You’ve found the perfect used SUV on Facebook Marketplace. The price is right, the kilometres are reasonable, and the seller seems honest. But there’s one question lingering in the back of your mind: is this thing actually safe?
For most Canadians, car safety ratings feel like a mystery. We’ve all seen those five-star stickers on new car windows, but few of us truly understand what those stars mean — especially when shopping for a used vehicle where the original window sticker is long gone.
Here’s the truth: understanding how to check car safety ratings isn’t complicated. And once you know what to look for, you’ll never buy another vehicle blind.
I’ve spent years helping friends and family navigate used car purchases across this country — from the salty roads of Halifax to the mountain highways of British Columbia. And the one thing I always tell them is this: safety ratings aren’t just marketing. They’re life-saving data.
Let’s break down what car safety ratings are, how they’re determined in Canada, and exactly what you need to check before handing over your hard‑earned money.
What Are Car Safety Ratings? (And Why They Matter)
At their core, car safety ratings are scores that tell you how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash — and how effectively it helps you avoid one altogether.
Think of them as a report card for your car’s ability to keep you alive. A vehicle with top marks in crash tests is statistically much safer than one with poor ratings. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the driver of a vehicle rated “good” is 70% less likely to die in a left‑side collision than the driver of a vehicle rated “poor”.
That’s not a small difference. That’s the difference between walking away and not walking away.
For Canadian buyers, there are three main organizations whose ratings you need to know:
| Organization | What It Does | Rating System |
| Transport Canada (CMVSS) | Sets minimum safety standards for all vehicles sold in Canada | Pass/Fail compliance testing |
| NHTSA (U.S. government) | Performs crash tests on many vehicles sold in North America | 5‑star rating system |
| IIHS (U.S. non‑profit) | Conducts independent, rigorous crash tests | Good / Acceptable / Marginal / Poor |
But here’s where it gets tricky — car safety ratings in Canada don’t come from a single source. Unlike some countries with one central rating agency, Canadian buyers need to piece together information from multiple places.
Let’s walk through each one.
How Are Car Safety Ratings Determined? (The Crash Test Breakdown)
If you’ve ever wondered how car safety ratings are determined, the answer involves a lot of crashing, sensors, and crash test dummies.
The Canadian Standard: Transport Canada Compliance
Every new vehicle sold in Canada must meet the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) set by Transport Canada. These are minimum legal requirements — not voluntary.
Transport Canada purchases vehicles from dealerships each year (without telling manufacturers which ones) and tests them for specific safety standards. The tests cover everything from frontal impact protection and side impact protection to rollover resistance, brake systems, and electronic stability control.
💡 Did You Know?
Transport Canada also tests child car seats annually. In recent years, seats from brands like Baby Jogger, Clek, Nuna, and Safety 1st have all passed compliance testing.
The catch? Transport Canada doesn’t publish a simple “star rating” for consumers. Instead, they publish compliance reports that show whether a vehicle passed or failed specific tests. A “Pass” means the vehicle met the legal minimum — not that it’s the safest option on the road.
The American Systems We Borrow
Since Canada doesn’t have its own consumer crash test program, most buyers rely on two U.S. organizations: the NHTSA and the IIHS.
NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) – This U.S. government agency runs the 5‑Star Safety Rating program. Vehicles are rated from 1 to 5 stars in four categories: frontal crash, side crash, rollover, and overall score. Five stars means the vehicle has a 10% or lower chance of serious injury in a crash.
IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) – An independent non‑profit funded by insurance companies. They use a tougher scale: Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor. IIHS tests include challenging scenarios like the small overlap front crash (where only 25% of the driver’s side hits a barrier) — a test that exposed weaknesses in many early designs.
⚠️ Important Note
Neither NHTSA nor IIHS tests every vehicle every year. A 5‑star rating from 2015 doesn’t necessarily mean that the same model is still 5‑star safe in 2025. Crash standards evolve.
Which One Should You Trust?
Use both. NHTSA gives you a quick “apples‑to‑apples” comparison. IIHS gives you deeper insight into specific crash scenarios. A vehicle that scores well with both organizations is almost certainly a safe bet.
