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Compulsory third party insurance
If you’re in QLD or NSW you need to take out compulsory third party insurance (greenslip) before registering your car. In others, it's included in your registration fees.
Compulsory third party (CTP) car insurance, sometimes known as a green slip, protects you from legal and medical costs arising from injuries and deaths caused by car accidents.
CTP insurance is compulsory in Australia. You cannot register your vehicle without it.
Only 6 insurance companies in Australia are licensed to provide CTP insurance. Of these, 4 have the option of additional at-fault cover.
Compulsory third party insurance provides cover for compensation costs to people injured or killed in an accident involving your vehicle. This can include you (the driver of the vehicle), other drivers (including cyclists and motorcyclists), passengers and pedestrians.
The type of compensation available covers both economic and non-economic loss, meaning that hospital, medical and rehabilitation expenses as well as loss of income will be covered, as is pain, suffering and loss of quality of life.
You can generally receive medical expenses for up to 6 months, as well as attendant care if you need help around the home while you recover.
If your injury is more serious, and you were not mostly at fault, you can claim benefits for longer than the 6 months.
In Queensland, you need to take out CTP insurance before registering your car. There are currently 6 private car insurance companies to choose from: Allianz, QBE, RACQ and Suncorp.
New South Wales
In New South Wales, you need to get your CTP insurance ('greenslip') before registering your car with a private insurer. There are currently 6 available: Youi, AAMI, GIO, Allianz, NRMA and QBE.
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT Motor Accident Injuries (MAI) insurance scheme replaced CTP insurance on 1 February 2020. MAI must be paid at the same time as car registration. There are currently 4 licensed private insurers to choose from: NRMA, GIO, AAMI and APIA.
Victoria
In Victoria, you pay for your rego and CTP together. The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) is the only insurer under the scheme.
Tasmania
CTP is included in your car registration in Tasmania. There are no private insurers in Tasmania so you don't need to choose a CTP provider.
South Australia
The CTP insurance scheme in South Australia was opened up to private insurers in July 2016. You will have to choose from 4 private insurers: AAMI, Allianz, QBE or SGIC.
Western Australia
In WA, there's only 1 CTP insurance provider: the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA). Cover is automatically included when you pay for your car rego.
Northern Territory
CTP insurance is included in your registration in the Northern Territory and administered by the Territory Insurance Office (TIO) so you don't need to worry about choosing between specific CTP insurers.
Finder survey: Have many Australians have claimed on their CTP insurance?
Response
No
82.95%
Yes
17.05%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023
Can I switch my CTP insurer? What's the process like?
It depends where you live. In Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia or the ACT you're able to choose your own CTP insurance provider.
When your renewal date gets near, you'll be sent a renewal notice by your current insurer. It'll show you a renewal price they've set for the next 12 months. However, you don't need to renew with them.
By using a green slips calculator, you have the option to look and see who provides the best option for you. These calculators let you compare prices side-by-side.
Note – CTP prices in Queensland are the same.
However, in all other states or territories of Australia, CTP's offered by a state-owned or government-licensed insurance provider.
Keen to learn more? Find out how car insurance works
Remember, if you're involved an accident, CTP won't cover you for any damage caused to you or anyone else’s car or property – but comprehensive car insurance will.
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Frequently asked questions about CTP and green slip insurance
CTP insurance is compulsory so that compensation for loss isn't dependent on the income of the person who was at-fault. It ensures that people are fairly compensated for their injuries.
In NSW and Queensland, you need to take out CTP insurance before you can register your vehicle. In the ACT, you will need Motor Accident Injuries (MAI) Insurance which provides similar cover to CTP insurance. MAI is included with your registration fee paid to Access Canberra. In all other states (VIC, TAS, NT, SA and WA) it's included in your registration.
CTP insurance is a legal requirement; third party car insurance is optional. While CTP covers you for compensation payments if you injure or kill someone in a vehicle accident, third party car insurance covers you for damage to other people's vehicles and property.
Drivers in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the ACT are able to choose their own CTP insurance provider.
CTP insurance covers you in any state, anywhere in Australia.
