The International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS), the Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale (FARS), the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), the Brief Ataxia Rating Scale (BARS), and the Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS) represent validated scales for the assessment of disease severity and progression in cerebellar disorders. Each scale has its strengths and weaknesses.