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Car insurance premium increases Australia
Car insurance premiums have increased by an average of 20% in just under 4 years, according to Finder research.
Car insurance hasn't been immune to the impact of high inflation. In fact, Finder research has found that car insurance premiums have increased by an average of 10.6% in the last 12 months and 19.8% since the beginning of 2021, rising faster than the overall rate of inflation.
While the official inflation rate hit a 30-year high of 7.8% in the December 2022 quarter, it looks to be slowly coming down.
The same can't generally be said for insurance though. Insurance and financial service costs were up a whopping 8.6% in the latest quarterly ABS inflation report.
Key statistics
Car insurance premiums have increased by an average of 10.6% in the last 12 months and 19.8% since 2021.
Car insurance premiums in Queensland have gone up the most – 25% since 2021.
In the last 12 months though, the biggest increase has been in Victoria (16.7%).
Our research is based on Finder Awards data going back to 2021. We got quotes from 26 comprehensive car insurance policy providers based on 36 driver profiles across all major states. Keep in mind, while our research was extensive, prices may differ based on various circumstances such as your age, gender and the car you drive.
Car insurance premium increases over time
Car insurance premiums have increased by an average of 10.6% in the last 12 months. Since early 2021, they've increased by nearly 20%.
Queensland has seen the biggest increase in car insurance premiums overall. This is largely due to the fact it has been heavily impacted by severe weather, including the South East Queensland floods, over the last few years. However, in the last 12 months, car insurance costs in Victoria have gone up the most.
Like many other goods and services, the cost of car insurance has been increasing due to very high inflation.
However, higher premiums are also being impacted by the increase in natural disasters such as bushfires, cyclones and floods. Australians are paying more "even if the area hasn't been specifically affected by recent disasters," AFCA says.
In 2022, the Insurance Council of Australia reported that there were more than 302,000 disaster-related claims lodged from 4 declared insurance events across the country. It cost $7.28 billion in insured losses.
The majority of these losses ($6 billion) were from the Northern New South Wales and South East Queensland floods. This was the costliest insured event ever recorded in Australia and the second costliest in the world in 2022.
Global events, such as Hurricane Ian in Florida, have also contributed to rising reinsurance costs which reached a 20-year high in the 2022–23 financial period. The impact on Australian insurers has been cost increases of up to 20–30%.
Thankfully, cost increases have slowed in 2023. The September 2023 quarterly growth rate was 0.5%, the smallest lift since the 3 months to June 2019. As a result of all this, insurers have increased their prices and the average Australian is paying more for their car insurance now than ever before. There currently is no cap on how much insurers can increase their prices. Insurers are generally able to charge what they want. Premium increases are typically not open to review by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
How to save on your car insurance
Don't just settle for the insurer you know
In our research of 26 comprehensive car insurance policies, we found a $1,871 difference between the cheapest and most expensive providers. Make sure you compare quotes from at least 4 brands to find a better deal.
Choose a higher excess
In return, your insurer will offer you a lower premium. Just make sure you can afford to pay the excess.
Restrict drivers
This is a good option if you're over 25. Many policies lower your premiums by restricting your policy to drivers over a certain age.
Low kilometre benefits
Many insurers, including Budget Direct, AAMI and Everyday, will lower your premiums if you drive less. There are also some insurers, such as KOBA car insurance, that let you pay by kilometre.
Discounts
Discounts can lower costs but insurers will often increase prices after 12 months – so don't automatically renew until you've shopped around.
Review annually
As car insurance costs continue to soar, it's the renewing customers that tend to get hit hardest. Make sure you review your policy every year to find the best car insurance for your needs and avoid big price increases.
Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
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