How to Check Car Safety Ratings: A Step‑by‑Step Guide
So you’ve found a used car you like. Here’s exactly how to check car safety ratings before you buy.
Step 1: Start with the Vehicle Specs
First, use our Vehicle Specs by VIN tool to confirm the exact make, model, and year. Safety ratings vary significantly between trim levels — a base model might lack advanced safety features that come standard on higher trims.
Step 2: Look Up NHTSA Ratings
Visit the NHTSA website and search by year, make, and model. Look for the Overall Rating, but don’t stop there. Check the individual scores for frontal, side, and rollover protection.
Step 3: Check IIHS Ratings
Search the IIHS website for the same vehicle. Pay closest attention to these tests:
- Small overlap front (driver side) – This is where many vehicles fail
- Moderate overlap front
- Side impact
- Roof strength (important for rollover protection)
- Head restraints & seats (whiplash protection)
IIHS also awards Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ — the highest designations. A vehicle with either of these awards is among the safest on the road.
Step 4: Verify Recalls Using the VIN
Even the safest vehicle becomes dangerous if it has an open recall. Use our Recalls Check tool to see if the specific vehicle you’re considering has any unresolved safety recalls.
According to the RCMP, you should also check the VIN on the manufacturer’s website and verify it hasn’t been reported stolen through the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC).
Step 5: Run a Full Vehicle History Report
Safety ratings tell you how the car performs in a crash. But they don’t tell you if this specific car has been in a crash before. A vehicle that’s been poorly repaired after an accident may not perform the same way it did fresh from the factory.
Use our Car History Report to check for accident history, salvage records, and outstanding liens.
Which Car Has Better Safety Ratings? (Making the Call)
Here’s a question I hear constantly from used car shoppers: which car has better safety ratings — the 2018 Honda CR‑V or the 2019 Toyota RAV4?
The honest answer? Check the data for yourself. But here are some general guidelines:
- Newer is generally safer. Crash standards get tougher every few years. A 2015 vehicle might have been 5‑star safe at the time, but a 2020 model likely has better structural design and more advanced driver assistance features.
- Larger vehicles are not automatically safer. A heavy SUV might feel safer, but stability control and crash avoidance matter just as much as size. Some small cars score exceptionally well in crash tests.
- Compare ratings within the same class. Comparing a compact sedan to a full‑size truck isn’t apples to apples. Look at how each vehicle performs against others in its category.
- Advanced safety features save lives. Features like automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind‑spot monitoring, and lane departure warning can prevent crashes entirely. These are now standard on many newer used cars.
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems have shown significant reductions in collision claims. You can check IBC’s resources at https://www.ibc.ca for more on how safety features impact insurance rates.
Baby Car Seat Safety Ratings in Canada: What Parents Need to Know
If you have young children — or are planning to — baby car seat safety ratings in Canada become just as important as the vehicle’s crash rating.
Here’s the most important thing to know: car seats approved for use in Canada all meet the same high safety standards set by Transport Canada.
Under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, Transport Canada enforces strict regulations on child car seat performance. Manufacturers must submit product samples, labelling, instructions, and test documentation for review before receiving authorization to apply the National Safety Mark (NSM).
The National Safety Mark Is Non‑Negotiable
If a car seat doesn’t have the National Safety Mark, it’s not legal for sale or use in Canada. That includes seats purchased online from the United States or other countries — even if they’re from the same brand. U.S. seats meet different standards and may not fit properly in Canadian vehicles.
Choosing the Right Seat: Stages Matter
| Stage | Seat Type | Age/Size Guidelines |
| Stage 1 | Rear‑facing only | Infants; keep rear‑facing until at least age 2 (ideally longer) |
| Stage 2 | Forward‑facing with harness | Ages 2–7, until at least 18 kg (40 lbs) |
| Stage 3 | Booster seat | Until child is at least 145 cm (4’9”) |
| Stage 4 | Seatbelt alone | Only when the adult belt fits properly |
Babies and toddlers should stay rear‑facing for as long as possible — ideally until age 2, 3, or even 4. Rear‑facing seats provide the best protection for a child’s head, neck, and spine in a sudden stop or crash.
