Complete Guide to Bharat NCAP: Understanding Car Safety Ratings

Bharat NCAP stands for Bharat New Car Assessment Program, India’s vehicle safety assessment initiative. Introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the programme evaluates vehicles based on crash tests and safety standards. Bharat NCAP has been effective since 1st October 2023 and operates under the framework of the Automobile Industry Standards Committee (AISC) and the Motor Vehicles Technical Standing Committee. 

The following points explain the scope of work of Bharat NCAP:

• Bharat NCAP is a voluntary vehicle safety assessment programme that follows the motto “Safety Beyond Regulation”.
• It evaluates M1 category passenger vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of up to 3,500 kg and Right-Hand Drive (RHD) configuration.
• The programme generally tests the vehicle’s base variant, and the rating may also apply to other variants declared by the manufacturer.
• Bharat NCAP car safety ratings are based on Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), Child Occupant Protection (COP) and Safety Assist Technologies (SAT).
• Vehicles are assessed through crash tests such as the ODB Frontal Impact Test, MDB Side Impact Test and Pole Side Impact Test.
• These tests are conducted under controlled conditions using adult and child dummies to evaluate occupant safety performance.
• Based on the test results, vehicles are assigned Bharat NCAP ratings ranging from 1 to 5 stars.
   

Follow the steps below to check a vehicle’s Bharat NCAP Ratings:

1. Visit www.bncap.in/vehicle-safety-ratings.
2. Enter the vehicle’s make or model to know its rating.
3. Alternatively, select the vehicle’s make and model using the drop-down menu.
4. The safety ratings will appear on the screen.
5. Click on “Read More” for all the details.

The following pointers explain how the Bharat NCAP ratings result appears on your screen: 

• Date: Shows when the Bharat NCAP rating was released.
• Vehicle Details: Displays the car image, make and model.
• Star Rating: Shows the vehicle’s rating out of 5 for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and Child Occupant Protection (COP).
• Score Summary: Provides a summary of the crash test scores.
• Detailed Report: Includes test photos, videos, safety features and other vehicle details.
• Download Option: Allows users to download the complete Bharat NCAP rating report.

The table helps you understand how to read Bharat NCAP car safety ratings:

Here are some key pointers about Bharat NCAP Ratings’ validity: 

India-Specific Ratings

Bharat NCAP ratings apply only to vehicles tested under Indian safety standards.

Effective After Official Release

The rating becomes valid once it is officially published on the Bharat NCAP website.

Valid Until Standard Revision

The rating generally remains valid until the AIS-197 safety standards are revised or updated.

Vehicle Modifications May Affect Validity

Major modifications affecting the vehicle’s safety systems or structure may impact the applicability of the rating.

• Bharat NCAP is a voluntary vehicle safety assessment programme for car manufacturers.
• Vehicle tests are conducted under controlled conditions, so actual on-road safety performance may vary depending on driving conditions and usage.
• Safe and responsible driving remains important regardless of a vehicle’s safety rating.
   

Bharat NCAP is India’s vehicle safety assessment programme introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in October 2023. It gives cars safety ratings from 1 to 5 stars based on crash tests and safety features, helping buyers make safer and more informed choices. 

Along with safe driving, having third-party insurance is important as it helps cover legal and financial liabilities arising from damage caused to a third person or property by your vehicle. SBI General Insurance Third-Party Car Insurance is designed to help vehicle owners stay financially prepared and legally compliant.

1. What is Bharat NCAP? 

Bharat NCAP stands for the New Car Assessment Program. It conducts crash tests and, based on safety performance, it awards safety ratings to vehicles. This helps consumers like you gain a reliable perspective when evaluating vehicles from a safety standpoint. 

2. What are the Bharat NCAP safety ratings? 

Bharat NCAP safety ratings range from 1 to 5 stars and reflect a vehicle’s safety performance in crash tests, along with the presence of Safety Assist Technologies (SAT).

3. How to Check for Bharat NCAP Car Safety Ratings? 

Steps to check Bharat NCAP safety ratings: 

• Visit www.bncap.in/vehicle-safety-ratings.
• Enter the vehicle’s make or model to know its rating.
• Alternatively, select the vehicle’s make and model using the drop-down menu.
• The safety ratings will appear on the screen.
• Click on “Read More” for all the details. 

4. Which car brands have vehicles with safety ratings?

The following brands have vehicles with safety ratings by Bharat NCAP:

• Renault
• Hyundai
• KIA
• Tata
• VinFast
• Maruti
• Citroen
• Honda
• Toyota
• Mahindra
• Skoda 

5. What is the validity of Bharat NCAP ratings? 

The Bharat NCAP ratings are valid only in India, provided the vehicle remains unmodified, and AIS-197 standards remain unchanged.