Would your car insurance cover superhero damage?
Saving the world requires sacrifices, for sure. And let’s face it: maximum damage in comic book movies is fun to watch. But did Superman have to sacrifice that poor bystander’s car?
If you’ve ever wondered what your life would be like if you lived in a superhero movie, this is it.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
No, it’s car insurance.
What can you claim for car insurance?
Car insurance coverage depends a lot on your provider and policy, with different tiers offering different levels of cover.
In Australia, the minimum level of coverage is usually Compulsory Third-Party insurance (depending on where you live), which covers physical injury done to you or others when you’re at fault in a car accident.
But this is only the bare minimum. Other types of car insurance include:
- Third Party damage insurance (middle tier)
- Comprehensive car insurance (top tier)
- Seniors car insurance
- Rideshare insurance
- Business and commercial insurance
Each policy will come with different inclusions and exclusions. CTP insurance is the middle ground, while comprehensive car insurance tends to offer the most coverage for the most incidents, with some tailoring available through optional extras such as natural disaster cover.
Whenever you’re comparing car insurance quotes, always read through the terms and conditions in the product disclosure statement. This way, you know the ins and outs of your coverage, and come claim time, you won't be caught out with sneaky fine print.
So where do superheroes come in with all this? Let’s consider a few different scenarios.
Scenario 1: Spider-man prangs your vehicle
Unfortunately, one-offs like parking lot dings or cracked windshields are the most common kind of damage. While bare minimum coverage like CTP usually won’t cover these incidents, comprehensive usually will.
Same as if someone backs into you (or worse, does a hit and run), if Spider-man lands atop your car while rediscovering his powers, or if Batman zooms by on his bat-bike and polishes off your sideview mirror, most comprehensive policies should have you sorted, depending on your inclusions and extras.
Otherwise, you may have to legally track the culprit down and involve the police. Good luck telling Batman he owes you $1,000 for a new side mirror!
Scenario 2: A literal act of God totals your car
Here’s where it gets extremely tricky. When your car gets completely destroyed (“total loss” or "write off" in insurance lingo), your cover will highly depend on the circumstances and what’s included in your product disclosure statement (PDS).
So if Dr. Strange or Iron Man use your car as a personal shield, or Thor strikes it with lightning, you may not have the insurance protection you think.
Firstly, to be eligible for replacement or any kind of reimbursement for total loss, you will need to have a comprehensive policy in place. Depending on the policy and provider, you may also want to make sure you have certain optional extras, like accident rental car hire, to make the transition period easier.
Secondly, providers generally only offer new-for-old replacements if your car was bought new and has only been driven for a certain period of time or under a certain distance limit (e.g. under two years or under 5,000km, whichever comes first).
Even then, your provider may place limits on the agreed upon market value of the original vehicle, so good luck if the price of your vehicle has been driven up by inflation.
However, let’s say your car is decently new and you have adequate cover in place. If Shazam throws it off a bridge, will you get a replacement?
It still depends. Why did Shazam throw your car? The destruction usually will need to fall under ‘Acts of God’, which are completely unpreventable, blameless, freak accidents of nature. These are usually included in most comprehensive car insurance policies.
Other acts of God include bushfires, floods, storms, and hail damage. So if a literal god crushes your car on accident and you have evidence to support your claim, you could be well placed to get a pay out.
But if said god was fighting a destructive battle against aliens? Well, that’s another matter entirely.
Scenario 3: Aliens invade New York
Alas, world-ending disasters are a blanket no-go for insurance, so if your car gets crushed by Thanos or blown into space by yet another sky-beam, you’re out of luck.
This is because the sheer volume and expenses of all the claims at once couldn’t be handled by any insurance provider.
Other unclaimable events include:
- War
- Invasion
- Acts of foreign enemies
- Civil war (sorry, Captain America)
- Revolution
- Riots
- Insurrections
- Military coups
- Nuclear apocalypse.
While it’s a bummer to contemplate, at least we can be grateful superheroes will always save the world. (Just not our cars).
How do insurance providers choose what to cover?
What goes into an insurance policy is at the discretion of the provider, but generally, providers want to offer inclusions that will be valuable to customers without eating into the insurance's risk and profit.
For example, when the COVID-19 pandemic first began taking off, a lot of travel insurance providers wouldn't reimburse medical or cancellation costs for ill travellers because it was such an unknown, expensive, and risky new thing at the time. Providers couldn't guarantee they'd make their money back, and no one was travelling at the time.
However, now that borders have reopened and travel has resumed, providers have begun offering COVID-19 inclusions in their policies because it's the sort of coverage customers need, and therefore will pay for.
Because of this line of thought, it's reasonable to assume that if we lived in a world where superheroes regularly wreaked havoc, insurance providers may write specific benefits and inclusions to compensate customers caught in the middle. After all, insurance is more about value than price.
Looking for a heroic amount of car insurance? Browse policies below.
You can also check out some award-winning providers or read up on how to keep your premiums cheap.
Compare car insurance policies and get quotes
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $400 - $2,500
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Youi like to get to know you from the very first conversation, which provides you with the opportunity to find comprehensive car insurance cover that could better suit your lifestyle and your needs. Because we’re all individuals, so we all use our cars differently from day-to-day. Youi is car insurance that’s a bit more you-shaped. Mozo People's Choice Excellent Customer Service Car Insurance award winner in 2024.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years and a listed driver is the first registered owner
- 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 $50 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- Unlisted and aged 25 and over: $700, Unlisted and aged under 25: $2,000, Listed and aged under 25: $600
- Roadside assistance
- Yes
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
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 Youi 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
ROLLiN’ offers affordable monthly comprehensive car insurance with its favourite extras included. 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).
- 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 after a covered event
- Rental car after accident
- Yes - Up to 21 days, max $80 per day after a covered event
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - one claim can be made per Insurance Period, with $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
- Optional benefit to boost the Single Car Value by 15%, it will be shown on your Insurance Certificate
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC NT TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
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
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $550 - $1,900 (varies By State)
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- No Claim Discount
- Online Discount 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.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Extra
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
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
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $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). Get $100 off your first year's premium when you buy Comprehensive Car Insurance online. T&Cs apply.
- 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
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
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
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $300 - $2,550
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- Online Discount $75
Comprehensive Car Insurance
QBE’s Comprehensive Car Insurance covers you for things like accident damage, fire and theft. Enjoy three year new car replacement. Get a hire car if you’re not at fault. Lifetime repair guarantee. Save $75 when you apply online.
- 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
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC NT TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
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 QBE Comprehensive Car Insurance
* 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