What Is Euro NCAP & ANCAP Ratings?

Euro NCAP stands for European New Car Assessment Programme, whilst ANCAP stands for Australasian New Car Assessment Program. 

Globally, there are nine New Car Assessment Programs (NCAPs, or crash test programs) conducting their own, slightly different, range of crash testing and performance assessments. In Australia, we use ANCAP which is a member of Global NCAP who are the overarching body that aims to encourage public availability of the safety of motor vehicles.

Euro NCAP is the most similar test program to ANCAP, and the two have been working together on harmonised test procedures since 1999. They also have a data exchange program where many European vehicle models tested in Europe can have their ratings transferred to ANCAP. Most test programs use a star rating system (1 to 5 stars) to publicly publish their crash test results. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates vehicles using a scaled rating system (Good, Acceptable, Marginal or Poor). The range of tests and test configurations differ across test programs as does the way in which the final rating is calculated. It's important to note that not all models are the same between European markets and Australia or New Zealand. Many have different safety features fitted as standard or optional, meaning their crash test results might differ. 

The rating is determined from a series of vehicle tests, designed and carried out by Euro NCAP and are based on real life accident scenarios that could result in injured or killed car occupants or other road users. The more stars the vehicle has, the better the crash performance of that vehicle is, but it also reflects the level of safety equipment the manufacturer is offering in that vehicle line and market. If a vehicle is rated as having 0 stars, that does not mean the vehicle is illegal - it just means it has meant the minimum safety standard in that market to be saleable. Similarly, a vehicle with 2 or 3 stars does not mean it is unsafe, but that it is not as safe as its competitors that scored better on the independent testing. 

Further information about ANCAP can be found at https://www.ancap.com.au/.