{"menuItems":[{"label":"Are there any cancellation fees?","anchorName":"#are-there-any-cancellation-fees"},{"label":"Fed up with your current insurer? Rather than cancelling, it could just be time to switch","anchorName":"#fed-up-with-your-current-insurer-rather-than-cancelling-it-could-just-be-time-to-switch"},{"label":"When will I not be able to cancel my policy?","anchorName":"#when-will-i-not-be-able-to-cancel-my-policy"},{"label":"What are the consequences of cancelling a policy early?","anchorName":"#what-are-the-consequences-of-cancelling-a-policy-early"},{"label":"Can I transfer car insurance policies to someone else?","anchorName":"#can-i-transfer-car-insurance-policies-to-someone-else"},{"label":"Can I transfer my policy to another car?","anchorName":"#can-i-transfer-my-policy-to-another-car"},{"label":"Can I just wait for my policy to lapse?","anchorName":"#can-i-just-wait-for-my-policy-to-lapse"},{"label":"What are the alternatives to cancelling my coverage?","anchorName":"#what-are-the-alternatives-to-cancelling-my-coverage"}]}
Cancelling your car insurance isn't hard. All you have to do is contact your insurer and tell them you want to cancel your policy. You'll usually have to serve out the rest of the month and pay a fee of $30-$40. But it's still better than sticking with an insurer that you're not a fan of.
Are there any cancellation fees?
It depends on the insurer. There may be some cancellation fees, however there may also be cancellation refunds for unused portions of your premium.
If you cancel within the cooling-off period (typically within 14 days of taking out a policy) and have not made any claims, you should be able to get a full refund minus various processing fees.
Look below for a list of cancellation fees and refunds that are available with different Australian insurers. Cancellation benefits vary from brand to brand. Always read through the product disclosure statement (PDS) to make sure the product is suitable for you.
If you've paid your premiums in advance, QBE will refund you the proportion of the premiums for the remaining period of insurance, less any administration fees.
If you cancel your policy, a portion of premium may be retained. A refund of the residual for the unexpired period, less the cancellation fee of $20 plus GST, the agency fee of $50 plus GST and any non-refundable government taxes or charges, provided that: no event has occurred where liability arises under the policy; and the residual amount is over $20.
Fed up with your current insurer? Rather than cancelling, it could just be time to switch
1 - 7 of 7
When will I not be able to cancel my policy?
There are no situations where you cannot cancel your policy. If you want to cancel your cover, an insurer cannot say no.
However, cancelling your policy doesn’t necessarily get you off the hook for any payments you owe to an insurer, and will not necessarily entitle you to any refund.
What are the consequences of cancelling a policy early?
The main downside of cancelling a policy early, other than losing your cover, is that you may not be getting everything you paid for and may need to pay additional cancellation fees.
But there are still valid reasons for doing so. You may consider canceling your cover if:
You’re selling or gifting the car, trading it in, moving overseas or for any reason don’t want to maintain your current car insurance.
Can I transfer car insurance policies to someone else?
Generally no. A new person will need to take out their own policy, so they can get their own pricing based on risk.
The exception is CTP insurance which can typically be transferred along with car registration in most states. For example, if you sell a car then you may be able to transfer over its current CTP insurance as well.
Can I transfer my policy to another car?
Yes. Many insurers will let you transfer your current policy to another car, although this may vary between insurers, and insurers are free to decline to cover your new car at their sole discretion.
If you do transfer your policy to another car you can expect your prices to change accordingly.
Generally insurers want to keep customers, so transferring your policy to another car can be done easily. Simply contact your insurer and ask.
Can I just wait for my policy to lapse?
Yes. Sometimes this may be the better option in order to avoid paying cancellation fees. But if you’re doing this you need to know whether or not your policy will automatically renew.
If it does then you may try asking your insurer to simply not renew it, or can remember to cancel your policy immediately before the renewal date.
Typically the cooling-off period also applies after renewals, as well as after taking out a new policy, so if you were caught by surprise with an automatic renewal you have a couple of weeks to cancel your policy for a full (minus administrative costs) refund.
What are the alternatives to cancelling my coverage?
If you want to switch car insurance, change your type of cover or otherwise discontinue your policy then cancelling is probably the way to go.
However, if you’re looking to reduce the cost of your current cover, or want to make adjustments, then you will not necessarily need to cancel it first. But depending on what you want to change, an insurer may tell you to cancel your current policy and then take out a new one with different terms.
Some of the things you may be able to change without cancelling your policy include:
Your cover options and extras
Your excess
Your sum insured
Your covered modifications and accessories
Other times, an insurer may be willing to waive your cancellation fee if you’re changing policies but not insurers. For example, if you want to upgrade from third party car insurance to comprehensive car insurance, an insurer may be happy to cancel your current policy and give you a new one without charging any fees.
