Test protocols and technical information
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How IIHS classifies vehicles by size, weight, type and price
- HLDI automobile size and class definitions May 2020; Highway Loss Data Institute
Moderate overlap frontal testing
Test protocol
- Moderate overlap 2.0 crash test protocol Version II (May 2025)
- Installation video of pressure sensing mat on the 5th percentile adult female Hybrid III dummy
Rating protocol
- Moderate overlap 2.0 rating guidelines Version II (May 2024)
- Rating calculator | Moderate overlap front 2.0
Small overlap frontal testing
Test protocol
- Small overlap crash test protocol Version VIII (May 2025)
Rating protocol
- Small overlap test program rating guidelines Version VII (April 2024)
- Rating calculator | Small overlap front: driver-side
- Rating calculator | Small overlap front: passenger-side
Barrier design
- Overview drawing February 2012
- Solidworks drawing package February 2012; Solidworks 2012 file (requires Solidworks 2012 or later), includes assembly and individual part files
- Step model February 2012; Step AP203 file of entire assembly for import to your 3-D CAD program
- Parasolid model February 2012; Parasolid text file of entire assembly for import to your 3-D CAD program
Side testing
Test protocol
- Side impact 2.0 crash test protocol Version III (May 2025)
- Side impact 2.0 rating guidelines Version IV (April 2024)
- Rating calculator | Side 2.0
Deformable barrier design
- Deformable barrier 2.0 specification Version II (October 2022)
- Deformable barrier 2.0 dynamic test protocol Version I (April 2023)
- Drawing package: Dynamic barrier fixture (April 2023)
- Assembly solid model; Step and 3dxml files for import to your 3-D CAD program
Side impact cart design
- Drawing package December 2021
- Assembly solid model; Step AP203 file of entire assembly for import to your 3-D CAD program
- DXF files for CNC plate cutting
- Detailed photos
Side impact antiroll device
Front crash prevention testing
- Pedestrian automatic emergency braking test protocol Version IV (January 2024)
- Vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention 2.0 test protocol Version II (April 2025)
Headlight testing
- Headlight test and rating protocol Version III (July 2018)
- Rationale and supporting work for headlight test and rating protocol August 2015
Dummy positioning
- Dummy seating procedure for rear outboard positions Version II (November 2023)
- Left rear passenger template used in conjunction with the moderate overlap 2.0 crash test protocol and dummy seating procedure for rear outboard positions
- Guidelines for using the UMTRI ATD positioning procedure for ATD and seat positioning Version VI (December 2022)
- ATD positioning template used in conjunction with the UMTRI ATD positioning procedure above
Seat belts & child restraints
LATCH ease of use
Test protocol
- Vehicle LATCH hardware evaluation protocol Version III (June 2016)
Rating protocol
- Vehicle LATCH hardware evaluation rating guidelines Version IV (May 2024)
Measurement tool design
- IIHS LATCH measurement tool set drawings; August 2017
- Clearance gauge August 2017; Step AP203 file of entire assembly for import to your 3-D CAD program
- Force gauge on guide rod August 2017; Step AP203 file of entire assembly for import to your 3-D CAD program
- Tether routing tool August 2017; Step AP203 file of entire assembly for import to your 3-D CAD program
Seat belt reminder testing
Test and rating protocol
- Seat belt reminder system test and rating protocol Version III (April 2024)
Safeguards for partial driving automation
- Safeguards for partial driving automation test protocol and rating guidelines Version I, March 2024
Rear crash prevention
- Rear crash prevention test protocol Version I, July 2024
Test vehicle selection
- Test vehicle selection Version I (May 2021)
Verified manufacturer testing policy
- Verified manufacturer tests: eligibility policy Version I (October 2024)
Archived protocols
Moderate overlap frontal testing 2.0
Test protocol
Rating protocol
Moderate overlap frontal testing 1.0
Test protocol
- Version XIX, May 2021
- Version XVIII, July 2017
- Version XVII, November 2016
- Version XVI, July 2016
