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Car insurance is compulsory on Australian roads, so it is a good idea to make sure you have one before you head out on that trip. You should also be clear on what your policy actually covers, in case you meet with an accident and need assistance or have to make a claim.
Here is a guide to finding out whether your car is insured and checking from time to time that your insurance policy is active.
Related: Our Pick of the Best Comprehensive Car Insurance Providers
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How Can I Check If My Car Is Insured?
The process of checking whether your car is insured or not depends on the type of insurance you are holding and the state or territory in which your car is registered.
In Australia, there are four main types of car insurance. While the first is compulsory, the other three are optional:
Compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance: which is a mandatory cover that protects you financially in case you injure or kill someone in an accident.
Third-party property damage: which covers you to the extent you cause damage to someone else’s property.
Third-party fire and theft cover: which covers damage to your car specifically caused by fire or theft.
Comprehensive insurance: which is a more extensive level of insurance and provides a more thorough cover for damage or theft to your car, as well as damage to others property during an accident.
How Can I Check if I Have CTP Insurance?
In Australia, it is a legal requirement to purchase CTP insurance (also called Green Slip insurance) along with the car registration, so a good starting point to check insurance details is by visiting your state’s ‘check vehicle registration’ page.
These checks are free and will include the status and expiry date of the current registration period, as well as the make, model, year of manufacture and colour of your vehicle.
If your car is registered in NSW, where CTP insurance and registration are purchased separately, you can look up the registration on the Service NSW website, which also provides the details of the CTP insurer for your vehicle.
For other states and territories, read our guide to CTP insurance.
Other Insurance
The existence and validity of additional car insurance policies such as comprehensive, third party property damage or third party fire and theft, can generally be found by getting in touch with your insurer directly.
This can be done by referencing either a membership or policy number that they have provided, or policy documents provided at the time of purchase, or an online account from their website, or a renewal notice that is issued in advance of the expiry of the insurance.
Does Car Insurance Expire?
Yes. Car insurance, like other types of insurance policies, is only valid for a specified period, and typically needs to be renewed on a six-monthly or annual basis, depending on your requirements.
In some cases where you provide authorisation, your insurer will automatically renew the insurance cover at the end of the period and charge your bank account or credit card. Where such authorisation is not provided, they will send a renewal notice notifying you of the expiry date as well as the charges for renewing the same.
If you live in a state or territory where it is compulsory to take out CTP insurance along with registration, you cannot renew your car registration without also renewing your CTP insurance policy. Where multiple providers are available, you will have to choose your insurer to do the same.
Why Is It Important To Keep Track of Car Insurance
Keeping track of car insurance is a good idea in general but especially relevant for the following reasons:
Legal requirement: Carrying an active CTP insurance is a legal requirement for any driver on Australian roads, and can attract heavy fines if not complied with. Even if you are driving a car that is not your own, it’s important to know that it has registration and CTP cover. If you are involved in an accident and found to be at fault, you could be liable for hefty costs towards legal fees and treatment of the injured in case you don’t have insurance in place.
Buying & selling: It is important to check the registration and CTP insurance status if you are thinking of buying or selling a used car. Some sellers choose to sell just as the registration is expiring to save on renewal fees, while some buyers are keen on shopping around insurance providers and would prefer a minimal period on the existing insurance.
Additional benefits: While car insurance provides security against financial damage, several insurance providers also offer benefits such as roadside assistance, emergency accommodation and even hire cars in case of an accident or emergency.
Featured Partners
1
QBE
New Car Replacement
Yes – if your car is written off in the first 3 years and driven less than 60,000km
Hire Car After Accident
Optional benefit – up to 14 days
Promotions
Save $75 on a new QBE Comprehensive Car Insurance policy when you buy online. T&Cs apply
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is my car automatically insured when I renew the registration?
This generally depends on the type of insurance and the state/territory of registration. If you live in a state/territory where it is compulsory to take out CTP insurance along with registration, you cannot renew your car registration without also renewing your CTP insurance policy.
How do I check my current CTP?
The best way to check CTP insurance details is by visiting your state’s ‘check vehicle registration’ page. In NSW, the Service NSW website provides the details of vehicle registration as well as the CTP insurer for your vehicle. For other states and territories, insurance details and validity are either available on their respective check registration sites or can be found by using the same registration details.
Is car insurance compulsory?
An active CTP insurance is a legal requirement for any driver on Australian roads, and can attract heavy fines if not complied with. Additional car insurance policies such as third party property damage, third party fire and theft, or comprehensive are beneficial but optional.
