Apia car insurance

‘Apia’ stands for Australian Pensioners Insurance Agency and has been offering insurance for more than 30 years. Today it offers a range of insurance products for Aussies over 50, including home, boat, caravan and vehicle insurance. So if you know the roads round where you live like the back of your hand and you have a heap of driving experience under your belt, Apia insurance might be worth looking into. 

Apia’s comprehensive car insurance policy even won a 2023 Mozo Experts Choice Award in the Exceptional Value Senior Driver Insurance category.

Apia offers the following car insurance policies

Cover information and limits in the table below verified as correct at 19 March 2024. Other information correct at the time of writing.
Advertiser disclosure.

Product Monthly premiums available Maximum no claim discount Online discount Choice of repairer
Comprehensive Car Insurance

Yes

up to 65%

5%

No

Who is Apia underwritten by?

Apia is a subsidiary of AAI Limited which also underwrites its policies. AAI Limited in turn is a member of the Suncorp Group. 

What type of car insurance does Apia offer?

Apia offers a wide range of car insurance including third party property, third party fire and theft and comprehensive car insurance. On top of this, Apia also offers MAI Insurance to ACT residents.

What does Apia’s comprehensive car insurance cover?

Apia’s Comprehensive Car Insurance includes all the usual cover, plus a few extra perks to sweeten the deal. Some features of Apia’s comprehensive policy include:

  • Up to $20 million of legal liability.

  • Cover for hail, storm and flood damage.

  • Cover for fire, theft, attempted theft and vandalism.

  • New car replacement if your car is written off and it is less than 2 years old.

  • Up to $1,500 for ‘after claim expenses’ - this applies when your car is stolen or damaged as a result of an incident covered by Apia. It can include cover for emergency repairs and emergency accommodation.

  • Up to $2,000 worth of cover for trailers.

  • Up to $500 to cover ‘get home expenses’- applies if your car is left not roadworthy after being stolen or damaged as the result of an incident covered by Apia.

  • Up to $250 transport cover - applies if your car is damaged in an incident covered by your policy.

  • 21 days worth of cover for a hire car, following a theft.

  • Up to $750 worth of cover for baby capsules and child seats.

  • Third party property damage cover for caravans and trailers.

  • Up to $5,000 worth of cover for accidental death.

With its comprehensive policy, Apia also offers a lifetime guarantee on authorized repair work, plus a discount if you drive less than 20,000km per year. This policy also offers new car replacement, if your car is stolen and not recovered. Although it should be noted that this only applies for cars less than 10 years old and there is a $40,000 limit on cover.

What optional extras are available with Apia’s comprehensive car insurance?

Want to increase your cover? Apia has a number of optional extras available with its comprehensive car insurance, these are:

  • Roadside assistance 

  • Windscreen and window glass cover - with this you’ll get one excess-free repair or replacement per insurance period.

  • Extended hire car cover - this will give you hire car cover for an unlimited number of days. With this Apia will pay the reasonable cost of a rental car up to $90 per day, until your claim is settled, or your car is returned to you.

What does Apia’s roadside assistance cover?

Apia offers roadside assistance cover as an optional extra for less than $7 a month. It includes 24/7 support and unlimited callouts. If you opt for this, Apia will help you with:

  • Changing a flat tyre

  • Arranging for your car to be towed to an accredited repairer

  • Jump starting or charging a flat battery

  • Delivering emergency fuel

  • Lost or locked-in keys - for this Apia will help either organise a spare key to be delivered to you, or a locksmith to be called out.

What does Apia’s comprehensive car insurance not cover?

We’ve talked a lot about what is included, but as with most comprehensive car insurance policies there are also some exclusions. Some of these are:

  • General wear and tear

  • If your car or its contents are legally repossessed

  • If you drive your car while it is already damaged

  • If you use the wrong fuel in your car

  • If your car is used for motor sports

  • Tyre damage caused by braking, punctures, road cuts or bursting

  • If you let an unlicensed driver drive your car and it is damaged.

