Annual car costs exceed $5,000 in 2021
Australian drivers are spending upwards of $5,100 a year on car-related costs, according to a joint study by car subscription service Carbar and market research company YouGov.
Those participants in the study repaying car loans saw closer to a $9,000 annual car bill, while 41% of all respondents felt like they didn’t have a handle on their car expenses.
Car insurance is a significant slice of this expense pie. Mozo’s 2020 car insurance report found comprehensive car insurance alone is costing Aussies more than $950 a year on average – and prices are on the rise.
While petrol prices and car rego costs may be out of your control, there are a few ways to score a more affordable car insurance quote.
How to cut car insurance costs
- Pay-as-you-drive: After a year of lockdowns, more providers are jumping on the pay-as-you-drive car insurance bandwagon. This usually involves setting a kilometre limit that you drive under within a policy period and receiving a discounted premium for spending less time on the road (thus posing less of an insurance risk) than the average driver.
- Seek out discounts: From online application discounts to loyalty rewards and safe-driver bonuses, there’s a huge list of potential discounts that could shave down your insurance bill. Some providers will apply these automatically when you meet the conditions, but with others you may need to make an enquiry to start receiving the new rate.
- Move to third party: A comprehensive car insurance policy will cover your own wheels as well as repair bills in case you damage other cars or property while driving. But if a comprehensive premium doesn't fit your budget or your car’s value, then third party property damage car insurance is a cheaper option to consider. Just remember: this only covers damage you might cause to other vehicles and property (up to a certain amount), not your own car.
- Compare and haggle: If you’re still not satisfied with your premium, take a look at competitor insurance providers and negotiate a better deal. If your current insurance company isn’t willing to budge, consider switching to a provider offering cheaper car insurance that meets your needs as a driver. You can start your research today using Mozo’s car insurance comparison table.
Compare comprehensive car insurance policies - rates updated daily
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $1,850
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- Online Discount Up To 15%
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
Get award winning Car Insurance. Save 15% ^ on your first year’s premium when you purchase a new policy online. Budget Direct offers tailor-made cover, new-for-old replacement, 24/7 claims, a highly-rated claims service, and get a hire car following a theft.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years or 40,000 kilometres of original registration, whichever comes first
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days, max $1,000 total.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days for at fault accidents.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $40 on every windscreen claim for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for drivers under 21, $500 for drivers under 24, $600 for unlisted drivers, $500 for inexperienced drivers over 24.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Extra
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- No
- Choice of excess
- $800 - $2,000
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed
Available discounts
- No Claim Discount
- Free Roadside Assistance For A Year For New Policies, Apply By Feb 2022
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Stella have created a more intuitive experience and offer a product that’s been designed with women in mind; offering premium benefits, and optional extras and rewards for being a safe driver. Stella are back by QBE. Get a quick quote online in 40 seconds and insured in 4 minutes. Get free roadside assistance for a year when you purchase a new Stella Comprehensive Car Insurance policy before 28 February 2022. Enter ROADSIDE at the check out to redeem.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 3 years and 60,000 km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $0 on every windscreen claim for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for listed drivers under 25. $1,600 for unlisted drivers under 25
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Extra
- Other benefits
- Get free roadside assistance for a year when you purchase a new Stella Comprehensive Car Insurance policy before 28 February 2022. Enter ROADSIDE at the check out to redeem.
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Stella Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes
- Choice of repairer
- No
- Choice of excess
- $800 Flat Excess Fee
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed
Available discounts
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Easier, better, smarter car insurance. Say g’day to ROLLiN'. They've taken the complicated out of car insurance and created a new route that's simple, u-turn free and keeps you in the driver’s seat. No cancellation fees, 24/7 online claims service and a policy that’s pay monthly.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 15,000km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 21 days, max $80 per day
- Rental car after accident
- Yes - Up to 21 days, max $80 per day
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - $0 windscreen excess
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- No additional excess for young drivers. $3,000 for unlisted drivers
- Roadside assistance
- No
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about ROLLiN' Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $400 - $2,200
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- Online Discount $75
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Australia Post Comprehensive Car Insurance offers a broad range of coverage and includes cover for anyone who drives your vehicle. It also covers new car replacement if your recently purchased brand new car is written off within the first three years (provided it has travelled less than 60,000km).
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 3 years and 60,000 km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess ($0 excess for repair only). Option to reduce windscreen replacement excess to $0 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Automatically covered.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for listed drivers under 25, $1,600 for unlisted drivers under 25.
- Roadside assistance
- No
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Australia Post Comprehensive Car Insurance
Price Saver Comprehensive
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $1,850
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- No Claim Discount
- Online Discount 15% Discount On First Year’s Premium
- Restricted Drivers Discount Available
Price Saver Comprehensive
Save 15% on your first year’s premium when you buy online with Virgin Car Insurance.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years or 40,000 kilometres of original registration, whichever comes first
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days, max $1,000 total.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra, up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $40 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for drivers under 21, $500 for drivers aged 21 to 24 inclusive, $600 for unlisted drivers, $500 for inexperienced drivers over 25.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Extra
- Other benefits
- Receive a $100 e-Gift card when you purchase a new eligible comprehensive Virgin Car Insurance policy by 28 February 2022.
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Virgin Money Price Saver Comprehensive
* Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Car Insurance Awards