The First Car List

Contrary to popular belief you do not have to spend a lot of money to make sure your first car is safe. However, with so many cars to choose from how do you know which car will best protect you in a crash?

The First Car List (pdf 185k) has been prepared especially for young people who are thinking about buying their first car.

The list includes small, medium and large sized cars with either four or five star safety ratings ranging in cost from as little as $2,000 up to around $14,000.

Why is a safe first car important?

Australian research estimates that if all young drivers killed or seriously injured in crashes over the past five years had been driving the safest vehicle of the same age as the one they were driving when they crashed, 534 deaths and serious injuries could have been prevented each year.

This is a reduction of death and serious injuries of more than 60 %.

This is a very strong incentive to refer to The First Car List (pdf 185k) when buying your (or your child’s) first car.

How are the cars selected?

The First Car List (185k) is based on the Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) which rank a car using a five star rating system according to its ability to protect a driver in a crash. These ratings, developed by the Monash University Accident Research Centre, are based on the analysis of actual records of more than five million crashes on Australian roads.

What should I do?

Refer to The First Car List (pdf185k) when buying your first car and use the Howsafeisyourcar buying guide to help you buy your next car.