Your CTP green slip premium is calculated based on a number of factors such as:
Your location and vehicle type
Your accident history
How old all the regular drivers of your vehicle are
How old your vehicle is
Whether you have comprehensive property insurance or third party property insurance
Whether your vehicle is being used for personal or business purposes
Whether you are renewing CTP or purchasing a new poli
Comprehensive car insurance isn't compulsory like CTP insurance. However, if you want to be covered for damage to your own car then you will need to get comprehensive car insurance.
If you think you may have purchased a fake green slip, you can confirm its authenticity by checking with the insurance company named on it. The six licensed CTP insurance companies are AAMI, Allianz, GIO, NRMA, Youi and QBE.
Most vehicles need to be registered and covered by CTP insurance, including mopeds and tricycles, in most states. There are only a couple of exceptions. In New South Wales for example, some motorised scooters and wheelchairs are exempt from registration and do not need CTP insurance, provided they weigh less than 110kg and their speed is no greater than 10 km/h.
Yes, but only if you have a light vehicle (with GVM less than 4.5 tonnes). This can include ordinary cars and motorcycles. You can usually choose a 6-month term as long as you pay for the CTP Insurance and registration within 21 days of the due date. If you don't pay it within this time, you can only choose the 12-month period, unless you have a valid reason.
If you're a pensioner and receive free vehicle registration, you might also be able to get automatic registration renewal. To be eligible, you'll generally need to hold a valid pension concession card, have paid your CTP insurance, have no restrictions on your driver's licence and get your pink slip (safety inspection) if your registration renewal requires an inspection. Your inspection report generally needs to be submitted electronically for you to be able to renew automatically, depending on the state you're in.
CTP insurance is linked to the vehicle, not the owner, so when you buy a vehicle your CTP travels with the vehicle. If you buy a used car which is already registered, make sure the registration is transferred to you. You then shouldn't need to buy a new green slip for the used car until the current registration expires.
After you submit a CTP claim, the insurer should let you know that your claim has been received and provide you with a claim number. It is required to tell you whether it will accept liability within 3 months of receiving your claim, though it can take up to 18 months or longer to be resolved depending on the severity of your injuries or if you're unhappy with the CTP insurer's decision.
Yes, you can get a refund for CTP insurance if you cancel the registration of your vehicle and you get confirmation in a letter from the state. You can then show this to your insurer and they can refund you the unused portion of the insurance. Depending on the insurer, you might get hit with an administration fee.
When you buy your green slip all insurance companies will inform the RTA electronically. If you buy your green slip direct from the insurance company, it takes about one hour for the company to inform the RTA. If you are working with an insurance agent or broker, then you will have to ask them how long it will take for the RTA to be notified.
Generally, no – you can only change your CTP provider at the commencement of each rego period.
An e-green slip simply refers to the RTA being informed electronically by the insurance companies of the purchase of a green slip.
The law states that the price for a CTP green slip from a certain insurance company has to be the same no matter where it is being procured from. So, you will pay the same amount, whether you are getting it from the company or from an agent. As long as the price of the CTP green slip has been calculated correctly according to your personal information and vehicle type, the price of this insurance policy should be identical, irrespective of whether you are buying it from the insurer or an agent or broker.
eSafety Checks were previously referred to as Pink Slips and represent the report detailing the safety inspection of your vehicle. An eSafety Check is mandatory if you want to renew your vehicle registration.
Gary Ross Hunter was 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). See full bio
Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 725 Finder guides across topics including:
James Martin was the insurance editor at Finder. He has written on a range of insurance and finance topics for over 7 years. James often shares his insurance expertise as a media spokesperson and has appeared on Prime 7 News, WIN News, Insurance News, 7NEWS and The Guardian. He holds a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, both of which meet the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
James's expertise
James has written 255 Finder guides across topics including:
How do I find the best insurance for a Mercedes sprinter mobile home?
Finder
JoshuaFebruary 17, 2019Finder
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
While we currently don’t have a specific page for Mercedes sprinter mobile homes, our list of trailer insurance might cover your mobile home. You can compare quotes from different insurers by pressing the ‘Get Quote’ button. You’ll also find useful information about how to find the right insurance for you on that page.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
AdamOctober 27, 2018
Hey i need a wrx insurance
NikkiOctober 27, 2018
Hi Adam,
Thanks for visiting our page.
