Buying a car means envisioning yourself behind the wheel, driving to and from various destinations—maybe you even picture the windows rolled down and the radio playing your favorite songs as you cruise across town.

But what’s more difficult is considering how a vehicle will fare in an accident before you buy it. Though – knock on wood – hopefully you’ll never find yourself involved in any sort of crash, it’s important to acknowledge that it can happen. Only then can you thoroughly evaluate various manufacturers and models based on their safety credentials.

Here’s more on how vehicle safety ratings are determined, and how you can find a safe car at a price suiting your budget.…