- Version XV, May 2014
- Version XIV, December 2012
- Version XIII, May 2008
- Version XII, August 2007
- Version XI, December 2004
- Version X, April 2004
- Version X, March 2004
- Version X, October 2003
- Version IX, October 2002
- Version VIII, August 2001
- Version VII, November 1999
- Version VI, September 1999
- Version IV, December 2007
- Version III, June 1996
Rating protocols
- Guidelines for rating restraints and dummy kinematics
- Guidelines for rating structural performance
- Guidelines for rating injury measures
- Moderate overlap frontal crashworthiness evaluation weighting principles for vehicle ratings April 2006
- Rating calculator | Moderate overlap front
Small overlap frontal testing
Test protocol
- Version VII, May 2021
- Version VI, July 2017
- Version V, November 2016
- Version IV, July 2016
- Version III, May 2014
- Version II, December 2012
- Version I, October 2012
- Version I, August 2012
Rating protocol
- Version VI, May 2021
- Version V, July 2017
- Version IV, November 2016
- Version III, May 2014
- Version II, December 2012
- Version I, October 2012
- Version I, August 2012
Side testing 2.0
Test protocol
Rating protocol
Miscellaneous
- Moving deformable barrier 2.0 specification Version I (October 2020)
Side testing 1.0
Test protocol
- Version X, July 2017
- Version IX, November 2016
- Version VIII, July 2016
- Version VII, May 2014
- Version VI, December 2012
- Version V, May 2008
- Version IV, December 2004
- Version III, September 2004
- Version III, April 2004
- Version II, October 2003
- Version I, December 2002
- Rating calculator | Side
Rating protocol
- Side impact test program rating guidelines
- Guidelines for rating injury measures
Miscellaneous
- Moving deformable barrier specification October 2007
- Side impact crashworthiness evaluation weighting principles for vehicle ratings August 2006
- Side impact outrigger assembly
- Recommended procedures for evaluating occupant injury risk from deploying side airbags July 2003; Prepared by the Side Airbag Out-of-Position Injury Technical Working Group (A joint project of Alliance, AIAM, AORC, and IIHS)
- SID-IIs iliac wing January 2007
Rear impact and head restraint testing
- Vehicle seat/head restraint evaluation protocol, dynamic criteria
- Vehicle seat/head restraint evaluation protocol, static geometric criteria
- A procedure for evaluating motor vehicle head restraints Issue 3 (March 2008); RCAR standard procedure followed by IIHS since model year 2001
- RCAR-IIWPG seat/head restraint evaluation protocol Version 3 (March 2008)
Roof strength testing
Test protocol
- Version V, November 2022
- Version IV, May 2021
- Version III, July 2016
- Version II, December 2012
- Version I, November 2009
Front crash prevention testing
Pedestrian autonomous emergency braking test protocol
- Pedestrian autonomous emergency braking test protocol Version III (August 2022)
- Pedestrian autonomous emergency braking test protocol Version II (February 2019)
- Pedestrian autonomous emergency braking test protocol Version I (December 2018)
Autonomous emergency braking test protocol
- Vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention 2.0 test protocol Version I (April 2024)
- Autonomous emergency braking test protocol Version I (October 2013)
Headlight testing
Test and rating protocol
Booster seats
- IIHS booster protocol Version IV (May 2018)
- IIHS booster rating guidelines May 2018
- Booster test fixture drawing package
- Pelvis lap shield contour data
LATCH
Hardware evaluation protocol
Rating guidelines
Seat belt reminder testing
Test and rating protocol
Bumper testing
Test protocol
- Version VIII, September 2010
- Version VII, June 2009
- Version VI, April 2007
- Version V, May 2002
- Version IV, October 2001
- Version III, April 2001
- Version II, August 1997
- Version I, November 1996
Summary of IIHS low-speed crash test program
Dummy positioning
Test protocol: Dummy seating procedure for rear outboard positions — procedure for properly positioning rear dummies in side impact crash tests
Rating protocols: Guidelines for using the UMTRI ATD positioning procedure for ATD and seat positioning — procedure for properly positioning driver dummies in frontal offset and side impact crash tests