Complete guide to getting your car insured in the Northern Territory
Three steps to get insured in NT.
- Get Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance. In the Northern Territory, the cost of CTP car insurance is built into your registration costs each renewal.
- Choose your damage/liability cover. In addition to CTP cover, you should choose the type of damage and liability insurance that works for you.
- Compare and buy online. Once you have found the right policy, compare it with other options and buy online.
Whenever you register a vehicle in the NT, or renew your registration, the cost of CTP insurance is automatically built into the fee. This only covers you for the cost of medical expenses resulting from a car accident, and not for the cost of any property damage involved. For this, you will need liability and damage car insurance.
Compare comprehensive policies from Australian brands
What types of car insurance can I get in NT?
Find the right policy for your situation by selecting an option that strikes an appropriate balance between affordability and cover offered.
| Third party property | Third party property, fire and theft | Comprehensive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal liability | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Protection for your car | No | Cover for fire damage and theft | Comprehensive protection from many forms of damage |
- Personal liability. If you damage someone else’s property, such as a car or a house, in the course of an accident, it’s referred to as a personal liability cost because you are personally liable for it. This expense is covered by all types of car insurance except CTP.
- Protection for your car. Your policy type determines your level of protection. Third party property only policies do not typically offer any cover for your car, while fire and theft policies only cover fire damage and stolen cars. Comprehensive policies will cover the cost of most damage that may befall your vehicle.
How much will it generally cost?
Your car insurance premiums are affected by how likely you are to make a claim. The more likely this is, the more expensive your car insurance will generally be. Factors like age, your driving record, the type of car you drive and many more are all taken into consideration.
- CTP. All CTP insurance in the NT costs the same
- Policy type. The cost of car insurance in the Northern Territory varies depending on policy type, vehicle insured, location and your individual circumstances. Comprehensive insurance is naturally more expensive than basic cover.
- Stamp duty. Different financial services, including car insurance, are taxed at different levels around Australia. This is known as stamp duty, and for car insurance in NT, it’s set at 10% of the premiums paid. This is typically added to the cost of the insurance.
Northern Territory car theft statistics
According to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC), counting thefts per registrations, the Northern Territory has a national high of 6.09 cars stolen per 1,000 registrations.
The total car thefts numbered 981, or a 1.9% share of national thefts during 2017.
The five most common car theft areas
- Darwin City (432)
- Palmerston (166)
- Alice Springs Town (149)
- Litchfield Municipality (79)
- Katherine Town (44)
All of the top five crime hotspots in the Northern Territories actually experienced lowering car crime rates versus 2016. Overall car theft dropped 9.8%. Crime is heading back toward 2013 levels.
The most likely time to have a vehicle stolen is on a Monday from 20:00 - 23:59. Friday, Saturdays and Sundays see the most vehicles taken.
Utes dominated the top three theft targets, with the Toyota Hilux claiming first and second place. The Toyota Landcruiser 70 closed out the top three.
What car insurers can I access in NT?
Use the finder.com.au car insurance panel to compare options from some of the top providers, including the following:
Australia Post
Australia Post can offer Territorians a way to combine value and cover with policies that include various extras. Bonuses, such as restricted driver discounts and others, are available with all policies.
Australia Post is worth considering if you’re looking for a number of options associated with your policy, or if you want the advantages offered by Australia Post Gold Comprehensive car insurance.
QBE
QBE car insurance delivers more value through usability. It comes with options like excess-free windscreen and glass protection, a protected no-claims bonus you can retain in the event of an accident and cover for personal effects kept in the car.
You can also choose your own repairer with any policy. Car lovers, and those who want insurance they can use, will want to look at QBE policies.
Youi
You don’t want to pay for cover you don’t need and a highly customisable policy can help you achieve this. Youi allows you to tailor a policy to suit your needs and to save more.
If you already know what type of car insurance extras you’d like and want an insurer who may have it, or conversely already know what you don’t want, it is worth going to Youi.
Woolworths
Woolworths is one of few insurers that’s willing and able to offer price matching. Simply provide a written quote for a competitor’s equivalent comprehensive insurance policy, and see if you can get a preferable deal. In addition, extra benefits like discounts, are available to eligible customers.
If you’re willing to go above and beyond for lower prices, or think you’ll be hunting discounts and earning rewards, it will be worth considering Woolworths car insurance.
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