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QBE car insurance review

Green Company

QBE car insurance is a back-to-back winner in the Finder Green Awards. It offers competitive cover limits and a standout new car replacement period of up to 3 years.

4.6 ★★★★★ (5 reviews) Write a review
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Car insurance offers essential financial protection against a wide range of risks on the road. With a history stretching back more than 125 years, QBE is a name you can trust and it has a strong range of car insurance solves for Australian customers.

Green Insurer of the Year 2021

As part of the Finder Green Awards, we are pleased to announce QBE as our Green Insurer of the Year. It is clear that QBE is an insurance business taking their sustainability efforts seriously. Notably the company is sourcing more than 60% of their electricity from renewable sources, as well as committing to numerous external benchmarks such as CDP and DJSI.

Finder awards 2021
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Our Verdict

  • QBE offers new car replacement up to 3 years. This is one of the longest time periods around and offers peace of mind if your vehicle gets written off.
  • Many will appreciate QBE's commitments to sustainability and how it takes action to meet its environmental targets.
  • If you buy your policy online, you'll enjoy up to $75 off your comprehensive policy. For us, more generous sign up deals can be found. For example, Budget Direct and PD Insurance both offer 15% reductions on your first year's premium (correct as of June 2021).

Review by our senior car insurance writer James Martin

Find out more about QBE Car Insurance

QBE Car Insurance policy options

Comprehensive Car insurance

This policy offers the highest level of protection available from QBE. Cover includes:

  • Accident damage, fire and theft
  • Three year new car replacement
  • Hire car after an accident where you're not at fault
  • Lifetime repair guarantee
  • Up to $30,000,000 for damage to other people's property

Third Party Car insurance

Under this policy, your car is covered for the following:

  • Up to $30,000,000 for damage to other people's property
  • Up to $5,000 for damage caused by an uninsured driver
  • Cover for a change of car with cover automatically shifting to your new car for up to 14 days.
  • You can upgrade your policy to include cover for fire and theft for up to $10,000.
BenefitComprehensiveThird Party Property
Change of vehicle
Choice of repairerOptional
Emergency accommodation and transport costs$1,000
Essential temporary repairs$500
Hire car following theftArranged by QBE (Max 14 days)Optional - Arranged by QBE (Max 14 days)
Lifetime repair guarantee
New replacement vehicleYes - If your car is written off in the first 3 years and is under 60,000 km
Personal effects$1,000 $0
Replacement of keys and recoding of locks
Towing costsReasonable costReasonable cost
Trailer cover$1,000No
Travelling expenses
Uninsured motorist benefit$5,000
Windscreen cover

When will QBE not pay my car insurance claim?

QBE excludes certain situations, circumstances from events. Your claim will not be paid by the insurer if:

  • It is for theft or damage to your vehicle when it has been left unattended and unlocked in a public place.
  • It is for theft by someone acting with your consent.
  • It is for theft by a friend or prospective vehicle buyer after you have given them permission to use your car.
  • It is for wear and tear, rust or corrosion.
  • It relates to structural failure or mechanical or electrical breakdown.
  • You have not taken all reasonable steps to prevent loss or damage.
  • It is for damage to the tyres of your vehicle unless caused in an accident.
  • It is for only your personal effects stolen from your vehicle without the vehicle itself being stolen.
  • It is for theft or damage to a non-standard accessory not shown on the certificate of insurance.
  • It is for consequential loss.
  • It is for bodily injury or death to a family member.
  • It is for any court-imposed fines or penalties.
  • It is for damage to property owned by an insured person.
  • The driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or if they refused to submit to a drug or alcohol test.
  • The vehicle does not meet the state's registration requirements.
  • The vehicle was being used for an unlawful purpose.
  • The vehicle was being used on a race track or speedway.
  • The vehicle was being used to carry passengers for hire, fare or reward and it's not disclosed on the certificate of insurance.
  • The vehicle was being driven in an unsafe, un-roadworthy or overloaded condition.
  • The claim arises due to an intentional malicious act by you or someone acting on your behalf.
  • The claim relates to lawful seizure or repossession of your vehicle.
  • The claim relates to acts of war or terrorism.

  • Please remember that these are only a few examples and don't include all the circumstances.

How much does QBE Car Insurance cost?

The following factors will all influence the cost of your QBE Car insurance premium:

  • The value of your car. The higher its agreed value, the higher the premium.
  • The type of policy you choose.
  • The year, make and model of your vehicle.
  • Where you live and where your car is kept overnight.
  • If you've made one or more claims on your policy in the last three years.
  • Your age and the age of any other drivers.
  • The driving and insurance history of you and any other drivers.
  • Whether you have selected any optional benefits.
  • The level of excess you choose.
  • The frequency with which you decide to make your premium payments.

