Car insurance can cover hitting a kangaroo or other animal in Australia. Given no one else can be held accountable for the accident, it's likely you will have to pay an excess for the claim. However, depending on the severity of the damage, it could be worth it.
Making an insurance claim after hitting an animal
Like any accident, the first step is to make sure yourself and any other people involved are safe. Then you need to document the accident by taking photos of the damage and noting down the time and place of the incident. If there were any other drivers or witnesses involved then it's best to get their name and number too, as this could help with the claiming process. If necessary, you could also call your local wildlife rescue organisation. This is good to do if the animal is alive but injured.
Does hitting an animal raise your insurance?
Unfortunately, it can. Given this is still classified as an accident, this could raise your premiums in the future.
This is why it may be worth getting quotes to fix the damage without having to go through your insurance. Looking at how severe the damage is and the cost of repairs can help you decide if you want to make a claim or not.
Finder survey: How many Australians have hit animals while driving?
Response
No
65.21%
Yes
33%
I have never driven before
1.79%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023
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Pull over somewhere safe and put your hazard lights on. Make sure yourself and any other people involved are okay. If it's safe to do, check on the animal. If it's alive but injured then call your local wildlife rescue organisation. If you've hit a domestic animal like a dog or a cat, you'll need to get in touch with the owners.
Richard Laycock is Finder’s insights editor after spending the last five years writing and editing articles about insurance. His musings can be found across the web including on MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance.
Standard car insurance (CTP) does not cover damage caused by hitting a kangaroo with your car. In the event that an animal hits your car (or you hit an animal on the road), you will only be covered if you have a comprehensive insurance.
Please review the fine print of your car insurance policy or speak with your insurer directly for further assistance.
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In NSW can a driver claim on CTP if they hit a kangaroo?
Hi Marilyn,
Thanks for reaching out to Finder.
Standard car insurance (CTP) does not cover damage caused by hitting a kangaroo with your car. In the event that an animal hits your car (or you hit an animal on the road), you will only be covered if you have a comprehensive insurance.
Please review the fine print of your car insurance policy or speak with your insurer directly for further assistance.
Cheers,
Charisse