Key takeaways
- Third party property damage car insurance is an additional layer of protection to compulsory third party (CTP) insurance.
- It covers you for damage your car causes to another person's property up to a fixed limit.
- Third party property damage car insurance can be a cheaper alternative to comprehensive car insurance, however, coverage is limited.
What does third party property damage car insurance cover?

Third party property car insurance
Third party property car insurance covers you for damage to other people's property – for example someone else's car, home or shop. It covers only this and nothing else, up to a certain limit (commonly $20 million). This type of policy adds an additional layer of protection over the bare minimum compulsory third party insurance, and prevents you from having to be out of pocket for potentially enormous bills if you hit something expensive.

Third party, fire and theft car insurance
This is a step up from third party property insurance. In addition to covering you for costs if you damage someone else's property, it can pay to repair or replace your car if it's damaged by fire or stolen. However, it still doesn't cover you for damage done to your own car – only comprehensive car insurance covers you for this.
Third party property damage insurance costs
Looking for other options? Check out these similar products.
How we picked these-
These quotes were collected using a NSW based address for a 30 year old male driver with a 2008 Mazda 3 Neo BK Series 2 Auto 5DR hatchback. This should be used as a guide only as your own quote will differ based on your personal circumstances.
Compare third party property damage policies
Looking for other options? Check out these similar products.
How we picked theseFinder Score for car insurance
We analyse over 30 car insurance products across insurance providers, and rate each one for price and features. We collect up to 36 quotes per product, for male and female drivers in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. Quotes are collected for 20 year olds, 30 year olds and 60 year olds, assuming an excess of $850 for a 2020 Toyota Corolla 4 door sedan model, with an average 15,000 kms driven each year. While we are not allowed to display actual quotes, our Finder Score aims to serve as an indicative guide to how cost and feature competitive a product might be for you.
Our feature score assesses each product for more than 15 features across loss and damage coverage, repairs and assistance coverage, personal items coverage and policy coverage. Features we assess include but are not limited to legal liability, essential repairs, new car replacement, car hire events, roadside assistance, agreed or market value, windscreen damage and natural disaster coverage.
What's the cheapest third party car insurance?
Third party property damage cover is already one of the cheaper ways to insure your car, but prices still vary between insurers. In Finder's latest quotes, the cheapest third party property damage policies started from around $427 a year.
Based on our sample quotes, the most affordable policies came from Budget Direct and Bingle, both around the $427 to $431 mark for our driver profile. Keep in mind these are based on a set profile, so the cheapest option for you will depend on your car, your age and where you live.
The cheapest policy isn't always the best value, though. Some slightly dearer policies include extras like cover for damage caused by an uninsured driver, which can be worth the small difference. Compare a few options on both price and what's included before you decide.
How to find the best third party coverage for you
1. Compare quotes
Most third party car insurance policies are very similar so price is an important factor. If you think you're paying too much, compare car insurance policies to find a better deal.
2. Choose a higher excess
Your insurer will offer you a lower premium in return.
3. Restrict drivers
You can get a cheaper car insurance policy by restricting your policy to drivers over a certain age.
4. Uninsured motorist damage
Some third party policies cover damage to your own car caused by an uninsured driver. The cap is usually $5,000 but will vary between insurers.
5. Discounts
Sign-up discounts can be a good way to pay less. Just make sure the policy is still the right fit for you.
Is third party car insurance worth it?
Could be good if you:
- Have a low-value car. For example, if it's worth under $10,000. Sometimes it is not economically viable to insure for comprehensive, especially for lower value cars, or drivers with a higher excess (usually younger drivers).
- It's all you can afford right now. Our research shows third party typically costs less than half the price of a comprehensive policy.
- Want more than the bare minimum (CTP) which only covers injuries to people. "I like knowing I'm covered for the costs of their repairs" says finance specialist Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon, "Even if I collide with a Maserati".
Might not be good if you:
- Own an expensive car. You could be thousands out of pocket if it was damaged.
- Rely on your car. Could you afford to replace it if was written off?
- Live in a high-risk area, e.g theft or weather events – in which case, consider third party fire & theft or comprehensive insurance instead.
"I had a third party property damage policy on my old car. It was a pretty run-down vehicle, plus I was always working from home and barely used it or left it unattended, so a comprehensive policy just wouldn't have been worth the money. A basic third party policy to protect me from the costs associated with damage to other people's property was all I needed at the time and cutting it right back was a good way to save money."
Frequently asked questions
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You will not be covered for damage to your own vehicle, only comprehensive policies cover this. You will also not be covered for damage by fire or theft, unless you have third party fire and theft insurance.
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Usually not. Most third party car insurance policies do not cover windscreen damage. This is usually clearly mentioned as an exclusion.
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When calculating your third party property damage insurance premiums, insurers consider questions like:
- How old are the people driving your car? Younger drivers are more inexperienced and also feature heavily in Australian road crash statistics, which means they cost more to insure.
