Car insurance in QLD

A comprehensive car insurance policy provides wide-ranging cover for your vehicle if it’s stolen or damaged in a traffic accident, storm, fire, flood or malicious act. It also covers any damage you cause to someone else’s car or property. Your car insurance premiums will vary depending on a variety of factors, including your address, vehicle, how you use your vehicle and where you park.

Third Party Fire and Theft cover can insure you against damage to other people’s cars when you cause a motor accident. You also have limited cover when your vehicle is damaged or destroyed by fire or stolen. While this insurance is better cover than no insurance, it doesn’t protect you for everything found with comprehensive cover.

Third Party Property Damage insurance can cover the damage to another driver’s vehicle or other people’s property if you’re the at-fault driver in an accident. In some cases, this type of car insurance can provide a limited amount of cover for your car’s total loss or damage in an accident. However, you’ll only be covered under certain circumstances (e.g. if the other party is an uninsured driver) and can only claim up to a set limit.

CTP insurance covers your legal liability for the death or injury of another person in an accident involving your vehicle. It’s a legal requirement to have CTP insurance to drive in Australia and is usually included in your vehicle registration. Queensland drivers can nominate their CTP insurer, but since the Queensland Government regulates prices, policies are all around the same cost.

When deciding on which level of car insurance to take out, consider if you would have the means to pay for repairs or to replace your car and someone else’s if you’re involved in a car accident. The price of insurance is often the smarter choice.

The type of insurance you get for your car is down to your choice and circumstances, and you should always read the fine print in the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for specific limitations and conditions of your cover. It’s also important to read through the Target Market Determination (TMD) so you can be sure the product you choose is appropriate for your situation.

This table sums up the cover offered by each to help you decide what suits best.

The cost of car insurance can vary greatly, as insurance providers calculate your premiums based on many factors that are unique to you, including your:

• Age. Premiums are usually higher for drivers under 25.
• Car. Some models will cost more to insure because of their value or the availability of replacement parts.
• Policy excess. The amount you pay when you make a claim. The lower your excess, the higher your premium is likely to be – and vice versa.
• Insurance history. If you’ve made claims in the past, it could increase your present and future premiums.

Furthermore, any car modifications, add-on cover and additional listed drivers can also increase the cost of your car insurance premiums. So, you can see that there’s no set answer for how much car insurance costs in QLD.

If you want an idea of how much car insurance may cost, read more about factors that impact your premium and how car insurance is calculated.

While your actual insurance coverage doesn’t change in each state, you might find that your premiums will be vary based on where and even how you live. This can include:

• Where you park your car. If your car is parked safely in a garage, your premiums will usually reflect this lower risk to your car. On the other hand, parking it outside where it’s vulnerable can have the opposite effect.
• Where you live. Living in an area that has higher theft rates or busy roads, or is prone to natural disasters (e.g. bushfires and floods), can increase your chances of making a claim – as well as the cost of your car insurance.
• How much you drive your vehicle. If you’re on the road often and do lots of driving throughout the year, this can increase your chances of having an accident and thus your premiums.
• Your type of car. For example, more common makes and models may be cheaper to insure because they’re easier to repair and source replacement parts for.
• Your age. How old you are can affect the amount of insurance you pay, as younger drivers generally have a higher risk of being in car accidents.
• Optional covers. If you add optional or extra cover to your policy (e.g. windscreen cover, new car replacement), you might find that your premiums will be slightly higher to account for the extra cover you’ve purchased.
• Level of cover. If you choose a lower level of cover (e.g. Third Party Property Damage), you won’t pay as much for your policy as you would if you had comprehensive insurance, which covers a much wider range of incidents and scenarios.

There’s no one answer to this question, as the cheapest car insurance for you might not be the cheapest for someone else. However, there are certainly ways you can lower the cost of your car insurance. For instance, you could place a restriction on your policy for drivers of your car to be above a certain age (e.g. no one younger than 25) or choose a higher excess – just make sure you choose an amount that you can still afford to pay when you claim.

If your car was damaged in a car accident and you believe the other driver was at fault, you need to get their contact and vehicle details to pass on to your insurance provider. Your insurer will then manage the case and notify you of any progress.

If the other driver is determined to be at fault for the accident, their insurer will pay for the damages or accidental loss to your vehicle or property.

Car insurance covers your vehicle and not individuals, but it’s still important to list anyone you expect to drive your car as an additional driver on your policy if required by your insurance provider. Generally, learner drivers don’t need to be listed, but check with your insurer.

Be aware that adding additional drivers to your policy may impact the amount you pay. Factors such as each driver’s age and driving history will also affect premiums; for example, you’ll usually be charged more to have an inexperienced or younger driver (e.g. those under 25) listed on your policy. You may incur extra excess fees if an unlisted driver is involved in an accident when driving your car.

Unfortunately, most car insurance policies won’t cover paint damage from wear and tear, deterioration, or exposure to weather (sun, sand, salt, rain or water). As such, Queenslanders, particularly those living next to the beach, may need to protect their cars by parking in the shade and covering them when practical.

For a full list of all the exclusions and additional excesses listed in your car insurance policy, check the PDS.

Car insurance doesn’t generally cover motorcycles or caravans. A range of car insurance companies do offer motorcycle insurance or caravan insurance policies that work in a similar way.

Your car registration will be due either 3, 6 or 12 months after you last paid it, depending on which option you chose at the time. If you’re not sure of your registration status (e.g. if you’ve just bought a second-hand car) or you can’t remember when it’s next due, you can search for it on the Department of Transport and Main Roads website using your registration number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).