The 2025 Used Car Safety Ratings are out, giving fleets and buyers some of the clearest independent insights yet into how second-hand vehicles perform in the real world. Compiled by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), the ratings analyse an enormous dataset — 9.5 million vehicles and 2.6 million injured road users involved in police-reported crashes across Australia and New Zealand between 1987 and 2023.
For fleet managers juggling budgets, whole-of-life cost, and driver safety, this year’s results are well worth a closer look.
Safety Keeps Improving — and the Data Proves It
One of the standout findings is just how far vehicle safety has come. Drivers in 2023-built models face a 43% lower risk of death or serious injury in a crash compared with those driving vehicles from 2001. Over the full analysis period, the safety of the light vehicle fleet has improved by more than 50%.
This year, MUARC rated 561 models built between 1982 and 2023. Each received a rating out of five stars for Overall Safety, based on:
- Driver Safety
- Other Road User Safety
- Crash Avoidance
In total, 130 models earned 5-star ratings, and 72 achieved ‘Safer Pick’ status for strong performance across all safety categories.
A First for EVs: Tesla Model 3 Earns ‘Safer Pick’
For the first time, a fully electric vehicle has been rated — and it performed strongly. The Tesla Model 3 (2019–2023)secured both 5 stars and ‘Safer Pick’ status, showing that EVs can match (and in some cases exceed) the safety performance of traditional petrol and diesel models in both occupant protection and risk to other road users.
For organisations building EV transition plans, that’s a confidence boost.
Fleet Takeaway: Not All Vehicle Classes Perform Equally
The results expose some clear differences across vehicle types — and challenge a few long-held fleet assumptions.
Medium and small SUVs continue to lead for overall safety, with people movers and medium passenger cars close behind.
But it’s the commercial ute segment that raises eyebrows. MUARC found that 70% of commercial utes rated only one or two stars overall. While newer utes often deliver strong driver protection, they tend to perform poorly in protecting other road users — a growing issue as vehicle size and mass continue to rise.
Interestingly, MUARC notes that the average modern small car now offers better driver protection than the average modern commercial ute. Bigger isn’t always safer.
Advanced Safety Tech Now Common in Newer Models
Many newer second-hand vehicles now come with safety technologies previously reserved for high-end models, including:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Lane keep assist
- Electronic stability control (ESC)
- Reversing cameras and sensors
For fleets looking to improve their crash-avoidance capability without buying brand new, the used market continues to hold strong options.
Affordability Isn’t a Barrier to Safety
Perhaps one of the best outcomes for families, young drivers and cost-conscious organisations: safe used vehicles are widely available at realistic prices.
- Almost all ‘Safer Pick’ vehicles are under $25,000 on the second-hand market
- More than half cost less than $10,000
For fleets managing grey fleet risk or supporting younger employees with vehicle allowances, this is a compelling message.
Why It Matters for Fleets
Fleet managers know better than most that vehicle selection isn’t just about running costs, payload or cabin comfort — it’s one of the biggest determinants of safety outcomes.
Professor Stuart Newstead, MUARC Director and research lead, put it clearly:
“Vehicle choice remains one of the most important decisions a driver can make for their own safety and the safety of everyone on the road. The Used Car Safety Ratings allow people to see which vehicles offer the best overall protection, not just to their occupants, but to other road users.”
He added that selecting a higher-rated vehicle can reduce the risk of fatal or serious injury by up to fifteen-fold compared with the poorest performers.
That scale of difference should make every fleet decision-maker pause.
Bottom Line for Fleets
The latest Used Car Safety Ratings reinforce a few clear insights:
- Safety performance continues to improve across the fleet
- EVs are now part of the safety conversation
- Commercial utes lag well behind, particularly for other road user safety
- Smaller cars often outperform larger vehicles in driver protection
- Safe second-hand vehicles are accessible across almost every budget
For fleets planning 2026 budgets, reviewing grey fleet policy, or updating your driver safety framework, these ratings are a valuable tool — and a reminder that crash risk can be significantly reduced by choosing the right Fit For Purpose vehicle.
