The federal government has set new rules for vehicle score comparisons in the “Stars On Cars” safety rating program, presenting more rigorous tests and more challenges for vehicles to achieve five-star ratings. “Stars on Cars” is also known by the more formal name New Car Assessment Program or NCAP.

The new scores will begin with model year (MY) 2011 vehicles, which could cause a bit of confusion among shoppers. For example, the star ratings may go down for a specific car from MY 2010 to MY 2011, even in cases where there have been no significant changes to the vehicle. 

The 2011 BMW 5 Series and a version of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata were the only two vehicles to receive five stars out of an initial testing of 34 vehicles. Most of the vehicles tested received four stars.

Quick facts about the new system:

• New Criteria: Stars will be based on new and tougher measures of safety, such as new crash tests and new types of crash test dummies.
• Overall Vehicle Score: A summary of the vehicle score will be provided.
• Advanced Technologies: Important safety advancements such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) will not appear as stars on the label, but will be highlighted on www.safercar.gov.
• Not-Rated Autos: Vehicles that have not been tested yet will be marked “not rated” or “to be rated.”
• Not All Stars Are Equal: Comparisons can sometimes be made in the same model year and weight class of a vehicle, but often direct comparisons cannot be made.

“Stars On Cars” was begun to help consumers make better decisions when buying a car, as it allows them to assess and compare a vehicle’s safety value from information included on car window stickers.

When the ratings began in 1979, less than 30% of vehicles received four or five stars. Today, due to vast advancements in safety features, 98% of vehicles receive four or five stars.

Find more information at www.newstarsoncars.com.