Understanding the Different Vehicle Safety Ratings

Many people who buy cars or trucks are concerned with how safe those vehicles are. One way to gauge a vehicle's safety is to look at its safety ratings. We here at Cassill Motors in Cedar Rapids, IA want you to understand what the different vehicle safety ratings mean so you can have peace of mind.

One of the most common vehicle safety ratings is the star rating given by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS gives anywhere from zero to five stars. Most people know about the organization's crash ratings, but they may not know that it rates various different aspects of crashes, including front, rear, and side safety and roof strength.

The National Highway Traffic Safety also offers safety ratings for crashes with zero- to five-star ratings. In addition, it rates vehicles for the likelihood that they will roll over in a crash.