Transport Canada publishes child car seat compliance reports each year.
🧭 Pro Tip
Not every car seat fits properly in every vehicle. Before buying a used car, bring your child’s car seat to the test drive and install it. Ensure you can achieve a secure fit without excessive movement. Some vehicles have awkward seat belt anchor placements that make proper installation difficult.
The VIN Connection: Why Safety Ratings Aren’t Enough
Let me tell you about my cousin in Brampton. She bought a used sedan last year after checking its safety ratings online — 5 stars from NHTSA, Top Safety Pick from IIHS. Seemed perfect.
Six months later, she was rear‑ended at a red light. The airbags didn’t deploy. The seatbelt locked up weirdly. Something was wrong.
Turns out, the car had been in a previous collision that wasn’t reported to insurance. The previous owner had it repaired cheaply by a body shop that didn’t follow manufacturer’s specifications. The crumple zones were compromised. The airbag sensors were damaged.
The safety ratings for that model assumed the car was in factory condition. This one wasn’t.
That’s why car safety ratings in Canada are only half the story. The other half lives in the vehicle’s history.
Before you buy any used car:
- Run a Title Search to confirm the ownership history
- Check for Salvage Records that would indicate previous major damage
- Verify the Odometer hasn’t been rolled back
- Look for Service Records that show consistent maintenance
RCMP also recommends checking that the VIN on the dashboard matches the VIN on the driver’s door jamb and vehicle registration. Signs of tampering include loose or mismatched rivets, scratched numbers, or tape or paint over the VIN.
Putting It All Together: Your Pre‑Purchase Safety Checklist
Before you sign anything, run through this checklist:
- Check the safety ratings (NHTSA and IIHS) for that year, make, and model
- Run a VIN check to uncover accident history, salvage status, and recalls
- Verify no open recalls exist on the specific vehicle
- Inspect the car in person — look for inconsistent paint, mismatched body panels, or signs of poor repair
- Take a thorough test drive — pay attention to how the vehicle handles, brakes, and responds
- If you have children, test your car seat in the vehicle before buying
- Get a pre‑purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic
The SGI (Saskatchewan Government Insurance) website has an excellent vehicle safety checklist you can print and take with you to dealerships.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find car safety ratings for older used cars?
NHTSA and IIHS websites maintain archives going back many years. You can search by year, make, and model. For vehicles older than 2006, data becomes sparser, but you can still find compliance information through Transport Canada.
Are Canadian and American safety ratings different?
Not exactly. Canada doesn’t have its own consumer crash rating system, so Canadian buyers rely on NHTSA and IIHS ratings from the United States. However, Transport Canada sets its own minimum safety standards (CMVSS) that all vehicles sold in Canada must meet.
Do higher safety ratings mean higher insurance costs?
Actually, the opposite is often true. Vehicles with better safety ratings and advanced crash avoidance features typically qualify for lower insurance premiums because they’re less likely to be involved in costly accidents.
What about electric vehicle safety ratings?
EVs are tested the same way as gasoline vehicles. Many EVs earn top ratings due to their low center of gravity (reducing rollover risk) and strong battery pack structures. However, check emergency response guides — first responders need to know how to safely cut power in a crash.
Where can I report a safety defect in Canada?
Transport Canada handles safety defect reporting.
Final Thought: Drive Safer, Not Just Cheaper
I get it — buying a used car is expensive right now. It’s tempting to focus entirely on price, kilometres, and how the car looks in photos.
But here’s what I’ve learned after years of helping Canadians buy used vehicles: car safety ratings aren’t a luxury. They’re a necessity.
The extra hour you spend checking crash test scores, running a VIN history report, and verifying recalls could be the hour that saves your life — or the lives of your passengers.
So before you hand over that deposit, do the homework. Check the ratings. Run the VIN. Inspect the car. And if something feels off, walk away.
Because the safest car isn’t the one with the most stars — it’s the one that hasn’t been compromised by hidden damage, unrepaired recalls, or a dishonest seller.
Ready to check a vehicle’s history? Start with our Vehicle VIN Check tool and get the full picture before you buy.