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A five-star Euro NCAP rating is a strong selling point for new vehicles.
It signals to buyers that a car meets the highest safety standards, something that can set a model apart in a highly competitive market.
In 2026, Euro NCAP introduces new requirements, and this time, the focus is shifting inward. While previous assessments focused heavily on crash protection and active safety features, the latest changes put more weight on what happens inside the vehicle – before, during, and after an accident.
The goal is to ensure that cars don’t just protect passengers in a collision, but actively help prevent one by keeping the driver engaged and passengers accounted for.
Here’s what’s changing, how it compares to the 2023 protocols, and what automakers need to prepare for.
| Category | 2023 Protocol | 2026 Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Monitoring (DMS) | Worth up to 2 points; basic drowsiness and distraction alerts. | Now worth up to 25 points as part of a new “Driver Engagement” category. Requires real-time eye/head tracking. |
| Impairment Detection | Not included. | DMS must detect signs of alcohol or drug impairment. |
| Unresponsive Driver | Alerts issued but limited intervention. | Must escalate warnings and, if needed, activate emergency functions to bring the vehicle to a safe stop. |
| Child Presence Detection | Awards up to 4 points for direct sensing methods. | Now worth up to 5 points. Adds detection for children entering unlocked cars and stricter alert and intervention requirements. |
| Seatbelt Monitoring | Detects whether seatbelts are buckled. | Must detect incorrect seatbelt use (e.g., worn behind the back). Expands monitoring to rear seats. |
| Airbag Adaptation | No specific requirements for occupant-based airbag adjustments. | Airbags must adjust based on passenger size, position, and posture. Automatic deactivation required for child seats. |
Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) have been part of Euro NCAP’s assessment since 2023, but the new protocols increase their scoring weight and expand their requirements.
Previously, a basic system that warned for driver drowsiness or inattention could earn a car model up to two points. In 2026, Driving Engagement is a full scoring category – with Driver Monitoring now worth up to 25 points.
With more points on the line, Euro NCAP expects more from these systems.
This means indirect monitoring alone (like steering-input sensors) won’t meet the new standard. Instead, vehicles must use direct driver monitoring, including real-time eye and head tracking, to determine whether the driver is actually engaged.
Key Requirements in the 2026 Protocol:
Drowsiness detection: Must be detected at highway speeds (50 km/h or higher), with severity assessed based on recognized sleepiness scales.
Distraction monitoring: Not just “eyes off road” but also frequent short glances away (visual attention time sharing).
Phone use detection: The system should recognize when a driver is looking at, holding, or interacting with a phone, not just detect general distraction.
Impairment detection: A major addition – DMS should be able to detect signs of impairment from alcohol or drugs.
Unresponsive driver detection: If a driver stops reacting, the system must escalate warnings and, if necessary, take action, such as increasing safety assist sensitivity or activating an emergency function to bring the car to a safe stop.
Learn more about how Euro NCAP’s 2026 protocol changes the role of driver monitoring here.
Every year, children are unintentionally left behind in parked vehicles – sometimes with fatal consequences. These incidents are preventable, and Euro NCAP’s 2026 protocol encourages technologies that can catch the danger early and respond effectively.
First introduced in Euro NCAP’s assessments a few years ago, Child Presence Detection (CPD) is now more clearly defined under the 2026 update. The revised protocol lays out stricter expectations for what qualifies as effective detection – and how systems must respond.
Key Requirements in the 2026 Protocol:
Direct Child Presence Detection (CPD): Systems must confirm the presence of a child using direct detection methods such as movement, breathing, or heartbeat. Detection must begin within 15 seconds of locking the car (or within 10 minutes if the doors remain unlocked).
Escalating Alerts: The system must issue an initial audible or visual warning that is noticeable from outside the car. If no action is taken, alerts must escalate – repeating every minute for at least 20 minutes – and may include key notifications, mobile app alerts, or connected services.
Intervention Features (for full score): To earn all available points, systems must not only detect and warn, but also take action – such as activating climate control, unlocking doors, or sending alerts to caregivers.
For more details on what Euro NCAP will require of Child Presence Detection starting in 2026, read this blog.
Seatbelt reminders are already standard in cars, but Euro NCAP goes further by requiring vehicles to detect not just whether a belt is buckled, but how it’s being worn.
Seatbelt misuse is a common real-world problem, and the new protocols aim to address it. Starting in 2026, cars that do not detect when a seatbelt isn’t worn correctly will lose points in the ratings.
Key Requirements in the 2026 Protocol:
Misuse detection: The system should recognize if a seatbelt is buckled but not worn correctly – for example, behind the back or only across the lap.
Rear seat detection: Vehicles should be able to detect if rear seats are occupied and whether passengers are wearing their seatbelts.
Airbags can no longer be one-size-fits-all. Euro NCAP’s 2026 protocols push for smarter restraint systems that adjust to the size, position, and seating posture of the occupant.
For automakers, this means more advanced occupant classification systems will become standard. Expect to see more vehicles using cabin-facing cameras, 3D depth sensing, weight sensors, or a combination to meet these requirements.
Key Requirements in the 2026 Protocol:
Automatic passenger airbag deactivation: If a rear-facing child seat is detected, the airbag must deactivate automatically. A manual switch won’t earn full points.
Adaptive restraint systems: Vehicles must adjust airbag deployment for different occupant sizes.
Out-of-position detection: If a passenger is leaning too close to the dashboard, or has their feet up on it, the system must detect this and issue a warning.
First responders rely on eCall – the automatic emergency call system built into modern cars – to assess accident severity.
Starting in 2026, Euro NCAP requires eCall to include the number of occupants in the vehicle at the time of the crash. For emergency services, this update could shave valuable minutes off response times.
Key Requirements for 2026 Compliance:
Occupant status monitoring: Vehicles must detect and track occupants, not just whether seatbelts are buckled, to provide a clearer picture of who is inside.
Automatic transmission to first responders: Occupant data must be included in the eCall message, ensuring emergency services receive information about passengers in all available seating positions.
Euro NCAP’s 2026 assessment protocols put a stronger emphasis on in-cabin safety. But several of these new requirements have another thing in common: they’re designed to weed out half-measures and demand real, functional safety solutions.
This means a bare-minimum driver monitoring system, or seatbelt reminders that only check for a click-in, won’t be enough. To meet Euro NCAP’s new standards, OEMs will need to invest genuine, effective solutions.
To learn more about Euro NCAP’s 2026 updates, find the full assessment protocols on Euro NCAP’s website.
