How safe is your vehicle?

After being in an accident, the most important thing to do is ensure that everyone is safe. There isn’t anything you can do after an accident to prevent injuries that have already happened, but there are a few things you can do before, like buying a car with a high safety rating.

The 5-Star Ratings Program

The most widely accepted vehicle safety evaluation is the 5-Star Safety Ratings Program, sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA). Vehicles are rated using assessments that measure impact from the frontal crash test, the side barrier crash test, the side pole crash test, the airbag test, the rollover test, and a tire assessment. All of these scores are combined to issue a rating on a five star scale, with one being the worst and five being the best.

Since vehicles are tested using the same criteria and impact speed, the ratings for these tests can be used to compare cars of any weight and size.

What the Program Means

Since frontal and side impacts account for the majority of injuries associated with car accidents, the NHTSA tests them exclusively. Having a standard rating for these tests allows them to:

• • • Assess the amount of injury that could be sustained at a certain impact and speed.
    • Understand the risk of rollover in a car, compared to others.
    • Establish an authority on safety regulations and standards.

These tests also give consumers a way to evaluate the safety of a car, compared to others, based on the same scale. When buying a car, these ratings are often prominently displayed so you can make an educated decision based on the car’s safety rating.

CarFax Reports

At MVD Express, we want you to buy a car that’s both safe and falls within your budget. Most used cars are inspected and tuned-up before re-sale, especially at a dealership, but it’s always important to have all available information about the car before you make a purchase. Obtaining a CarFax report before purchasing can tell you about the history of the car, whether it’s been in an accident or if the car has any major mechanical issues that could make it unsafe for you and your family. Visit any of our locations for an up-to-date CarFax report.