- Are you a good driver? Drivers with a long, blemish-free driving record will obviously cost less to insure than those who have made claims in the past or who have multiple traffic infringements.
- Where do you keep your car at night? Areas with high theft and accident risks will generally result in higher insurance premiums for car owners.
- What type of car do you drive? Inexpensive, low powered cars are typically cheaper to cover than high powered, expensive vehicles. Any modifications and accessories fitted to your vehicle will also be taken into account.
- How much do you use your car? If your vehicle is used for business purposes, or more frequently than most, you may have to pay a higher premium. Alternatively, if you don't drive too often you can opt for a Pay As You Drive policy.
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No. Third party insurance is for your vehicle. Your car is insured to be driven by certain people as described in the insurance policy. You are not automatically covered by your usual third party insurance when driving other vehicles.
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If you hold third party property damage car insurance, then any car or property you damage in an accident is covered, your own vehicle is not.
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No but it's easy to get them confused. Compulsory third party is mandatory in Australia. It protects you from legal and medical costs if you injure or kill someone in a car accident.
Third party property damage, on the other hand, covers other people's property if you damage it with your car and are at fault.
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The excess is the amount you're required to contribute towards the cost of your claim. As an example, if your excess is $250 and your claim is for $2,000, you will pay the first $250 of your claim and your insurer will cover the remaining $1,750. Insurers will charge a basic excess, which is the minimum you'll need to contribute when you make a claim, as well as a voluntary excess (in return for a lower premium) and an age excess (if your policy features a young or inexperienced driver). Depending on your insurance provider and your individual circumstances, other excesses may also apply to your cover.
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An uninsured motorist extension (UME) is an optional extra available with some third party car insurance policies. It covers damage to your vehicle up to set limits (typically around $3,000–$5,000) in the event that it's damaged by an uninsured driver, that you were not at fault and that you can provide the uninsured driver's name and address.
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This will depend on the provider. In many cases, roadside assistance is only an optional extra for comprehensive policies. However, it's worth noting that even if you can't add it as an option to your policy, you can just purchase a stand alone roadside assistance policy.
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It depends what you're looking to add on. Windscreen cover can typically only be added to comprehensive policies but other features, like roadside assistance, can be added on or purchased separately to your third party property damage car insurance policy.
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Third party car insurance only covers damage you do to other people's property. Your own vehicle is not protected against damages it incurs.
Sources
Ceyda Erem is Finder’s senior writer for insurance and has almost 10 years of experience writing about personal finance. Formerly a copywriter for several business and finance clients, Ceyda has written hundreds of articles, guides, blogs and more to ensure Australians stay in the loop about how to best manage their money. She has a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Writing from Macquarie University. See full bio
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I am currently looking for an insurance policy for my son who is about to go on his P’s. I think Third Part Fire and Theft will be fine as we are looking at a car under 10k. However I’m not sure of rates as you need to know models prior to getting quotes. Is there a way of getting quotes without knowing the car you are getting yet?
Hi Suzie, Quotes will always be specific to the model, so you won’t be able to get a quote without one. However, you can get an idea by picking models from your shortlist of potential buys and seeing what the rates are. Realistically, for a P-plate driver you’ll be paying more as the risk is higher for younger drivers, no matter what car you choose.
I have a car with hail damage only.
Can I still get third-party insurance?
Hi Tina,
Provided the car is still safe to drive, it should be possible to get third party car insurance. Good luck!
I am 76, male, car worth less than $10,000, drive less than 5,000 km annually. What’s best, cheapest insurance for me, for damage to other cars only?
Hi Bjorn,
What’s best or cheapest will depend on your personal circumstances and driver profile so I couldn’t recommend specific providers to you. Instead, I can share a few tips to help you find a cheaper policy:
– Get quotes from at least 3-5 providers so you can see the difference in pricing on offer
– Look for sign up discounts
– Consider adjusting your excess; a higher excess means a lower premium. Just be sure you can still afford the excess in the event you’re required to pay it
– Restrict drivers under 25 if you’re sure no one under that age will drive the car. This can help bring the cost down as insurers typically view younger drivers as more risky and can up the premium if they’re not excluded
Remember, every policy varies so to ensure it covers what you need, read the product disclosure statement on the provider’s website.
I hope this helps!
I have a 2004 Holden Berlina which has not been registerred nor driven for 5 years , it is now for sale, can I get CTP insurance for less than 12 months , even 6 month to match the proposed registration term.
James
Hi James, CTP insurance can typically be bought for either 6 or 12 months but it’s best to check with your insurer as payment terms may vary. This page may be helpful for any other questions: https://www.finder.com.au/car-insurance/ctp-insurance
Hello, I have an at fault claim from nearly 4 years ago, a driving under the influence of drugs charge for which I lost my licence for 6 months approx 3 years ago plus I have a criminal record for drug charges… Can you help me weed through the options, if any, available to me to take out a policy?
Hi Ryan,
Check out this article for more info that might be useful for your situation:
https://www.finder.com.au/car-insurance/car-insurance-criminal-record