These are just a few of the exclusions that apply. The full list can be found in the product disclosure statement for this policy - a copy of which is available on Apia’s website.

More FAQs about Apia car insurance

What third party insurance does Apia offer?

Apia offers both third party property and third party fire and theft car insurance. It also offers MAI Insurance for ACT residents (CTP insurance).

Both third party property and third party fire and theft insurance include up to $20 million of legal liability cover, plus up to $5,000 worth of cover for damage caused by an at-fault, uninsured driver. For this, you will have to provide Apia with the name and address of the person at-fault, as well as their vehicle registration number.

On top of all this, third party fire and theft insurance also offers cover for:

  • Accidental loss or damage caused by fire or theft

  • Reasonable costs for towing and storage from the scene of an incident or accident

  • A hire car for up to 21 days, following a theft

  • ‘Get home expenses’ up to $500 - this will cover the cost of transport to get you and your passengers to where you were going.

What does Apia’s MAI Insurance cover?

As mentioned above Apia offers MAI Insurance to ACT residents. This stands for Motor Accident Injuries Insurance and is basically what CTP or compulsory third party insurance is called in the Australian Capital Territory. 

This type of insurance is a legal requirement to be able to drive in the capital territory and Apia is one of only four that offer it. Other insurance providers that offer this are: AAMI, GIO and NRMA.

As with all types of compulsory third party insurance, MAI Insurance does not cover any damage done to your actual car. This type of insurance is designed to provide cover for a person injured in an accident, where your car is at fault. As well as this with Apia in particular, you’ll have access to Suncorp Benefits and the Apia Good Life quarterly newsletter.

Does Apia offer a no claims bonus?

Yes, Apia does offer a no claims bonus with its comprehensive car insurance policy. If you aren’t completely aware of what this is, it’s basically a discount that rewards you for having a good claims history. In other words you are rewarded for driving safely.

Some claims that will not affect your no claims bonus are:

  • Windscreen or window glass damage only claims

  • If your no claims bonus is protected (more on this below)

  • You did not cause an accident you are involved in and you can provide Apia with the name and address of the person who is at-fault, as well as their registration number.

For all other claims, your no claims bonus may be reduced. The no claims bonus consists of six ratings, each one of which comes with a bigger percentage discount than the other. The more consecutive years you have with no claims (or at least no claims that affect your discount) the higher your rating will be and the bigger the discount you will get. The ratings are:

  • Rating 1 - 65% discount

  • Rating 2 - 60% discount

  • Rating 3 - 55% discount

  • Rating 4 - 45% discount

  • Rating 5 - 25% discount

  • Rating 6 - 0% discount

Can I protect my no claims bonus discount?

Once you have achieved rating one (the highest rating available) you can protect your discount if you:

  • Do not make any claims that affect your no claims bonus for three consecutive years

  • Are a new customer who already holds a protected no claims bonus discount with your previous insurance provider.

Does Apia offer any other discounts?

Besides the no claims bonus, Apia also offers:

  • A multi-policy discount - you might be able to get this discount if you pay for two or more eligible Apia general insurance policies.

  • A work less, pay less discount - if you work less than 37 hours each week, you could be eligible for this discount. This particular discount is based on your employment status and is determined by the information on your insurance certificate.

  • A drive less, pay less discount - if you have a comprehensive car insurance policy with Apia and you drive less than 20,000km each year, you could be eligible for this discount.

How much does Apia car insurance cost?

How much your insurance premium will be with Apia will depend on a number of factors. Some things that Apia will take into account are:

  • Your age 

  • Your gender

  • The car you drive

  • How old your car is

  • The amount of cover you opt for - comprehensive car insurance will be more expensive than third party property

  • Where your car is parked at night

  • Where you live

  • Whether you are paying off a car loan for your vehicle

  • Any discounts that you may be eligible for

  • What type of excess you choose

  • Whether you opt for any additional extras.

