A group of Queensland car dealers is taking part in a trial aimed at better advising buyers on the safety of used vehicles

Run in conjunction with the RACQ, the Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) program, places an advisory label on vehicles alerting the buyer to the star rating system.

Three used car dealers are trialling the program: Salters of Moorooka, Byrne Ford in Kedron and All Car Wholesale in Kippa-Ring.RACQ

The motoring club’s vehicle technologies manager, Steve Spalding, says the initiative - the first of its kind in Australia - allowed consumers to make an informed decision on the safety aspects of a used car at the point of sale.

“There are many factors to consider when purchasing a used car, such as price, vehicle condition and optional extras,” Spalding says.

“In the heat of the moment it can be easy to forget that the safety of a vehicle should play a critical part in the decision making process and by putting Used Car Safety Ratings information on each vehicle for sale, buyers are encouraged to choose safer models.

“The ratings are available on line, but by having the information in the caryard, the dealers have the opportunity to remind consumers of the importance of safety as well as the other features of the vehicle.”

Salter’s dealer principal Alex Salter says dealers played a key role in offering advice to prospective purchasers and by providing safety information on used cars

“Safety for consumers is important and it can be complicated trying to work out just how safe a car is,” he says. “Our job is to help make it easier for the customer to choose by offering a wide range of vehicles and explaining their safety features.

“We look forward to working with RACQ and other participating dealers in making this pilot a success.”

The ratings cover the most popular passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles up to 17 years old, the average lifetime of used vehicles.

The Used Car Safety Ratings, developed by Monash University researchers, assesses the level of crash protection to occupants and other road users in 239 different vehicle types, using data from more than 3.6 million crashes in Australia and New Zealand to assign a one to five-star rating.

source: Autofile