Learning What Vehicle Safety Ratings Mean

Genesis of Victorville wants people to be able to drive a vehicle around with the confidence that it will keep them safe. The two organizations that perform crash tests are the IIHS and the NHTSA. If you're buying a vehicle with safety in mind, choosing one that scores highly with both organizations is important.

The IIHS is a non-profit that is funded by car insurance companies. Each vehicle they rate undergoes five different collision tests to see how it reacts. Once the results are compiled, a car is given a Poor, Marginal, Acceptable, or Good rating. For cars that perform exceptionally well, a Top Safety Pick award is given.

The NHTSA uses two different collision tests for their rating system. They also use the car's center of gravity and width to determine its roll-over potential. A safety rating is given on a five-star scale.