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Half of Australia’s states and territories offer drivers a choice of Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurer and Queensland is one of them.
CTP insurance is a legal requirement in Australia, covering you should you, or someone else driving your car, injure somebody or cause their death. While you cannot choose to go without this basic level of car insurance, living in a state such as Queensland allows drivers to select an insurer based on its individual offering and incentives. Find out more about how CTP works in Queensland below.
What Is CTP?
If you own a car in Australia, you’ll need CTP as well as rego. CTP will cover you if you’re involved in a car accident where you injure or kill another driver, motorcyclist, cyclist, passenger or pedestrian.
Benefits are paid to the injured individual based on the extent of their injuries. In Queensland, these benefits can cover the cost of an ambulance, a hospital stay, medical treatment, rehabilitation, loss of income and long-term care. Payout limits may apply, including for loss of income, which has a cap equivalent to three times average weekly earnings per week. The family of someone deceased can receive a payout for loss and expenses.
You can find out how CTP insurance works in other states and territories.
How Does CTP Work In Queensland?
Each state and territory has its own process for taking out CTP insurance. In Queensland, the car dealer selling the vehicle will likely arrange CTP cover and rego.
Alternatively, you can purchase your cover at one of the following places:
- Transport and motoring service centre
- Magistrates court
- QGAP office
- Local police station (if you live in a rural area).
Remember to contact whichever place you choose before visiting, to ensure they provide the service.
The National Injury Insurance Scheme, Queensland also provides protection for at-fault drivers injured in an accident, for permanent spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, multiple or high-level limb amputations, permanent blindness caused by trauma and permanent injury to the brachial plexus (a network of nerves that runs from the shoulder into the chest and down to the hand).
Which CTP Insurers Service Queensland?
You can opt for cover from QBE, Allianz or Suncorp. RACQ used to also service Queensland, but stopped offering new CTP insurance policies on 1 October 2023.
Cover terms can be as short as one or three months before needing to be renewed, or six or 12 months long. Before taking out a CTP policy, you can run quotes online and find out how much the cover costs, and which provider has the best offering. For example, Suncorp provides a ‘multi-policy’ discount to those who have more than one policy with it and QBE offers a complimentary gift card to new customers.
What Information Do CTP Insurers Need in Queensland?
To get a quote for a CTP purchase or renewal in Queensland, you will need to furnish an insurer with information such as:
- The due date shown on your vehicle registration renewal notice
- The vehicle class – Class 1 is cars and station wagons
- The number of months you require cover: one, three, six or 12.
You’ll also need to state whether your policy premium is subject to Input Tax Credit Entitlement (ITCE), which only applies to vehicles used for business, when you have completed a Business Activity Statement for GST purposes.
Does CTP Cover Damage In Queensland?
Under no circumstances does CTP cover damage done to property, including a car, wherever you are located in Australia. For damage cover, you can take out one of three types of optional car insurance, in addition to CTP:
- Third party property damage: The most basic type of optional car insurance covering damage you’ve caused to someone else’s vehicle or property, if you’re liable for it.
- Third party, fire and theft: The next level up in insurance from third party property damage, it provides the same cover, but also extends to damage to your own car, caused by fire or theft.
- Comprehensive: This is typically the most expensive type of cover, but can offer the most peace of mind, as it provides the widest range of benefits, including car hire while your vehicle is being repaired, or a replacement for your car if it’s written off following an incident.
How much does CTP cost in Queensland?
We ran quotes online and were offered the following:
QBE: $369.60
Suncorp: $369.60
Allianz: $369.60
Suncorp also offers a ‘multi-policy’ discount should you have more than one policy with it, while new customers of QBE can receive a $25 or $50 gift card if they choose a 12-month policy term.
We populated the online tool with the following details:
• Due date shown on your vehicle registration renewal notice: 2.5.24
• Vehicle class: Class 1 (cars and station wagons)
• Input Tax Credit Entitlement (ITCE): None
• Period you want to cover: 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do drivers need CTP insurance in Queensland?
Yes, CTP insurance is mandatory throughout Australia, working as a safeguard for motorists in the most serious of road accidents.
According to Queensland’s Accident Motor Insurance Commission, the average cost of a CTP insurance claim is around $100,000, while some claims can cost millions of dollars. Without CTP insurance in place, it would be the responsibility of the at-fault driver to compensate the injured party out of pocket, which could be a life-long, life-changing burden.
How do I claim on CTP Insurance in Queensland?
To claim on CTP, you should:
- Report the crash to the police by calling 000, if you are a driver at the scene of the accident. You should note the reference number (QP number) given for your report, to add to the claims form, you will need to fill out.
If you are injured in a crash that has not yet been reported, you can complete a Report of Traffic Incident to Police Form and take it to a police station or report the crash to a police station, and add the report reference number (QP number) provided to your claims form. - Take down the registration number of the vehicle that caused the crash. You will need this information to find the associated CTP insurer online.
- Complete a claims form, providing supporting documents such as proof of identity and a medical certificate for the injury you have sustained. You can submit your form online or send it to the CTP insurer of the at-fault driver.
Remember to take note of the timeframes for claiming. You can find more information about the process on Queensland’s Motor Accident insurance Commission’s website.
