Five million Aussie drivers left with bill for damages they didn’t cause

This article is more than 5 years old. Some information may no longer be current.
Posted:
News

Picture not described

Almost a third of drivers have had their car damaged by another vehicle but the culprit fled the scene.

Millions of Aussie drivers have reported being left with an unfair repair bill after another vehicle hit their car but didn't stick around to exchange details.

A Finder survey of 1,007 people found that 28% had suffered mystery damage to their cars. That figure rose to 31% when only car-owners were asked.

The research also revealed that baby boomers are most likely to suffer damage to their vehicles (34%), while drivers in regional areas are also at a higher risk (32%).

South Australian residents should also be particularly careful, as 37% of drivers in the state reported that their car had previously been hit by someone else who didn't own up - the highest percentage of any region in the country.

Unfortunately, many of the drivers will have no help in covering the unexpected cost. According to Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker, a nationally representative survey of more than 15,000 respondents, almost 1 in 4 (24%) Australians don't have comprehensive car insurance.

Comprehensive car insurance is the only type of cover which will pay out if you sustain mysterious damage to your car - and it might not be as expensive as you think.

In our 2021 Finder Awards, we found that on an average, a 30-year old man paid anything between $612 and $2,385 annually, while a 30-year old woman paid between $426 and $2,969 for a comprehensive policy.

That means you could save a huge $2,643 a year, just by comparing car insurance online.

Get a quote for comprehensive car insurance

Car insurance quotes have to be tailored to your vehicle, driving history, and risk factors. Click 'Get Quote' to see how much it might cost to fully protect your car.

12 of 12 results
Finder Score Roadside assistance Accidental damage Storm Choice of repairer Agreed or Market Value
Finder Score
Optional
Agreed or Market
Summary: A great value policy with exceptional customer service. Youi won the 2024 Finder Award for Customer Satisfaction. It scored highly for features and benefits, customer service and reliability. It also automatically includes roadside assistance with comprehensive policies in its price - a feature that typically costs upwards of $90 per year.
Get Quote More info
Compare product selection
Finder Score
Optional
Optional
Agreed or Market
Receive 15% off your first year's premium when you purchase cover online. T&Cs apply.
Summary: Budget Direct Comprehensive is highly commended as a feature-packed car insurance. It's cheaper than most, plus you can lower costs by adding age restrictions.

Who it might be good for: Anyone who wants a good value policy.
Get Quote More info
Compare product selection
Finder Score
Agreed
Get 10% off the base premium for the first 2 consecutive monthly policies and up to a 15% potential monthly discount from your 3rd month for being a safer driver. Minimum premiums may apply. T&Cs apply.
Summary: One of the most cost-effective insurers for under 25s, according to Finder research, with no aged-based excess.

Who it might be good for: Young drivers looking to keep costs down and anyone who’d like to get more flexibility from their car insurance.
Get Quote More info
Compare product selection
Qantas Car Insurance logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Optional
Optional
Agreed or Market
Earn up to 30,000 Qantas Points with every car insurance policy. Ends 26 November. Plus save 15% on your 1st year’s premium when you purchase online. T&Cs apply.
Summary: You need car insurance so why not get one that lets you earn Qantas Points? It's good value too (it's underwritten by the same insurer as Budget Direct).

Who it might be good for: People who want more bang for their buck with Qantas Points.
Get Quote More info
Compare product selection
Coles logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Optional
Optional
Agreed or Market
Save 15% off your first year’s premium when you take out a new Coles Car Insurance policy online. T&Cs apply.
Summary: Coles Comprehensive Car Insurance includes the benefits you'd expect, plus features like grocery replacement (up to $200 if damaged or stolen. T&C's apply).

Who it might be good for: Those who want great quality cover and more rewards with Flybuys.
Get Quote More info
Compare product selection
QBE logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Optional
Agreed or Market
Save $75 when you purchase a new comprehensive policy online. T&Cs apply.
Who it might be good for: Those who want a trustworthy insurer and more cover than other brands, such as 3-year new car replacement (e.g. they'll give you money for a new car for up to 3 years if yours is written off).
Get Quote More info
Compare product selection
Huddle logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Optional
Agreed or Market
Summary: This goes further than most insurers. You get up to 2k for stolen keys, roadside assistance and rental car excess cover (for car rentals in Australia).

Who it might be good for: Those who want top cover for their car.
Get Quote More info
Compare product selection
Bingle logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Market
Summary: Our data shows it’s the cheapest comprehensive policy. It just covers the basics such as damage to your car, theft and storms – it doesn’t go in for add-ons and extras.

Who it might be good for: Those wanting a low-cost, no-frills policy.
Get Quote More info
Compare product selection
Huddle logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Optional
Agreed or Market
Summary: Huddle's comprehensive policy will cover you if your vehicle is damaged or lost as a result of a collision, a natural event, a malicious act, theft or fire. It also includes up to $500 for essential repairs.

Who it might be good for: Someone who drives less than 15,000 km a year can opt for Pay As You Drive cover.
Get Quote More info
Compare product selection
ALDI logo
Finder Score
ALDI Comprehensive
Finder Award
Finder Score
Agreed
Summary: ALDI's comprehensive insurance policy covers your car for an agreed value and a variety of policy benefits.

Who it might be good for: Ideal for those seeking competitive coverage limits, though other products may have higher limits.
More info
Compare product selection
Kogan logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Optional
Agreed or Market
Get up to 10% off your first year's premium, and $10 monthly Kogan.com credit (valid on $100+ purchases) with new online Comprehensive Car Insurance. T&Cs apply.
Summary: Kogan comes with all the perks that most comprehensive car insurance policies include, but you’ll also be entitled to some benefits from its online store. This usually comes in the form of a gift voucher or discount if you buy online.

Who it might be good for: Kogan shoppers and those after a good range of policy options.
More info
Compare product selection
ahm logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Optional
Agreed or Market
Summary: Its "pay as you drive" cover can save you up to 30% compared to its standard comprehensive cover. There's also no excess to pay if you hit a Kanga or other animal.

Who it might be good for: Rural drivers and those who drive less than 15,000 km a year.
More info
Compare product selection
loading
Showing 12 of 12 results

Finder Score for car insurance

We analyse over 80 car insurance products and rate each one on price and features. What we get out the other end is a nice round number out of 10 to help you start comparing.

To make sure we're comparing apples with apples, we collect quotes for 8 different personas and analyse different car insurance features. Our team then does some fancy maths to get the Finder Score, taking both price and features into account. We analyse comprehensive, third party fire and theft and third party property damage products individually.

Read the full methodology

Picture: GettyImages

Get rewarded $$ for switching with Finder Rewards

Find a better deal, save on your bills and get a free gift card. Sign up to be the first to hear about new Finder Rewards.

Ask a question

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms Of Service and Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Go to site