Safety on our roads is a major issue and car manufacturers go to great lengths to incorporate advanced safety features in the vehicles. Major car brands invest heavily in research and development into motor vehicle safety as they know that safety is important to buyers. They appreciate that having excellent safety features is not only an ethical responsibility it is also a major selling factor.
So when you’re in the market to buy a car, knowing what safety features are included and what overall safety rating the vehicle has, should be high on your purchase considerations. Fortunately, that information is quite easy to obtain thanks to ANCAP.
What is ANCAP?
ANCAP stands for the Australasian New Car Assessment Program and is also known as ANCAP Safety. It is an independent authority for assessing vehicle safety. They have been publishing safety ratings for many vehicle makes and models since 1993 and as their ratings are independent, they tend to be highly regarded and become an industry standard reference.
ANCAP tests and then publishes its ratings for different makes and models under a range of categories including different-sized passenger cars, SUVs, light commercial vehicles and other vehicles when they enter the market in Australia and New Zealand.
Vehicles are rated on a star system from 0 to 5 stars. So when you see a 5-star ANCAP Rating for a car, you know it has been rated at the highest level.
To arrive at the ratings, ANCAP carry out a range of independent assessments including crash tests, safety assessments of on-board and other features and test the technologies that the maker has included regarding collision avoidance.
The evaluation covers Adult Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, Child Occupant Protection and Safety Assist. These assessments look at how safe the car is for the driver passengers and any pedestrians if there is a crash.
Utilising ANCAP Ratings
The ANCAP rating allows you to compare different makes and models of vehicles regarding safety. If you’re buying a new car you can compare the rating for each vehicle in making your purchase decision.
As the rating is so highly regarded by the motoring public and critical to many in the purchasing process, manufacturers place high importance on achieving a high rating for their cars.
In June 2020 an innovative and different way to utilise ANCAP ratings was announced – the ANCAP RESCUE app. The app was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack with ANCAP representatives as an important assistance for first responders arriving at a motor vehicle crash site. The app is designed to give the first responders information about any hazards that may be built into that vehicle and other details about the vehicle that would assist in safely extricating any occupants and as such, provide care faster.
This is a national app so it should cover a lot of vehicles and a lot of Australia.
Latest Ratings
As vehicles enter the Australian market they are put through the assessments at ANCAP. Some of the vehicles to recently be rated included:
- Nissan Juke: a new model in Nissan’s SUV range and rated 5 stars with ANCAP and in a statement, the authority says it is a good all-round safety performer.
- Volkswagen T-Cross: another SUV this time from an iconic German car maker and the recipient of a 5 star ANCAP rating. The small SUV market is already large and growing but ANCAP says this is “an impressive offering” in this competitive sector.
- Audi e-tron: This battery electric vehicle and its variants have also recently received a 5 star ANCAP rating before its late 2020 release in Australia.
Does a car safety rating affect my car loan?
When assessing a car loan application, lenders do consider both the vehicle and the applicant. The vehicle is assessed more regarding age and condition as some lenders have limits to the age of cars they will finance. The safety rating may not have any significant impact on your jade car financing but it would have more of an effect on your car insurance.
Car safety and general road safety are critical to your safety as the driver and the safety of your passengers as well as to other road users. Keeping your car, including hire purchase car, well-maintained is also important to both safety and the ongoing value of the vehicle – important for resale.
So when out shopping for a new business car financing, pay attention to the ANCAP rating for your peace of mind and safety.
To discuss a car loan on a 5 star ANCAP rated car, speak with a Jade Car Loans consultant at 1300 000 003
DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS FOR GENERAL CONSIDERATION. ANY REFERENCE TO OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES HAS BEEN SOURCED FROM AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT SOURCES. INFORMATION ON INDIVIDUAL VEHICLE SPECS IS SOURCED FROM THE MANUFACTURER WEBSITE. NO LIABILITY IS ACCEPTED FOR ANY ERRORS IN PRESENTATION OR INTERPRETATION OF THE FACTS AS PROVIDED BY THESE SOURCES. WE ADVISE ALL INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES TO REFER TO THEIR ACCOUNTANT OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE SPECIFIC TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