What types of excess does Apia offer?

Types of excess Apia offers are:

  • A standard excess (applies to all policies, unless stated otherwise)

  • Chosen variable excess 

  • Drivers under 25 excess (this is in addition to any other excess that applies)

How can I pay my premium?

When you’re trying to fit your car insurance premium into a budget, it’s nice to have some flexibility in how it’s paid. With Apia, you can choose to either pay an annual premium in one lump sum upfront, or you can pay in monthly installments, at no extra cost.

How is Apia rated by customers?

But how does Apia rate in terms of things like customer service, trust and convenience? You can find out by reading through our customer review section, where everyday Aussies have shared their thoughts about Apia car insurance. 

How do I make a claim with Apia?

There are three ways you can make a claim with Apia, these are:

  • Via the Suncorp App (Apia is part of the Suncorp Network)

  • Online via Apia’s website

  • By calling Apia on 13 50 50.

To make a claim you will need to have your policy number at hand, details about the incident, documents related to the claim and information about the other person involved.

How is Apia car insurance rated?

Mozo users have rated Apia car insurance on price, features, convenience, trust and customer service so you can see what real Aussies have to say about their experiences.

Icon of car-insurances
Apia car insurance
Overall
Value for money
Policy coverage
Customer service
Claims handling
Trust

847 Reviews

Recent Apia car insurance reviews

Apia Comprehensive Car Insurance
Overall 1/10
Unethical practices - be wary

Do not fall for the marketing spiel. These guys are unethical and will ramp up your premium by 30%+ after a years they prey on people who do not notice or are too lazy to change providers. I was told when I joined APIA they did not engage in such practices so moved 3 of my cars across. Such practices are unscrupulous and if the ACCC had any clout they would shut down operators like APIA for gaming the system.

Read full review

Do not fall for the marketing spiel. These guys are unethical and will ramp up your premium by 30%+ after a years they prey on people who do not notice or are too lazy to change providers. I was told when I joined APIA they did not engage in such practices so moved 3 of my cars across. Such practices are unscrupulous and if the ACCC had any clout they would shut down operators like APIA for gaming the system.

Value for money
1/10
Policy coverage
3/10
Customer service
1/10
Trust
1/10
Less
Dean, Victoria, reviewed 6 months ago
Apia Comprehensive Car Insurance
Overall 10/10
Great service Great price Australian call centre

Great customer service, reasonably priced. Australian Call centre

Read full review

Great customer service, reasonably priced. Australian Call centre

Value for money
10/10
Policy coverage
10/10
Customer service
10/10
Trust
10/10
Less
Jennifer, Victoria, reviewed 8 months ago
Apia Car Insurance
Overall 10/10
Good prices and easy to negotiate online form.

I had a question and easily got someone on the phone who could help me.

Read full review

I had a question and easily got someone on the phone who could help me.

Value for money
10/10
Policy coverage
10/10
Customer service
10/10
Trust
10/10
Less
Stephanie, New South Wales, reviewed 9 months ago
Apia Comprehensive Car Insurance
Overall 7/10
Great company but shortage of assessors.

Their assessor is Capitol Smart, which is insurance co. owned but also does smaller repair jobs.. They are pleasant & competent repairers, but it can take up to 2 weeks for an assessment & a start on the repair. They then fitted the new door in one day & did the job perfectly.

Read full review

Their assessor is Capitol Smart, which is insurance co. owned but also does smaller repair jobs.. They are pleasant & competent repairers, but it can take up to 2 weeks for an assessment & a start on the repair. They then fitted the new door in one day & did the job perfectly.

Value for money
9/10
Policy coverage
10/10
Customer service
9/10
Claims handling
5/10
Trust
10/10
Less
Paul, Tasmania, reviewed 10 months ago
See all car insurance reviews
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