How the Orto Score works
The Orto Score is an A to D grade of how good a make, model, and year is. It rates the model, and re-checks the specific car once you add a history report.
Tom Jordan
Last Update a day ago
Every report carries a single, glanceable **Orto Score**, an A to D grade. It is designed to answer one question at a glance: is this a safe, reliable, well-regarded vehicle?
What it rates
The score is built only from free data already in the report, so you get it without paying for a history report. It blends the signals we have:
- Crash safety from NHTSA government crash-test (NCAP) ratings.
- Recalls from NHTSA. More open recalls lower the grade, and a "do not drive" recall caps it.
- Owner satisfaction from owner reviews (average rating and how many owners recommend the car).
Only factors we have data for are counted, and the blend re-weights to whatever is present, so a car with no crash rating is still scored on the rest. Each report also shows a confidence level (high, medium, or low) so a thin dataset reads as tentative.
What it does not rate (until you unlock history)
By default, the score rates the model, not the specific car. Without a history report, it cannot see this exact vehicle's accidents, title brands, or true odometer. The report says so plainly and points you to the history report to fill the gap.
Re-checked with history
When you unlock a full history report, the score is **re-assessed for this specific car**. A salvage or branded title, or accidents on record, pull the grade down, and the report shows that it was re-assessed with history.
Pro inspection. Pro users can record a structured walk-around checklist, which folds a real assessment of this car's condition into the score.
We show a grade and confidence, never a false-precision number.