How to buy a safer used car

Posted 10 January, 2025 Andrew Rasch

The risk of being killed or seriously injured in a crash involving a 2022-manufactured vehicle is 34 per cent lower than for a vehicle from 2002, a new report has revealed.

The findings come from the annual Used Car Safety Ratings by the Monash University Accident Research Centre.

As part of its annual Used Car Safety Ratings, Monash University analysed data from 9.4 million vehicles involved in police-reported crashes and 2.6 million injured road users in Australia and New Zealand from 1987 to 2022.

Vehicle models receive one to five stars based on their safety and those with the best safety features are designated a Safer Pick.

The safety rating is based on the following three factors.

1. How well the vehicle protects its driver from being killed or seriously injured in a crash.
2. How well the vehicle protects other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists from being killed or seriously injured in a crash.
3. The vehicle’s key crash avoidance technologies and how likely they are to reduce the likelihood of being in a crash.

This year, 110 vehicles scored a five-star rating and 54 of those received Safer Pick status after receiving five stars for both overall safety and driver safety, and a four-star or five-star rating for other road user safety and crash avoidance.

All Safer Pick vehicles were made from 2004 onwards, with 91 per cent manufactured after 2008. This reflects how newer vehicles have more safety features, better designs and compliance with more recent regulations.

The safest used cars

The following 16 vehicles received Safer Pick status and received five stars in every category.

In this year’s ratings, medium and small SUVs had more models rated five stars for overall safety than small and medium cars. Small SUVs and light cars had the worst occupant protection, given they weigh less and sometimes have poor levels of safety equipment.

Commercial utes and people movers performed relatively poorly in occupant protection, despite their added weight. These vehicle types also pose a higher risk of injury to other road users, so if you’re buying one, look for crash avoidance technologies such as lane keep assist and autonomous braking.

Nearly all Safer Pick vehicles are available for under $25,000, with more than half priced at $10,000 or less. This is welcome news for those on a budget, especially young drivers who are most at risk of road trauma.

Read more about the 2024 Used Car Safety Ratings for Australia here.

New vs used

Newer vehicles are safer than older ones because they usually have more safety features. And, the stats don’t lie.

In 2023, 62 per cent of vehicles involved in crashes where lives were lost were more than 10 years old.

Not everyone can afford or wants a brand-new car. If you’re looking to buy a safer used vehicle, you can check its performance in the Used Car Safety Ratings. The State Government has also launched a campaign to help people buy the safest car within their budget.

Car safety buying tips

• Whether buying new or used, buy the safest car you can afford that suits your needs.
• When buying new, look for cars with a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
• When buying used, buy the newest car you can afford; look for a five-star rating and choose one of the Safer Picks if you can.