Car insurance in Australia

Finding the best car insurance often comes down to knowing what you’re really looking at. This quick guide will walk you through how it all works, so you know exactly what to look for when it’s time to compare policies.

A car insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance provider. You pay the premium, the provider covers you for damages covered under your policy.

In Australia, you'll generally come across four types of car insurance, and each covers you for different vehicle-related incidents.

Here are the main types of car insurance:

• Compulsory third party (CTP). Also called a green slip, CTP is mandatory in all states. This at-fault driver’s CTP insurance will cover the medical costs of anyone injured in the accident.
• Comprehensive. An optional policy you can add your CTP. It provides the most extensive coverage, including accidental damage, theft and liability for injury to other people or property.
• Third-party fire and theft (TPFT). The next highest level of car insurance, covering you for damage to other people's cars and property, as well as your own car if it's stolen or catches on fire.
• Third-party property (TPP). The lowest-tier option is third-party property only. It covers the damage that your car causes to other peoples' car or property.

When you take out a car insurance policy, the insurer will offer two methods for the valuation of your car/vehicle:

• Agreed value. A fixed dollar amount. In the event of a total loss, you'll get exactly that agreed amount. With agreed value, you don't have to worry about the car's value dropping over time. These policies usually cost a bit more and they work well for brand new cars and cars you still owe money on.
• Market value. The market value of your car. Here, you'll usually get less due to depreciation; insurers consider things like your car's age, kilometres, overall condition, and RedBook value. These are often cheaper to start with, but just remember, your payout will likely go down over time.

Yes, you need a basic type of car insurance across Australia if you want to legally drive and register your car. This covers injuries or death you might cause to other people in an accident. It's broadly known as Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance.

While most states call it CTP, its specific name and how you get it can change depending on the state or territory. For instance, you'll know it as Motor Accident Injuries (MAI) Insurance in the ACT, or the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) charge in Victoria. 

Either way, CTP only covers personal injuries – it won't cover damage to your car or other people's property. For that, you'll need additional cover like third party property damage or comprehensive. These extra covers are optional, unless you owe money on the car, in which case your lender might require it.

Generally, yes, your car insurance policy will be valid anywhere you drive in Australia. This goes for all the main types of cover like CTP, third party property, and comprehensive insurance.

However, if you go somewhere and then decide to never leave, it will be time to update your residential address with your insurer. If you don't and then make a claim, the insurer will investigate, and if it looks like you've permanently moved without telling them, it could affect your cover. It's always a good idea to quickly check your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for any specific exclusions or limits, especially with any major life changes.

While Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance is technically the cheapest, it’s also mandatory and only covers injuries to others. 

For vehicle-related coverage, your choices are third-party property (TPP), third-party fire and theft (TPFT), and comprehensive insurance. In absolute terms, for the same driver driving the same car, TPP is cheapest, followed by TPFT, then comprehensive.

Working out how you can land cheaper car insurance starts with understanding what exactly influences premiums. Some factors are within your control, and others are not. 

These factors fall into three categories: 

• Situational factors. These things like your age, gender and location. Some of these are completely out of your hands and others would require major lifestyle changes. 
• Behavioural factors. These are based on your driving habits. Think claims history and how much you drive per year. You have a bit of control over these factors, but again, they’d require a longer-term approach and the savings wouldn’t necessarily flow through straight away.
• Policy choices. These are the levers you can pull right away to bring your premium down.

Owning your car can trim your insurance costs since insurers often see car owners as lower-risk. You also have the freedom to choose less expensive coverage when there's no lender involved. Just remember, your final premium also factors in your car type, driving history, parking habits and more.

The way you respond after an accident plays a key role in all the investigations, reports, negotiations and settlements that follow.

That’s where documentation is of utmost importance. It helps you back-up your claims and it helps your insurance company advocate on your behalf in potential disputes over who’s at fault.

• Documenting a car accident. In any accident, your fault or not, you need to take proper precautions to avoid further damage and to document everything. Our handy guide on what to do after a car accident explains how to go about documenting the evidence you need following an accident.     
• Documenting weather-related damage. If you’re covered for weather-related damage, take pictures of the damage and jot down any weather events for that location and time.    
• Documenting theft. If someone steals your car, go straight to the police and file a report. Then contact your insurance and await further instructions from both.

Your policy may have separate conditions for minor mishaps (eg, a pebble cracks your windshield). Your PDS should explain what to do in these situations. Or call your insurance company directly.

To make a car insurance claim, you start by letting your insurer know about the incident. You'll fill out their claim form and provide any documents they ask for. While you can usually do this online or by email, it's a good idea to call your insurer first, especially if it's a major accident. They can open your claim right away, give you a case number, and tell you the best way to send in your information.

Once you've submitted everything, your insurer will look into what happened. They'll check the evidence and assess the damage. Then, they'll decide whether to approve or deny your claim based on what your policy covers.

