The DGT reveals which brands register the most Euro NCAP five-star cars: a Spanish brand makes it into the top ten.
11/11/2026 19:00
Updated to
11/11/2026 19:00
The safety ratings of vehicles registered in Spain show a significant difference between cars currently entering the market and those already on the roads. Although Euro NCAP five-star rated models make up the majority of newly registered vehicles that are evaluated, their presence in the overall vehicle fleet remains considerably lower.
A study prepared by Applus+ IDIADA for the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), based on 421,679 vehicles registered in the first quarter of 2025, reveals which manufacturers have the most vehicles with the highest ratings. Toyota leads the rankings, though its advantage over Volkswagen is only 490 vehicles, according to data compiled by Las Provincias from the official report.
The ten brands that register the most five-star cars in Spain
The Japanese manufacturer registered 24,016 vehicles with the highest Euro NCAP rating between January and March 2025, compared to 23,526 by Volkswagen and 20,097 by Renault. These three companies occupied the top positions in a ranking that also includes manufacturers such as Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Seat, and Ford.
However, these results do not necessarily mean that Toyota is the safest brand in Spain. The study counts the number of units registered with five stars, without establishing a connection between that figure and each manufacturer’s total sales. As a result, companies with greater market presence are more likely to rank at the top.
Seven out of ten evaluated vehicles achieve the highest rating
Despite differences among manufacturers, the official report from DGT and Applus+ IDIADA shows that 70.5% of vehicles that could be rated received five stars. Another 19.6% earned four stars, while 8.9% received three stars, with only 1% scoring below that threshold.
The study used Traffic’s vehicle registration records and Euro NCAP’s databases, but only a rating could be determined for 74.2% of the vehicles. The rest were excluded from the results. Passenger cars accounted for 76.8% of the initial sample, and 89% of the vehicles were first registered in 2025.
Another relevant aspect is the age of the evaluations, as Euro NCAP periodically updates its procedures to incorporate new requirements for driver protection and assistance. By removing outdated ratings, the percentage of vehicles with five stars rises to 75.9%, while those with four stars account for 17.9%, and those with three stars or fewer drop to 6.2%.
However, data on the overall vehicle fleet shows a different picture. According to statistics published by DGT, as of the end of 2024, only 32.1% of the cars on the roads in Spain had a five-star Euro NCAP rating, although among the approximately 13.5 million vehicles registered since 2009, this proportion rose to 62%.
This information covers the first quarter of 2025 and therefore does not reflect subsequent changes in vehicle registrations. Tráfico also plans to expand future analyses to include data on advanced driving assistance systems, airbags, and emergency call systems, as well as to make it easier to access safety ratings through the miDGT app.