Understanding the different vehicle safety test ratings.
If you're in the market to buy a new car, you are probably also interested in a different vehicle safety test ratings and what they mean. It can be bewildering, but in order to clarify, the first thing you need to know is these ratings are managed by two different groups: the NHTSA and the IIHS.
NHTSA Ratings
The NHTSA rating system is comprised of three test. The first test measures injury potential at a 35 mph fixed barrier crash; a side impact assessment comprised of two ratings is the next test…