You may refer to our list of car insurance to compare quotes from different insurers. As a friendly reminder, carefully review the Product Disclosure Statement of the product before applying. You may also contact the insurance provider should you have any questions about their policy.
Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.
Cheers,
Nikki
jamieFebruary 8, 2018
a council bus swiped my park car. i paid the excess and higher car as i could not drive the car from the damage. im out of pocket $1200 am i allowed to be reimbursed this money through my insurance company from there insurance company?
AshMarch 1, 2018
Hi Jamie,
Thank you for reaching out to us.
As to whether you’re entitled to a reimbursement, that will depend on the type of policy you have. For instance, compulsory third-party (CTP) car insurance can only cover the injuries caused by the accident but not for the damages incurred in the vehicle or property.
I suggest you refer to your policy or contact your insurer directly if you’re still unsure of your coverage. Meanwhile, you can go through our step-by-step guide on things to do after a car accident.
I hope this helps.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us again if you have additional questions.
Cheers,
Ash
JohnJuly 19, 2015
I am a temporary resident. Can I claim MCIS Levies (part of CTP payment ) on my personal tax return?
Finder
RichardJuly 20, 2015Finder
Hi John,
Thanks for your question.
For any tax or financial advice, you should consult a licensed professional. I am unaware of a situation where you can claim a deduction for MCIS Levies. However, if you’ve canceled your vehicle’s registration, you may be entitled to a partial refund. If you would like to know more, please refer to the Motor Accident Guidelines.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
emmaJune 30, 2015
Do i need a greenslip and third party insurance or are these the same thing?
Finder
RichardJune 30, 2015Finder
Hi Emma,
Thanks for your question. It depends on the type of third party insurance. A Greenslip is also called Compulsory Third Party or CTP insurance. However, there is also Third Party Property Damage (also known as TPPD) and Third Party Property Damage Fire and Theft (also known as TPPFF&T), which are different, non-compulsory, types of car insurance.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
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You pay nothing. Finder is free to use. And you pay the same as going direct. No markups, no hidden fees.
You save time. We spend 100s of hours researching car insurance so you can sort the gold from the junk faster.
You can trust us. We say it like it is. We aren't owned by an insurer and our opinions are our own.
How do I find the best insurance for a Mercedes sprinter mobile home?
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
While we currently don’t have a specific page for Mercedes sprinter mobile homes, our list of trailer insurance might cover your mobile home. You can compare quotes from different insurers by pressing the ‘Get Quote’ button. You’ll also find useful information about how to find the right insurance for you on that page.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Hey i need a wrx insurance
Hi Adam,
Thanks for visiting our page.
You may refer to our list of car insurance to compare quotes from different insurers. As a friendly reminder, carefully review the Product Disclosure Statement of the product before applying. You may also contact the insurance provider should you have any questions about their policy.
Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.
Cheers,
Nikki
a council bus swiped my park car. i paid the excess and higher car as i could not drive the car from the damage. im out of pocket $1200 am i allowed to be reimbursed this money through my insurance company from there insurance company?
Hi Jamie,
Thank you for reaching out to us.
As to whether you’re entitled to a reimbursement, that will depend on the type of policy you have. For instance, compulsory third-party (CTP) car insurance can only cover the injuries caused by the accident but not for the damages incurred in the vehicle or property.
I suggest you refer to your policy or contact your insurer directly if you’re still unsure of your coverage. Meanwhile, you can go through our step-by-step guide on things to do after a car accident.
I hope this helps.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us again if you have additional questions.
Cheers,
Ash
I am a temporary resident. Can I claim MCIS Levies (part of CTP payment ) on my personal tax return?
Hi John,
Thanks for your question.
For any tax or financial advice, you should consult a licensed professional. I am unaware of a situation where you can claim a deduction for MCIS Levies. However, if you’ve canceled your vehicle’s registration, you may be entitled to a partial refund. If you would like to know more, please refer to the Motor Accident Guidelines.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
Do i need a greenslip and third party insurance or are these the same thing?
Hi Emma,
Thanks for your question. It depends on the type of third party insurance. A Greenslip is also called Compulsory Third Party or CTP insurance. However, there is also Third Party Property Damage (also known as TPPD) and Third Party Property Damage Fire and Theft (also known as TPPFF&T), which are different, non-compulsory, types of car insurance.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard