safety rating by going online to any one of these agency’s websites. 

Do All Cars Have A Safety Rating? 

Some vehicles may not undergo a crash test because of low-volume sales or high value. For instance, high-cost luxury and sports cars that are very expensive to manufacture and do not see the volume of sales that lower-end vehicles see may not be independently tested. The cost associated with crash testing such vehicles may not be justified. 

That said, it is required by law that all automobile prototypes be crash-tested prior to being offered to the public. Further, both the NHTSA and the IIHS do not test for safety ratings in situations involving rear-end collisions.

Why You Should Know Your Car Safety Ratings

Driving on Canadian roadways comes with some level of risk, which can be mitigated with safe driving skills. But the vehicle you drive can also play a role in your likelihood of getting into a car accident, as well as the chances of you surviving a crash.

You’re much more likely to survive a car crash when driving a car that’s rated as “Good” compared to a car that’s rated as “Poor”, according to the IIHS. That’s why it’s so important to consider a car’s safety rating before buying it, as this factor could literally save your life and that of your passengers. 

Additional Reading

OAC Meaning When Buying A Car

Leasing vs. Financing A Car In Canada

6 Hidden Costs of Buying a Car

Final Thoughts

If you are in the market to buy a new car, the vehicle safety rating should be one of the first things you should look at. While things like colour, mileage, and accessories are important, safety is arguably even more important. Luckily, finding out the safety rating of a car is quick and easy. 

Car Safety FAQs