FIVE STARS DOESN’T MEAN CRASH-PROOF: One in five believe top-rated safety cars guarantee protection in every crash - The AA

• AA advises motorists not to confuse a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating with being “crash-proof”

• More than one in five (22%) believe a five-star Euro NCAP rating guarantees occupants will be protected in every crash

• One in five (21%) believe five stars simply means the car meets minimum legal safety standard

• 15% think five stars guarantees the safety of people in another vehicle

• Accident Assist helped more than 78,000 drivers in 2025, equivalent to more than 200 collisions a day

More than one in five drivers mistakenly believe travelling in a Euro NCAP five-star safety-rated car guarantees they will be protected in every crash, according to new research from The AA*.

A recent AA-Yonder Driver Poll of more than 12,000 drivers found significant confusion about what the highest Euro NCAP safety rating actually means.

While almost two-thirds (63%) correctly associate a five-star rating with a car performing very well in independent crash tests, more than one in five (22%) believe it means the car is guaranteed to protect its occupants in every crash.

The research also found that 15% believe five stars guarantees the protection of occupants travelling in another vehicle if the two collide, while 14% think pedestrians and cyclists are guaranteed protection if struck by the vehicle.

At the other end of the scale, a fifth (21%) underestimate what the rating signifies, believing a five-star car simply meets minimum legal safety standards. Euro NCAP crash tests and safety assessments are designed to help consumers compare vehicle safety. Although a car is not crash-proof, a Euro NCAP five-star rating ensures that your car is of a significantly higher safety standard than that set by legislation and minimises the risk of being severely injured in an collision.

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What does a five-star safety rating actually mean?

Euro NCAP independently tests vehicles to help consumers understand and compare their safety performance.

From 2026, its assessments cover four areas: safe driving, crash avoidance, crash protection and post-crash safety. To achieve five stars, a vehicle must perform to the highest level across the assessment areas.

Euro NCAP says the combination of a strong vehicle structure, effective restraint systems and active safety-assist technology gives occupants the best chance of surviving a crash, rather than providing a guarantee of protection.

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The research carried out by the AA’s Accident Assist team suggests there is also limited understanding of the technology designed to stop crashes happening in the first place. Only 47% believe a five-star rating means the car has technology designed to help prevent crashes.

Despite advances in vehicle safety, collisions continue to leave thousands of motorists needing help. AA Accident Assist supported more than 78,000 drivers in 2025 and has already helped in over 61,500 collisions so far this year, equivalent to 233 incidents a day.

Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist, said: “A five-star Euro NCAP safety rating is an important indication of how well a vehicle performs when it comes to safety, but five stars doesn’t mean a car is crash-proof.

“More than one in five people believe a five-star rating guarantees occupants will be protected in every crash. No vehicle can make that promise. The AA has supported Euro NCAP since its UK launch in 1997 and believes the tests resulting in safer vehicles have helped save thousands of lives but drivers, even in a 5-star car, need to be alert behind the wheel.

“Modern cars have fantastic technology that can help prevent collisions while offering better protection of people both inside and outside the car when crashes happen. We’ve already helped in more than 61,700 incidents this year alone, showing just how many drivers can find themselves needing support after a collision***.

“When something does go wrong, the moments afterwards can be stressful and confusing. AA Accident Assist can help eligible members through that process, from arranging recovery and repairs to handling the insurance claim and arranging a replacement car.”

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* Yonder received 12,438 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 14th to 22nd July 2026. Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

** AA Accident Assist is a complimentary accident claims service available to eligible AA members following an insured collision. It can handle an insurance claim independently of the member's insurer, as well as arranging vehicle recovery, repairs and replacement transport where eligible.

*** What should you do after a collision?

AA Accident Assist advises motorists involved in a collision to prioritise their immediate safety and that of passengers and other road users. Once safe, drivers should exchange details with the other parties involved and gather relevant information about what happened where it is safe to do so.

You should call 999 is someone is in danger, someone has been seriously injured, you believe a serious offence has been committed or if the collision has caused a blockage or is dangerously obstructing the road.

Drivers should not continue their journey if their vehicle is unsafe or unable to be driven. Eligible AA members can contact AA Accident Assist, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for help following an insured collision.

Questions & Answers

What does a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating mean?

A five-star Euro NCAP rating means a vehicle has performed to the highest level across Euro NCAP’s independent safety assessments. From 2026, these cover safe driving, crash avoidance, crash protection and post-crash safety. A five-star rating does not mean a vehicle is crash-proof or that occupants are guaranteed to avoid injury in every collision.

Does a five-star Euro NCAP rating mean a car is crash-proof?

No. A five-star Euro NCAP rating does not mean a car is crash-proof. It shows that the vehicle has achieved a high level of safety performance under Euro NCAP’s testing and assessment criteria. The outcome of a real-world collision can depend on factors including speed, the type and angle of impact, the vehicles involved and whether occupants are correctly using their seatbelts.

Does a five-star car guarantee you will survive a crash?

No. No Euro NCAP safety rating can guarantee that someone will survive or avoid injury in a collision. Five stars indicates a high level of crash protection and crash-avoidance technology, but real-world collisions vary significantly in their circumstances and severity.

What does Euro NCAP test?

From 2026, Euro NCAP assesses vehicle safety across four areas: safe driving, crash avoidance, crash protection and post-crash safety. The assessments consider how well vehicles help drivers avoid collisions, protect people when crashes occur and support safety following a collision.

Does Euro NCAP only test what happens during a crash?

No. Euro NCAP assesses technology designed to help prevent collisions as well as how vehicles perform when crashes occur. AA research found that only 47% of drivers believe a five-star rating means a car has technology designed to help prevent crashes.

Does a five-star Euro NCAP rating mean pedestrians and cyclists are completely protected?

No. A five-star rating does not guarantee that pedestrians or cyclists will avoid injury if struck by a vehicle. Euro NCAP assesses how vehicles protect vulnerable road users and the technology designed to help avoid collisions, but no vehicle can eliminate the risk of injury.

How many drivers misunderstand five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings?

An AA-Yonder Driver Poll of 12,438 AA members found that 22% believe a five-star rating guarantees occupants will be protected in every crash. It also found that 15% believe five stars guarantees the safety of people in another vehicle involved in a collision, while 14% believe pedestrians and cyclists are guaranteed protection.

Is a five-star Euro NCAP rating the same as meeting minimum legal safety standards?

No. Euro NCAP testing goes beyond the minimum legal requirements for vehicles. However, 21% of drivers surveyed by the AA believed a five-star rating simply means a car meets minimum legal safety standards.

Why are car safety ratings important?

Car safety ratings allow consumers to compare the safety performance of different vehicles. Euro NCAP assesses areas including technology that can help prevent collisions and the protection provided to vehicle occupants and other road users when crashes occur.

What should I do after a car accident?

First, prioritise your safety and the safety of passengers and other road users. Once it is safe, exchange details with the other parties involved and gather relevant information about the collision. Call 999 if someone is in danger or seriously injured, you believe a serious offence has been committed, or the collision is dangerously obstructing the road. Do not continue driving if your vehicle is unsafe.

What is AA Accident Assist?

AA Accident Assist is a complimentary accident claims service available to eligible AA members following an insured collision. It can help with the insurance claim and, where eligible, arrange vehicle recovery, repairs and replacement transport. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

How many collisions does AA Accident Assist deal with?

AA Accident Assist supported more than 78,000 drivers following collisions in 2025. In 2026, it had already helped in more than 61,700 incidents at the time of this research.