ANCAP vs Euro NCAP Explained — Safety Ratings Compared for Australia

Australians see ANCAP stars on new cars — but the tests behind them are shared with Euro NCAP. Here's how the two programs compare, and what it means for your next car.

When you look at the safety rating on a new car in Australia, the sticker says ANCAP. But the testing behind it has a lot in common with Euro NCAP, Europe's long-running program. Understanding the relationship — and the differences — helps you read any rating with confidence.

Two programs, one approach to safety

Euro NCAP (the European New Car Assessment Programme) was founded in 1997 to provide independent crash safety ratings across Europe. ANCAP, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program, has been rating cars for Australia and New Zealand since 1993.

Both programs are independent of car manufacturers. They're run by coalitions of governments, motoring bodies and consumer organisations. In ANCAP's case, that includes Australian and New Zealand members such as the state motoring clubs.

The 2018 alignment: shared protocols

The most important fact to know: since 2018, ANCAP has adopted Euro NCAP's testing protocols, with scoring adjusted for local conditions. That means a car tested by Euro NCAP is assessed under the same crash tests and injury criteria when it's rated for Australia.

Both programs currently use the same four-pillar framework:

• Adult Occupant Protection

• Child Occupant Protection

• Vulnerable Road User Protection

• Safety Assist

Each pillar earns a percentage score, and the overall result is delivered as a star rating from zero to five.

Where they're the same

Because the protocols are shared, the core tests are the same:

• Frontal impact testing, including offset and full-width configurations

• Side impact at 60 km/h

• Side pole test at 32 km/h

• Pedestrian and child occupant assessments

• Safety assist technologies such as autonomous emergency braking

The star ratings are also comparable. A car that scores five stars in Europe will typically deliver a similar result here. That's why manufacturers can reference Euro NCAP data when a vehicle launches in Australia.

Where they differ

Despite the shared protocols, there are real differences:

• Region and governance: Euro NCAP is run by European members; ANCAP represents Australian and New Zealand organisations.

• Local tweaks: ANCAP adjusts scoring for local conditions — for example, how specific markets and vehicle variants are assessed.

• Rating lifespan: since December 2022, ANCAP ratings expire after six years, so a rating reflects the standards of its time.

• Used car ratings: ANCAP also rates second-hand vehicles through its Used Car Safety Ratings program, which Euro NCAP doesn't offer.

• Timing: ANCAP results often follow Euro NCAP, since they're based on the same testing.

What this means for Australian buyers

When you see a five-star ANCAP rating on an electric car in Australia, you can be confident it has met the same demanding crash tests used in Europe, adapted for local conditions.

A few practical points:

• A strong Euro NCAP result is usually a strong indicator of the ANCAP result

• For electric vehicles, check the ANCAP rating for the exact Australian specification — local variants can differ

• For second-hand cars, use ANCAP's used car ratings as an extra guide

• Remember that safety assist technology, such as AEB, is part of the rating, not just crash protection

The bottom line

ANCAP and Euro NCAP are, in effect, two faces of the same testing system. Australia's program was founded earlier, and since 2018 the two have shared protocols and scoring approaches, with ANCAP adapting for local conditions.

For buyers, the message is simple: a five-star ANCAP result means your car has been tested against one of the world's most demanding safety programs. It's the same system that protects drivers across Europe.