Safer motoring does not necessarily mean big bucks, according to results of the 2008 Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR), the largest such study in the world.

Findings indicate that for just $5000 consumers can buy a second-hand vehicle providing a high level of crash protection to occupants and other road users.

The annual UCSR study is conducted by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), with support from RACV, the TAC, VicRoads, other state and federal road authorities and motoring clubs.

The MUARC team analysed data from more than 3.2 million crashes in Australia and New Zealand between 1986 and 2006 involving 349 different vehicle types.

Results across categories ranging from small to family, commercial and 4WD are presented in a user-friendly brochure and enable motorists to check the rating of their current car or any vehicle they are considering buying.

Dr Stuart Newstead, Senior Researcher at MUARC, said the good news for consumers on a tight budget was that the best performing vehicles were predominantly in the medium and small vehicle classes.

"However, as we've seen with previous year's results, very few commercial vehicles, either large 4WDs or light vehicles, scored well, which remains a big concern given these vehicles continued popularity," Dr Newstead said.

"In fact, only one of the commercial vans, the Ford Transit from 2001 to 2006, rated above average."

Equally concerning is that the results also show significant gaps in crash performance; for example, the worst-rating vehicle (Daihatsu Rocky 1985-98) presented more than eight times the risk of death or serious injury to people in a crash than best-rated vehicles such as the VW Golf/Jetta (2004-2006).

"Our findings showed 89 vehicle models scoring better than average, with 26 of these models scoring much better than average."

Dr Newstead said while previous year's ratings assessed how well a vehicle protected occupants and other road users in a crash, separately, the 2008 UCSR reflected these aspects in a combined performance rating.

"We've introduced the new ratings system to express the relative performance of each vehicle in preventing death or serious injury to everyone involved in a crash -- not just the occupants of the rated vehicle, but cyclists, pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles," he said.

Unlike results from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program, which are determined by controlled crash testing, the Used Car Safety Ratings are calculated using data from actual crashes.

RACV Chief Engineer -- Vehicles, Michael Case, said the latest UCSR results sent a crystal clear message to motorists considering buying a used car.

"If everyone was driving vehicles in the category providing the highest level of injury protection in a crash, a dramatic reduction in the road toll is likely," he said.

TAC Senior Manager Road Safety, David Healy, said the UCSR results were based on real-world crash performance.

For anyone in the market for a used car, these ratings are a vital guide for buying your next car. Don't hesitate to choose one of the best rated models to help keep you and others safe on the road," he said.

VicRoads Acting Director of Vehicle Management and Safety, Ross McArthur, said VicRoads strongly endorsed the USCR study that would benefit all road users.

"This initiative complements VicRoads' activities across the state and we are proud to be involved with a study that demonstrates global best practice in assessing the safety of all used cars," he said.

Some of the safest vehicles in the 2008 UCSR include:

The UCSR cover the most popular passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles from about five to 20 years old, the average lifetime of a used vehicle.

Dr Newstead said European and Japanese designs dominated the best performers and although some large Australian-made cars scored above average on total safety, only one was in the best category.

"Pre-1995 models again dominated the worst performers in each class, although some relatively new vehicles such as Hyundai Getz models from 2002 to 2006 also performed poorly,"he said.

Since the UCSR study was first conducted by MUARC in 1990, it has grown to become the largest of its type in the world. Ratings incorporating New Zealand crash data were produced for the first time in 2004.