Why you can trust Finder's car insurance experts
We're free
You pay the same as buying directly from the car insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site – plus, our tables make it easy to compare policies.
We're experts
Our team of car insurance experts have researched and rated dozens of policies as part of our Finder Awards and published 330+ guides to make it easier for you to compare.
We're independent
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of car insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2014, we've helped 300,000+ people find car insurance by explaining your cover options, simply and clearly. We'll never ask for your number or email. We're here to help you make a decision.
{"menuItems":[{"label":"Can you insure a car that isn't registered in your name in Australia?","anchorName":"#can-you-insure-a-car-that-isn-t-registered-in-your-name-in-australia"},{"label":"Insuring a car you own, in someone else's name","anchorName":"#insuring-a-car-you-own-in-someone-else-s-name"},{"label":"Buying insurance for a car that someone else owns","anchorName":"#buying-insurance-for-a-car-that-someone-else-owns"},{"label":"Young drivers looking to get on their parent's car insurance policy","anchorName":"#young-drivers-looking-to-get-on-their-parent-s-car-insurance-policy"},{"label":"Expert tips on getting a cheaper car insurance premium","anchorName":"#expert-tips-on-getting-a-cheaper-car-insurance-premium"},{"label":"What happens if an unlisted driver has an accident?","anchorName":"#what-happens-if-an-unlisted-driver-has-an-accident"},{"label":"What happens if I get car insurance under my parent\u2019s name, but I'm the main driver?","anchorName":"#what-happens-if-i-get-car-insurance-under-my-parent-s-name-but-i-m-the-main-driver"},{"label":"Compare your options","anchorName":"#compare-your-options"}]}
Millions of Australian motorists are putting lives at risk by multitasking behind the wheel, according to new research by Finder.
{"menuItems":[{"label":"Can you insure a car that isn't registered in your name in Australia?","anchorName":"#can-you-insure-a-car-that-isn-t-registered-in-your-name-in-australia"},{"label":"Insuring a car you own, in someone else's name","anchorName":"#insuring-a-car-you-own-in-someone-else-s-name"},{"label":"Buying insurance for a car that someone else owns","anchorName":"#buying-insurance-for-a-car-that-someone-else-owns"},{"label":"Young drivers looking to get on their parent's car insurance policy","anchorName":"#young-drivers-looking-to-get-on-their-parent-s-car-insurance-policy"},{"label":"Expert tips on getting a cheaper car insurance premium","anchorName":"#expert-tips-on-getting-a-cheaper-car-insurance-premium"},{"label":"What happens if an unlisted driver has an accident?","anchorName":"#what-happens-if-an-unlisted-driver-has-an-accident"},{"label":"What happens if I get car insurance under my parent\u2019s name, but I'm the main driver?","anchorName":"#what-happens-if-i-get-car-insurance-under-my-parent-s-name-but-i-m-the-main-driver"},{"label":"Compare your options","anchorName":"#compare-your-options"}]}
Woolworths is following a spate of providers and will lift their rate on Monday. Here is how they compare.
{"menuItems":[{"label":"Can you insure a car that isn't registered in your name in Australia?","anchorName":"#can-you-insure-a-car-that-isn-t-registered-in-your-name-in-australia"},{"label":"Insuring a car you own, in someone else's name","anchorName":"#insuring-a-car-you-own-in-someone-else-s-name"},{"label":"Buying insurance for a car that someone else owns","anchorName":"#buying-insurance-for-a-car-that-someone-else-owns"},{"label":"Young drivers looking to get on their parent's car insurance policy","anchorName":"#young-drivers-looking-to-get-on-their-parent-s-car-insurance-policy"},{"label":"Expert tips on getting a cheaper car insurance premium","anchorName":"#expert-tips-on-getting-a-cheaper-car-insurance-premium"},{"label":"What happens if an unlisted driver has an accident?","anchorName":"#what-happens-if-an-unlisted-driver-has-an-accident"},{"label":"What happens if I get car insurance under my parent\u2019s name, but I'm the main driver?","anchorName":"#what-happens-if-i-get-car-insurance-under-my-parent-s-name-but-i-m-the-main-driver"},{"label":"Compare your options","anchorName":"#compare-your-options"}]}
Australians are struggling to keep up with car maintenance and repairs due to the rising cost of living, according to new research by Finder, Australia's most visited comparison site.
Alexandra Koster is Finder's publisher for car, home and pet insurance. She has a Tier 1 certification in General Insurance, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Cultural Studies from the University of Sydney. Her hobbies include reading Product Disclosure Statements and deciphering complicated insurance lingo to help people save on their insurance so that they can spend their money on better things – like dogs.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan and read any disclosure documents (such as any Target Market Determination (TMD) and/or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)) issued by the provider before making a decision.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
