Check these 3 things before you hit the road this Christmas

With one week left to go before Christmas, Australians are being urged to check their car insurance policies before they hit the road to make sure they’re fully covered.
With more drivers on the road than usual, the possibility of an accident could increase, according to Mozo money expert Rachel Wastell.
“Christmas is one of the busiest times on the roads in Australia, which also makes it one of the most dangerous,” she says.
“Getting into an accident at Christmas is tough enough, without realising you’re the one who has to pay for it all. As premiums get more expensive year on year, it’s crucial to check if the insurance you’re paying for will cover you when you need it.”
Related: Top 7 tips for a summer road trip to remember
The cost of car insurance is accelerating
The 2023 Mozo Car Insurance Report found the average premium rose by 47% since 2018. The average Australian now pays $1,472 a year to insure their car, with drivers in Victoria ($1,817) and NSW ($1,717) often forking out the most.
“No matter where you live in Australia, premiums are on the rise, so it pays to check your car insurance policy to make sure you’re fully covered” – Rachel Wastell, Mozo money expert.
“If you’re going on the road this summer, there are three simple checks you can make to ensure you have the coverage you need before you get in the car; who’s covered, what’s covered and how much is covered.”
1. Check who’s covered to drive
If you’re planning to share the driving, check your policy to find out if unlisted drivers (those that may use your car, but aren’t named on the policy) are covered.
While sharing the wheel, especially on longer drives, is a very responsible thing to do, some car insurance policies require the personal details of drivers to provide coverage, while others provide cover for all drivers within a specific age range.
“Adding all eligible drivers means that if you need to stop, revive and survive this summer and let someone else take the wheel, you can rest knowing you’re still covered,” says Wastell.
2. Check what your car insurance covers
Comprehensive car insurance policies provide coverage for accidental damage to your car, others’ cars and property, as well as things like theft and severe weather.
Before you load up the car this Christmas, or head out on a road trip, Wastell says to check the finer details of your policy. That way, “you know exactly what coverage you’re paying for, as things like roadside assistance and rental car coverage may not be covered by standard policies.”
Related: Which car insurance comes with roadside assistance in Australia?
“If you’re going to tow a caravan or a trailer this Summer or leave expensive Christmas gifts in the car overnight, you should check things like whether your policy covers towing and personal property loss.”
3. Check how much is covered
If you’ve done some modifications to your car, like fit out your van as a tiny home, repainted the exterior of your car, upgraded your engine, or put in aftermarket parts, it’s a smart move to check that your customisations are covered.
“Upgrades to your vehicle can increase the cost of your insurance, but it’s crucial to ensure all modifications are listed on your policy. Adding any upgrades you’ve made before you start your summer trip is the only way to ensure you’re fully covered,” says Wastell.
“Policies are priced based on how much it will cost to replace the car if anything goes wrong, and if you don’t mention modifications you can end up losing out.”
If you find that your car insurance premium has gone up, your next course of action could be to compare car insurance and get a new quote.
As part of the 2023 Mozo Experts Choice Awards^, experts analysed 10,000 car insurance quotes to find the best car insurance in 2023, including the providers that offered the best value for money.
That could be somewhere good to start if you’re looking to switch your policy and potentially save yourself some cash.
Otherwise, you can check out the featured car insurance policies below.
Car insurance comparisons on Mozo - last updated 15 February 2025
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Comprehensive Car Insurance
Yes costs extra
Agreed or Market
$400 - $2,500
Optional Extra
Making sure your car insurance is about where you’re at right now could save you lots. Start a quote with Youi today and see what you could save.
CompareCompareComprehensive Car Insurance
Making sure your car insurance is about where you’re at right now could save you lots. Start a quote with Youi today and see what you could save.
- Monthly premiums available
- Yes costs extra
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed or Market
- Choice of excess
- $400 - $2,500
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Discounts available
- -
- Quote time
- -
Read reviews and learn more about Youi car insurance
-
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Yes costs extra
Agreed or Market
$500 - $2,300
Optional Extra
CompareCompareComprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums available
- Yes costs extra
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed or Market
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $2,300
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Discounts available
- Online discount $75 off new policies
- Quote time
- 6 to 8 minutes
Read reviews and learn more about QBE car insurance
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Exceptional Value Car Insurance - 2024
- Exceptional Value Young Driver Insurance - 2024
- Exceptional Value Senior Driver Insurance - 2024
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
Yes costs extra
Agreed or Market
$550 - $1,900 (varies by state)
Optional Extra
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.
CompareCompareGold 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.
- Monthly premiums available
- Yes costs extra
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed or Market
- Choice of excess
- $550 - $1,900 (varies by state)
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Discounts available
- No claim discount|Online discount 15% on first years premium
- Quote time
- 2 to 3 minutes
Read reviews and learn more about Budget Direct car insurance
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Exceptional Value Car Insurance - 2024
- Exceptional Value Young Driver Insurance - 2024
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Yes
Agreed
$800 flat excess fee
No
No additional excess for young drivers, lodge a claim 24/7 and zero cancellation fees. Hire car is included up to $80 per day for up to 21 days; cover for one tow to our nearest authorised repairer, following a covered incident. No excess on your first covered windscreen, sunroof, and window glass damage once per insurance period. List multiple cars and drivers under the one policy as long as they fit the underwriting criteria (excludes Safe ’n Save policies).
CompareCompareComprehensive Car Insurance
No additional excess for young drivers, lodge a claim 24/7 and zero cancellation fees. Hire car is included up to $80 per day for up to 21 days; cover for one tow to our nearest authorised repairer, following a covered incident. No excess on your first covered windscreen, sunroof, and window glass damage once per insurance period. List multiple cars and drivers under the one policy as long as they fit the underwriting criteria (excludes Safe ’n Save policies).
- Monthly premiums available
- Yes
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed
- Choice of excess
- $800 flat excess fee
- Choice of repairer
- No
- Discounts available
- Get 10% off the base premium for the first 2 consecutive monthly policies and up to a 15% potential monthly discount from your 3rd month for being a safer driver. Minimum premiums may apply. T&Cs apply.
- Quote time
- -
Read reviews and learn more about ROLLiN' car insurance
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* 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