Buying a safe car is one of the most important purchases we make and choosing the right one can be difficult. Whether you plan to buy a new or used car, make safety a high priority and do your homework. Compare the car's safety features and star rating to other cars in the same class.
A car can be stylish as well as safe, and it doesn't have to be a luxury model. A new car is not necessarily safer than older models - many used cars rate well in terms of safety and are affordable too. Older cars, particularly those with the safety features listed below, can be just as safe as or even safer than some new cars.
When buying your next car, aim for:
- A 4 star ANCAP or UCSR safety rating. The more stars the better!
- Dual front airbags
- A weight of around 1,300kg
- Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
- Daytime running lights
- Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA)System
- 3 point seat belts in all positions
- Headrests (to at least four seats)
- A cargo barrier, if you’re considering a station wagon
- A white car. White has been found to be the safest colour
It's even better if you also have:
Checklist
Use this checklist as a guide when shopping around for your next car and add your own points to the list to reflect your personal preferences or travel needs.
- How well does the car rate in terms of the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) or the Used Car Safety Ratings? While ANCAP and UCSR are not comparable, the more stars in either rating system the better!
- Rates well/above average (which ever system you use, aim for a 4 star rating or above)
- Rates poorly
- Does the car meet the main intended uses?
- General family motoring
- Long distance touring including off-road use
- suit towing the loads and conditions you typically encounter such as a caravan or trailer
- Does the car provide the best possible driving position and features to assist with driver performance?
- Sufficient head and leg room
- Good all round visibility with no obstructions
- Ease of use of instruments
- Comfortable seating and lumbar (lower back) support
- Easy to adjust seat belts and seat belt anchors
- Power steering
- During the inspection and test drive, did the car operate to your satisfaction? Consider this in terms of:
- Steering
- Braking
- Road handling (e.g. cornering, riding over bumps)
- Overtaking
- Reversing
- Ease of parking
- Cooling and heating.
- Does the car have all the safety features you want within the designated price range?
Don't forget to add others you consider important.
- Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
- Seat belt pretensioners
- Dual front airbags
- Electronic stability control (ESC)
- Curtain airbags and side impact protection
- Adjustable head restraints
- White or another highly visible colour
- Cargo barrier if you’re considering a station wagon.
- Does the car suit your needs for child restraints?
- Lap/sash seat belts (3 point seat belts) in the centre rear seat position
- Centre rear anchorage point
- Are the anchorage points sufficiently spaced to allow the tether strap to be adjusted properly.
- Are the seat belts long enough to thread through the restraint when in its most extended (reclined) position?
- If buying a hatch back, is there a clear path between the back seat and the rear anchorage point so that the parcel shelf doesn’t interfere with adjustment of the tether strap?
- Using a child restraint in people movers can reduce the seating capacity. Is the number of people you can carry reduced by fitting a child restraint?
- People movers do not always have anchorage points for all seats. Where are the anchorage points located?
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