Everything you need to know about car insurance quotes

If it’s your first time searching for a car insurance quote, or if you just want to brush up on what to look out for, understanding the car insurance quote process will give you an edge when comparing policies.
There’s a general process to getting a car insurance quote, which includes:
- Choosing a type of car insurance
- Choosing some optional extras
- Shopping around for deals
- Securing quotes from car insurance providers
- Deciding which policy is best for you.
But before we get into the mechanics of choosing a car insurance policy, a brief overview of what an insurance quote actually is, and how you can use it to help your decision making process.
What is an insurance quote?
An insurance quote is an estimate from an insurance provider of how much you’re likely to pay for your policy and what might be included. They aren’t final figures, but are usually a good indication of the insurance premium you’ll need to pay for it.
The quotes are calculated based on the information you give to the policy provider. So, if you want a clearer picture of the insurance costs and coverage, then it’s within your interest to provide the right details when applying for a quote.
Insurance quotes aren’t a contract, so it’s a good idea to shop around and make sure you’re getting what you need from a provider. Don’t feel obligated to choose the first policy that’s handed to you.
How to get a car insurance quote
These days, getting a quote for a car insurance policy can be done completely online. But before you launch headfirst into a quote-frenzy, consider which type of car insurance is best for you.
Choose a type of car insurance
The three main types of car insurance are:
- Compulsory third-party (CTP)
- Third-party property
- Comprehensive.
Compulsory third-party (CTP) is a minimum legal requirement, but it differs in scope and price depending on where you live in Australia. It’s the most basic insurance for your car, which only provides cover for injuries to yourself, passengers, and other drivers. It protects you from financial liability.
Third-party property car insurance is your mid-level type of insurance, which covers damage to others’ cars or property, up to an agreed-upon amount. You might also be able to secure cover fire and theft, among other add-ons, for an additional premium.
Comprehensive car insurance is the big-league. As the name suggests, it usually comes with a lot more bells and whistles than the minimum CTP and third-party property policies. Some of the benefits you’ll generally see include:
- Accidental damage caused by you (for your own vehicle, other drivers’ vehicles, and property)
- Weather events (hail, storm, flooding, and fire)
- Theft and attempted theft
- Vandalism and malicious damage
- Some modifications
- Emergency repairs (up to a certain amount)
- Car hire (often only available in some circumstances)New-for-old replacement car (with age and kilometre conditions)
- Towing costs after an accident
- Accomodation and travel costs after an accident.
While you’re usually getting a lot more out of a comprehensive policy, your premium will be higher than the other two types of insurance. That’s why it’s important to consider your options, read the PDS, and compare the quotes you receive from providers before you make up your mind.
Choose your optional extras
Some third-party and comprehensive policies include more than others as standard. But many car insurance providers will offer optional extras which you can add on to your policy to tailor it to your needs.
These will increase the premium you pay, but it may be cheaper than having to front the entire cost if something happens to your vehicle.
Optional extras can include:
- Malicious damage and vandalism (usually a comprehensive basic)
- Natural disasters like flood and hail
- Fire and theft (usually a comprehensive basic)
- Choice of repairer
- Lifetime guarantee on repairs
- Emergency repair (usually a comprehensive basic)
- 24-hour roadside assistance
- Excess-free windscreen repair
- Rental car if car after an incident (post-theft, usually a comprehensive basic)
- Multiple drivers.
Shop around for deals
Before you request quotes from any old insurance provider, we recommend doing a little research to narrow down your focus.
Compare car insurance policies with Mozo to see features and discount offers before clicking to get a personalised online quote for your car.
You’ll be able to quickly see what comprehensive car insurance providers offer, including: premium payments options, choice of repairer, excess payment options, agreed or market value vehicle valuations, or any other important features or discounts.
Secure some quotes from car insurance providers
After you’ve had a look at Mozo’s car insurance comparison table and found some policies that spark your interest, you can simply click through to the provider’s site and get the quote process underway.
The sorts of questions you can be expected to answer when requesting a quote might include:
- What car you are insuring (make, model, year, modifications, etc.)
- Questions about who drives the car
- Your age and gender
- How you use your car
- Where you usually park it
- What area you park in overnight (e.g. a high crime-rate area may increase your premium)
- Questions about the insured driver’s driving and claims history.
These questions help car insurance providers to make a risk-assessment and provide you with an estimate of how much you might have to pay to be insured by a specific provider. The providers are trying to strike a balance between competitive pricing and value, and the financial risk posed to them by insuring someone’s vehicle.
Decide which policy is best for you
Once you’ve received quotes from the car insurance providers you’re comparing, don’t just go for the cheapest one. While price is a big consideration for many, try to work out which one suits your circumstances and needs the best by considering:
- What you could be covered for
- How much excess you might need to pay
- If the optional extras are suitable for you
- If the PDS has any exclusions which trouble you.
After you’ve considered those factors, then you can make your choice with at least a little more confidence than when you started.
Check some of the latest deals in Mozo’s car insurance database below!
Compare comprehensive car insurance - 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
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 backed by QBE. Purchase a new comprehensive car insurance policy from Stella by 31st July 2022 and receive a $100 EGift Card. To redeem enter STELLA100 at checkout. 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. 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
- Receive a $100 eGift card for new Comprehensive Car Insurance policies purchased from Stella by 31st July 2022. To redeem enter STELLA100 at checkout.
- 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. Buy now and boost your single car value under your policy by 15%. Excesses Apply.
- 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
- Optional benefit to boost the Single Car Value by 15%, it will be shown on your Insurance Certificate
- 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 - $2,500
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- 20% Discount On Contents Insurance If Youi Car Insurance Also Held
Comprehensive Car Insurance
When change happens to you, like a new or used car, think Youi - a car insurer that’s all about you and where your life’s at right now. Start a quote with Youi today to see what you could save. Mozo People’s Choice Most Recommended Car Insurance award winner in 2021^.
- 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 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- Yes for drivers under 25 years old - amount varies per policy
- Roadside assistance
- Yes
- 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 Youi Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- No
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $5,000
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- Online Discount 10%
- Up To 15% Promotional Discount Consisting Of: 5% First Year Discount, 5% For Online Applicants, 5% Discount If You Exclude Drivers Under 25
- Drive Less Pay Less Option To Reduce Premiums For Limited Kilometres.
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Take advantage of Woolworth's Price Beat on any comparable Comprehensive renewal notice if you're over 25. Buy online and you could save up to 15% on your premium. Features Drive Less, Pay Less to reduce premiums. Get a quote today. Winner in Exceptional Value Car Insurance Award 2020.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days, max $50 per day.
- Rental car after accident
- Optional Extra. Up to 14 days, max $50 per day.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce excess for first front windscreen claim each year to $0 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $1,200 for listed drivers under 21, $800 for listed drivers between 21 and 25, $2,000 for unlisted drivers under 21, $1,600 for unlisted drivers between 21 and 25, $800 for inexperienced drivers over 25, $800 for learner drivers.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Service - $88 a year with a new Car Insurance policy
- Other benefits
- 10% off grocery shop once a month, up to $500, conditions apply.
- 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 Woolworths Comprehensive Car Insurance