If your claim is denied or you don't agree with their decision, you have two ways to appeal:

• Internal appeals process. Contact your insurer's internal disputes resolution department. You can find details on how to do this in your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).
• Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). If the internal appeal doesn't resolve the issue, AFCA offers a free and independent complaints service. Just make sure you have all your evidence ready.

Engine failure and other mechanical issues generally aren't covered by your typical car insurance policy unless it‘s the result of damage covered under your claim (like an accident).

That's because it’s often chalked up to normal wear and tear, which insurance doesn't touch.

However, if you have a car under warranty, you might be able to get the engine failure sorted through that avenue. Always read the terms of your warranty and car insurance PDS to know exactly what's covered and what's not.

Yes, car insurance can cover theft, but it depends on your policy type. Both comprehensive and third-party fire & theft policies typically cover your car if it's stolen. Basic third-party property or CTP policies generally won't cover your own car if it's stolen.

Only comprehensive car insurance policies will typically cover the costs of a hire car after an accident. Most of these policies offer this cover as standard for incidents where you're not at fault, meaning your insurer will often sort out a rental car for you while yours is being fixed, usually for a limited number of days.

For accidents where you are at fault, this cover is usually an optional add-on you can choose to include with your comprehensive policy. Some higher-tier comprehensive policies might even offer it as a standard feature. If you have this cover, it means your insurer will cover the cost of a rental car while yours is being repaired or replaced after an incident your policy covers.

Yes, if you have comprehensive car insurance, it will typically cover damage from hitting a kangaroo or any other poor critter. This kind of incident falls under ‘impact’ damage. However, third-party property, third-party fire and theft, or CTP policies won't cover damage to your own car in this situation.

Typically, your standard car insurance policy doesn't cover the excess you'd pay on a rental car. However, you can often buy specific rental car excess insurance from the rental company itself, or sometimes a travel insurance policy might include it.

Multi-car insurance is when you insure more than one car on a single policy with the same company. The big perk is usually a discount for bundling them together, which can save you money compared to insuring each car separately. It also makes things simpler to manage.

Pay-as-you-drive car insurance (PAYD), also known as pay-as-you-go (PAYG) or pay-per-kilometre, means your premium is based on how much you actually drive. If you don't use your car often, like for short trips or just on weekends, this could be a good option.

For most of these policies, you'll just tell them your estimated annual kilometres upfront. They don't usually track your day-to-day driving, but if you need to make a claim, they'll likely check your odometer against what you said - meaning it’s best to be honest with your estimate. Currently, there's only one insurer in Australia that literally charges you per kilometre using smart tracking devices.

If you're using your car for work, you might be able to claim some of your car insurance on your taxes. To do that, you'll need to figure out what percentage of your driving is for work and what's just for fun.

You can either keep a logbook of your work trips and mileage or use the cents-per-kilometre method that the ATO outlines. When in doubt, check the ATO website for the specifics on how to make it all legit.

It can be frustrating when your car insurance premium increases annually. A few things typically cause this. Often, it's due to the rising cost of repairs (parts, labour, and tech in cars) and more overall claims for insurers. 

Your own situation changes too; even as your car ages, certain risks might go up. Also, insurers might adjust prices based on things like your age, driving record, or location changes. Sometimes, it's just that new customers get better deals, so it's always worth shopping around.

No, your own car insurance typically won’t cover you to drive someone else's car. However, that person’s policy should cover you as long as you have permission to drive the vehicle. 

Keep in mind that the car’s owner may have to pay an 'unlisted driver' excess if you're not listed on their policy and cause an accident. If you drive someone else's car regularly, ask them  to list you on their policy to avoid those extra fees.

Car insurance is mainly about giving you peace of mind and protecting you financially from huge, unexpected costs. The main benefit is covering damages. If you're in an accident, your policy can cover damage to your car (depending on your cover) and, importantly, damage you cause to others' cars or property. It also helps with costs if your car is stolen or vandalised. Essentially, it saves you from massive out-of-pocket expenses.

Getting insurance for a used car (or second-hand car) is very common. The main thing to consider is its value; you'll choose between market value (what it's currently worth) or agreed value (a fixed amount you agree on). 

It's important to know that you'll be required to be upfront about any existing damage, as insurance won't cover it. That's why it's a good idea to check the car's history for past issues like being written off or having finance owing before buying a second-hand car you wish to insure.

Finally, you'll pick your policy type. If your car is a newer model requiring a significant investment, a higher policy like comprehensive makes more sense compared to just insuring a ‘beater’ where you might choose third party fire and theft or simply third party property based on how much protection you truly want.

Short-term car insurance isn’t really a product you can just buy off the shelf from insurers. Instead, you'll usually need to look at a few workarounds to get covered without a long-term commitment.

For example, you can take out a standard policy with monthly payments and then cancel it once you no longer need it (just check for cancellation fees). You could also explore pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) car insurance if you don't drive much, which bases your premium on your mileage. If you're driving someone else's car, you might already be covered under their existing policy as an unlisted driver, or you could simply hire a rental car which usually comes with its own insurance options.