Transport safety campaigns

Unsafe2Safe

We're trialling ways to get old, unsafe cars off our roads and help young drivers into newer, safer vehicles.


About unsafe2safe

The safety of your car makes a difference in the event of a crash and may even help avoid one altogether. But many young drivers cannot afford to buy a newer, safer car right now. Sadly, those young drivers are over-represented in serious road crashes.

That's why we have delivered a targeted trial to give an incentive to young drivers in regional Victoria to scrap their old, unsafe vehicles and replace them with newer, safer cars.

The unsafe2safe trial program has helped young drivers aged between 18 to 25 years old in regional Victoria get into newer and safer vehicles. 

Thank you to all young drivers and car dealerships who have participated in the trial program — we thank you for all your support.

We know that being in a safer vehicle can make the difference between surviving a crash or avoiding one altogether.

Phases 1 to 3 of the unsafe2safe trial program are now closed.

We are no longer accepting:

  • applications from young drivers to purchase a newer and safer vehicle from participating car dealerships.  
  • rebate applications from participating car dealerships


The Department will be reviewing and evaluating all phases of the program.

If you are looking to purchase a new vehicle, we encourage you to visit the howsafeisyourcar website to learn more about vehicle safety features and resources to help make an informed decision in the future. We encourage all drivers to select the safest car for your needs. 

Go to our Vehicle safety webpage to learn more about vehicle safety features and resources for making an informed car purchasing decision. 

Visit Engage Victoria's unsafe2safe website for full program details.