Tyre and rim insurance

Who offers tyre and rim insurance?

Below is a table of some of the providers that offer tyre and rim insurance, including their key features and benefits.

How does tyre and rim insurance work?

Most car insurance policies will exclude cover for tyre damage caused by things like punctures, cuts or bursts. This is where tyre and rim insurance comes in. It can cover you for damage to your tyres and rims. This includes blowouts, punctures and damage from different road hazards like driving through a pothole.

To get cover for tyre and rim insurance, you will usually have to pay extra (on top of your monthly car insurance premium) to have it covered. Some insurers offer tyre and rim cover as an optional extra. Alternatively, you can buy standalone cover.

If you get a puncture, cut or burst tyre, you can claim the repair costs back through your insurance. Keep in mind that you will likely still have to pay an excess (a contribution you're required to pay towards a claim) and in many cases, replacing your tyres and rims might be less than the cost of the tyre and rim insurance policy. It all depends on how much your tyres and rims are worth.

What does it cover?

Tyre and rim insurance can cover you for the following:

• Tyres. If your tyres are punctured, cracked or damaged by potholes, kerbs, glass or any other form of road debris, you are covered. Many policies provide unlimited number of tyre repair claims and usually have a limit on how many tyre replacements you can get per year.
• Rims. If your rims are scratched, damaged or destroyed, it's usually covered. Once again, there is usually a limit on how many claims you can make a year.
• Towing costs. If you suffer a blowout or puncture and can't drive, tyre and rim insurance can help towards towing costs. Keep in mind that they have benefit limits, meaning they might not cover you for entire towing costs.
• Car rental. You can get money towards a rental car if your car is unfit to drive due to tyre or rim damage.
• Accommodation costs. Some policies will pay your accommodation costs if you're further than 100km from your home address and your car is unsafe to drive.

What doesn't it cover?

Here's an overview of what many tyre and rim insurance policies will not cover. For a full list, always consult the product disclosure statement (PDS).

• Tyres with dry rot or flat spots
• Tyres where the tread is below any tread wear indicator
• Tyres that have been recapped.
• Tyres or wheels on unregistered vehicles or that are unroadworthy
• Tyres designed for racing
• Tyres or rims subject to a recall by the manufacturer
• Damage to tyres or wheels as the result of an accident
• Damage to tyres or wheels caused by negligence, vandalism, abuse or misuse
• Cosmetic damage to tyres or wheels which is in nature, and does not affect the operation of the vehicle.

How much does it cost to repair your tyres and rims without insurance?

Tyre replacement can vary from around $80 to over $800. Your final bill depends on the damage. For a simple puncture repair, it can cost you as little as $50 to have fixed.

Tyres are often cheap to repair or replace because these days most vehicles are compatible with more than one option. However, if your car or motorcycle requires larger tyres, or ones that are not as common, it's likely to cost you more. The same is true if you are looking for a specific tyre brand.

Generally, the more expensive the car, the more expensive the tyres. For instance. SUVs and sports cars' tyres tend to cost a little more than hatchbacks. As is often the case with vehicle repairs, costs can vary, so insurance might be worth having if you want peace of mind.

FAQs

• Is tyre and rim damage covered under car insurance?

  No, your car insurance policy will not cover damage to your tyres and rims. That's because this is viewed as general wear & tear, which is an exclusion. The only time your tyre and rim damage would be covered by car insurance is if the damage occurs during an accident that can be claimed on your comprehensive car insurance policy.

• Is tyre and rim insurance worth it?

  This really comes down to the value of your tyres and how much you care about them. If you drive a high-end vehicle with expensive tyres or you've paid for modifications on a car and have expensive rims, it could be worth it.

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise

Gary Ross has written 580 Finder guides across topics including:

• Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
• Managing the cost of living