If you’re shopping for a car, new safety ratings could be a life-or-death check for Hibiscus Coast drivers and their families.

NZ Transport Agency has updated safety ratings for used vehicles on Rightcar.govt.nz, showing people in 5-star cars are about twice as safe as those in 1-star cars.

The 2025 update uses real crash data from 9.5 million vehicles and 2.6 million injured road users across Australia and New Zealand between 1987 and 2023.

“This year’s ratings draw from 9.5 million vehicles and 2.6 million injured road users involved in police-reported crashes,” the Monash University Accident Research Centre analysis shows.

NZTA Principal Advisor Vehicle Safety Todd Wylie says, “Your choice of vehicle could make all the difference in avoiding a crash and in protecting you and your loved ones from serious injury or death if a crash happens.”

Vehicle safety keeps improving. Drivers in 2023 models face an average risk of death or serious injury that is 43% lower than in 2001-built cars, and the overall safety of the light vehicle fleet has improved by more than 50%.

The Tesla Model 3 is the first fully electric vehicle to receive a used car safety rating and scored 5 stars.

Key 2025 highlights include:

• Ratings changed for 16% of the light vehicle fleet
• Almost 1.5 million vehicles now rated 5 stars
• Commercial utes perform worst, with 77% only 1–2 stars
• Many poor performers are driven by novice drivers

Safety ratings change over time, so before you buy or upgrade on the Hibiscus Coast, head to Rightcar.govt.nz and search by number plate or make and model.

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