These Are The Safest Off-Lease Used Cars, IIHS Tests Show

A predicted surge in off-lease vehicles could bring millions of late-model cars, trucks and SUVs to dealerships, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released what it considers the safest options. Edmunds projects a 25.7% increase in off-lease models this year, reaching roughly 2.5 million vehicles. For the 2023 model year, the IIHS says 69 vehicles earned Top Safety Picks status, including 11 battery-electric models. To qualify, a vehicle must receive good ratings in crashworthiness tests, and it must have a superior or advanced forward emergency automatic braking system. The report notes these vehicles often come with multi-point inspections and may be sold as Certified Used Cars, sometimes with extended warranties.