How does the excess work?

An excess is the amount you are required to pay towards an insurance claim. Under a QBE Car Insurance policy, you may have to pay one or more of the following excesses:

  • Basic excess. The basic excess applies to all claims unless your claim is for a not-at-fault vehicle accident or you are claiming for malicious damage, theft or attempted theft and you can provide the full name and address of the person responsible or your claim is for the 'No Excess' Windscreen option.
  • Age excess. This excess will apply if the driver is under the age of 25 at the time of the incident and they cause or contribute to that incident.
  • An additional policy excess. This may apply depending on the insurance history of your car or its driver.
  • An additional driver excess. This may apply because of the driver's details, including their insurance history.

How can I save on my QBE Car Insurance policy?

QBE offers a number of discounts and options that can reduce your premiums. These include:

  • Choosing a higher excess. By increasing your excess, you can lower your premium for your comprehensive car insurance cover.
  • Buy online. When you buy a Comprehensive Car insurance policy online you can save $75.
  • Claims history. Your claims history is automatically taken into account when QBE determines your premium. If you haven't made a claim in a while, you'll likely receive a lower premium.

How do I lodge a claim with QBE?

Call QBE on 133 723 to notify them of your claim. You'll then typically be required to complete a claim form and provide any supporting documentation and information that QBE may require to process your claim.

More questions you might have about QBE Car Insurance

Should I list all the drivers of my car on my policy?

QBE recommends listing all the potential drivers of your vehicle on your policy so that they are all fully covered.

My child just got their licence; can I add them to my policy?

Absolutely. Contact QBE to have them added to your cover.

Can learner drivers be added to QBE car insurance policies?

You don't need to list learner drivers on your QBE car insurance policy if they display their L plates; they're automatically covered under the policy's terms.

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12 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    SusanAugust 27, 2018

    I have full comprehensive car insurance with qbe and would like to know what cover I get for a hire car within Australia.

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JeniAugust 28, 2018Staff

      Hi Susan,

      Thank you for getting in touch with finder.

      QBE’s comprehensive car insurance covers hire car following theft. They’ll reimburse you the reasonable cost of hiring a vehicle similar to yours, provided QBE agrees:

      -To accept your claim for theft
      -That you need a hire car
      -To the hire car you want and where you want to hire it from

      They stop paying this benefit once:

      -They’ve paid for 14 days of hiring or the cost reaches $1,000
      -Your vehicle’s found
      -They pay your claim for theft

      whichever happens first.

      They’ll need copies of the rental agreement and the hire car receipts before they reimburse you.

      As a friendly reminder, we don’t represent any company that we feature on our pages. The info above is from QBE’s Motor Vehicle Insurance Product Disclosure Statement. If you need help/have further enquiries on your QBE car insurance, it is best to contact them directly.

      I hope this helps.

      Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    GeorginaAugust 18, 2018

    Where do I find the “where I can cancel CTP slip”? The rego has been cancelled and car has been sold to the wreckers.

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JeniAugust 21, 2018Staff

      Hi Georgina,

      Thank you for getting in touch with finder.

      It is best to speak with QBE directly regarding your enquiry. If your Green Slip has been used to register your car, it remains linked to the registration of your car for the registration term. Policy cancellation is only possible if you hand in your car’s registration plates to Roads and Maritime Services (RMS). As long as your car is registered with RMS, your policy must remain in force.

      I hope this somewhat helps.

      Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    WendyMarch 18, 2017

    What is excess on QBE third party car insurance

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      ZubairMarch 22, 2017Staff

      Hi Wendy,

      Thank you for your question.

      You have contacted finder.com.au, a comparison and information service and not actually QBE Car Insurance.

      There are a number of excesses associated with QBE Car Insurance policy, to check the amount for each excess you will need to contact the QBE Car Insurance directly.

      All the best,
      Zubair

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    ncNovember 16, 2016

    experienced damage caused by a rabbit chewing wires. Are the repairs covered under the comprehensive coverage?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      RichardNovember 16, 2016Staff

      Hi NC,

      Thanks for getting in touch. finder.com.au is a comparison service and not an QBE. You will need to contact them directly about your policy and its cover limits.

      Cheers,
      Richard

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    PaulMay 5, 2016

    Do I have to pay my excess up front even if it is not my fault?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      RichardMay 6, 2016Staff

      Hi Paul,

      Thanks for your question. Most insurers waive the excess if you were not at fault. You should check with your insurer for their specific claims conditions.

      Cheers,
      Richard

      Reply
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