Euro NCAP Ratings: Understanding the Benchmark for Vehicle Safety

As its name suggests, the Euro New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) evaluates new cars and provides a reliable safety rating for them. The programme was initially commissioned by the UK's Department for Transport. However, its efficiency and reliability led to its spread across Europe. Since the last few decades, Euro NCAP's results have been considered the most trustworthy method for assessing the safety of a new car. To know why Euro NCAP ratings are valued so highly, it is important to understand how the programme assesses cars.

Understanding Euro NCAP Assessment in Detail

The assessment for Euro NCAP ratings includes three crucial protection factors: for adults, children, and pedestrians. Additionally, it also evaluates the level of safety technology present in a car. Let’s look at each aspect of assessment:

Protection for adult occupants

This protection involves evaluating the impacts at the front, side, and rear of the car. It also assesses the ease with which rescue and extrication processes can happen in difficult situations.

Protection for child occupants

Child occupant safety is decided by assessing the abilities of child restraint systems and by evaluating how well child seats are/can be equipped in the car.

Pedestrian safety protection

To evaluate this aspect, tests are carried out measuring the impacts on the head and the lower and upper sections of the legs. Tests in this assessment also measure the effectiveness of automatic emergency braking on pedestrians as well as cyclists.

 Safety assistance technology

In this evaluation, the level of safety and effectiveness of various features are assessed. This includes features such as automatic emergency braking, speed assistance, lane monitoring, and occupant monitoring. Based on the overall assessment, the NCAP ratings are given. Let’s look at the rating system and its importance in the next section.

Euro NCAP Ratings: What Do They Mean for a New Car’s Safety 

The Euro NCAP program uses a star system which can range from zero to five, with zero-star being the lowest rating and five-star being the highest one.

1. The rating for a particular car is based on its scores in each of the assessment factors. However, each assessment category does not have a rating system. Rather, it is calculated via a percentile system up to 100%.
2. It is also important to note that high scores in a particular category will not compensate for a lower score in another category. Poor scores can affect the overall rating.
3. The assessments for Euro NCAP ratings continue to evolve as new technology enters the market. Due to this, cars that once received a higher rating may receive a lower rating after a few years, due to advanced tests and criteria.
4. In India, Euro NCAP ratings are not mandatory as per any current regulations. The Indian government has designed the Bharat NCAP, which will evaluate cars based on similar parameters. However, no NCAP assessment is mandatory at present.
5. The ratings from NCAP assessments are a reliable method of comparing which cars are safer. A low rating does not necessarily mean that the car is unsafe. However, it acts as an indication that the car is not as safe as those with higher NCAP ratings.

NCAP assessments can offer a good idea of the level of protection that you and others will receive in the case of an unfortunate situation like an accident. However, to deal better with such situations, one must ensure protection of another kind – by buying a comprehensive car insurance policy.

Importance of Car Insurance for Your Car’s Safety

Third-party car insurance is mandatory as per prevailing laws. Along with that, here’s why you should opt for comprehensive coverage for your car’s safety:

It allows you access to high-quality repairs*

If you have a solid car insurance policy in place, you can rely on it to get high-quality repairs after an accident or unfortunate disaster. With the right car insurance policy, your car gets the care and repair it needs so that it can perform as well as before.

It provides additional protection*

You can increase the level of protection for your car by opting for motor insurance add-ons. For instance, if you opt for the engine protector add-on, your car’s engine is financially protected, too.

It can offer assistance during car breakdowns*

Many car insurance providers have a 24/7 assistance feature nowadays. This feature allows you to reach out to your motor insurance provider and seek immediate assistance in case your car suffers a breakdown. Claims are subject to terms and conditions set forth under motor insurance policy. So, the next time you renew car insurance or buy a new policy, consider opting for comprehensive coverage for all-round protection. Want to know what the premium of your plan could be? A car insurance calculator can help in getting an estimate. Click here to use the car insurance calculator.   *Standard T&C apply. Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet and is subject to changes. Please consult an expert before making any related decisions. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.