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Do I need car insurance in Australia?
CTP is the only form of car insurance that's compulsory in Australia. But does that mean you should skip all other cover?
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Everyone needs to have compulsory third party car insurance (CTP), but do you need more than that? Well, not legally. But it's definitely a good idea to have at least third party property damage cover. This would save you from forking out your own cash if you crash into a pricey Mercedes.
If you can afford it, comprehensive car insurance is always the better option, especially if you can't afford to pay for a new car straight up or you've spent a bit of cash on your car already.
Is car insurance compulsory in Australia?
In Australia, you must insure each registered vehicle with CTP insurance, sometimes known as a Green Slip.
You buy your policy from one of a handful of insurers your state has selected to take part in its CTP scheme and all of these state-regulated policies cover you for the medical bills of anyone you injure in an accident. Some states will cover some of your medical bills, even when you're at fault.
In most states, your Green Slip automatically comes with your registration but you have to organise it on your own if you're in NSW, ACT or QLD.
In a nutshell, CTP keeps you from owing money for other people's medical bills.
Do I need any additional insurance in Australia?
CTP is the only form of insurance that's compulsory, but does that mean you should skip out on the rest?
If you're without insurance and cause a three-car pile-up, you'll have to cover thousands of dollars for repairs from your own pocket. Find that someone has damaged your car and you're not at fault? You'll still have a really hard time getting your money back.
Even though other forms of insurance aren't compulsory, if you want to stop yourself from being in some crazy money troubles, it just makes sense to get extra cover. Here's why:
- Damaging someone's property can be expensive. Causing an accident can be expensive. Even if you forget about the damages to your car, you'll still be responsible for damaging other people's cars plus any other property you can think of, like road signs, bus stops, homes, lawns, shopfronts and animals.
- There's often no one else responsible when your car is damaged. If replacing your car would hurt your wallet, consider these situations where CTP won't pay for your car: you cause the accident, an uninsured driver hits you, someone hits you and drives off, someone steals or vandalises your car or there's a natural disaster like a flood or hailstorm.
- Your bank may require it. If you borrowed money for your car, your lender might insist that you take up additional cover to protect the loan.
Protect future you and get car insurance
What are my car insurance choices?
Generally speaking, you can choose between three types of additional insurance to go along with your CTP. These are:
- Third party property damage (TPPD). This covers any damage you cause to anyone's property but your own, including cars, homes, land, pets and personal items.
- Third party fire and theft (TPFT). This covers everything TPPD does plus two specific events that cause damage to your car: when it catches fire or when someone steals it. It doesn't cover your car when you cause a crash or when it's damaged by any other type of natural disaster besides fire.
- Comprehensive. This covers you for everything TPPD and TPFT does, plus all other ways your car can get damaged: storms, natural disasters, vandalism, uninsured drivers, hit-and-runs and even crashes you cause.
What car insurance do I need for my car?
Everyone needs some form of additional insurance in case they damage someone's property, but only certain people will need more than that. It really depends on the individual, since not everyone has the same car or the same driving record.
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to determine which level of cover is right for you:
- Do you owe money on your car? If you're still paying for your car, there's a good chance your lender will require you to have comprehensive car insurance because that's the only level that fully covers your car. Even if not, you should strongly consider comprehensive cover so you don't need to take out a second loan to replace the vehicle.
- How much is your car worth? If replacing your car wouldn't break the bank, you can get away with third party property cover. It won't cover your car, but will help you avoid massive bills if you crash into someone else's.
- Do you drive often or rely on your car? If you're on the road a lot, comprehensive car insurance can swoop in to help if an accident leaves your car undriveable. For example, it can provide you with a hire car while yours is in the shop and put you up in a hotel if you're stranded far from home.
- Where do you live? If you live in an area that's prone to natural disasters, you should get a level of insurance that will cover those specific risks. Third party fire and theft will help out if you live in a bushfire-prone area. If you live in a flood zone or somewhere that experiences cyclones, you'll need comprehensive cover.
Do I need comprehensive car insurance on an old car?
Everyone should have some level of additional car insurance on top of their CTP, including those who drive old cars. An old car can cause just as much damage to a BMW as any other car on the road, maybe even more so, since older cars tend to be heavier.
That's why you should definitely consider getting at least third party property protection.
You should also consider whether or not you'd be in the financial position to replace your car if it was damaged. If replacing your old car would be too much of a burden, getting third party fire and theft or comprehensive cover will take away some of that burden.
Picture: Unsplash
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Ask an Expert
I am in QLD on WHV 417 and want to buy a car to travel around the country. If I buy a car i understand i must register it as the new owner – do you know how much that is? and then I must insure it with a green slip if I sort this in QLD am I then covered for insurance across all australia?
Hi Corrine,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
Depending on the vehicle number of cylinders, your vehicle registration in QLD may range from $350-$670. The rules of CTP insurance vary from state to state. For example, drivers in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory have the power to choose their CTP/Green Slip insurance provider. All vehicles in Australia must have CTP insurance before they can be registered and legally driven in any road in Australia. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
Can you insure the car you are driving if it is not registered in your name/
Hi Sue,
Thanks for reaching out! You may certainly insure a car you’re driving that’s not registered under your name. Non-owner car insurance allows you to drive someone else’s car and be protected.Typically this insurance only provides liability coverage, not optional coverage like damage to the car, rental reimbursement or medical expenses. Do your research by viewing this list of car insurance providers on our page and ask if they offer this type.
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.
Best,
Nikki