When you’re driving, safety should be your number one priority. You adjust your seat, check your mirrors, and make sure your seatbelt is fastened, but many of us don’t think twice about our car insurance policy.
With something so important (not to mention compulsory), you’d think it would be something people put a little more thought into. Although, if seeing all these choices laid out in front of you – policies with varying names, prices and inclusions – it can certainly be a tad daunting.
So, we’ll give you a few tips on what to consider when you’re choosing the best car insurance for you.
Types of car insurance
There are different levels of car insurance cover you need to consider, including:Compulsory third party (CTP)
Third party property damage
Comprehensive car insurance.
Compulsory third party car insurance
There are state-based variations for compulsory third party (CTP) insurance which, as the name suggests, is required by law when driving on Australian roads.
Third party property damage car insurance
Then there’s third party property damage car insurance, which can help cover some of the repair costs if you’re responsible for damage to other people’s vehicles and property.
Comprehensive car insurance
But if you’re after a policy that also insures your own wheels, you’ll want to compare comprehensive car insurance. Mozo tracks and compares comprehensive policies from more than 50 car insurance providers with varying coverage types and specialities.
When it comes to this broader kind of cover, many insurance companies might let you tailor coverage to your circumstances and budget. For example, there are options like pay-per-kilometre car insurance for people who don’t drive very often, and car insurance discounts to reward things like being a safe driver, having a fuel efficient car, and holding multiple kinds of insurance policies with the same provider. Then there are policies led by innovations in insurtech, which can personalise your cover even further.
But with so many options out there, there won’t be one best car insurance option to suit everyone. Depending on how you slice the data, pricing, and policy inclusions, there are many ways to define which car insurance policies are the best for your circumstances.
To highlight some top value and great quality car insurance options, we’ve pulled together information about a range of policies for you to investigate. Some have won Mozo Experts Choice or People’s Choice awards, and others are great deals the Mozo team thinks are worth knowing about.
Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance*
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| Budget Direct Gold |
New-for-old replacement (see conditions below)
Not-at-fault rental car cover
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Key policy features: Budget Direct was Mozo’s Value Insurance Provider of the Year 2021^, and alongside multiple car insurance award wins this show it’s delivering top-value cover. This policy includes useful features that’ll keep you driving smoothly like hire car cover for 14 days after a theft or not-at-fault accident (up to $1,000 in total). You’ll also be covered by new-for-old car replacement (when the car is under two years old or has driven less than 40,000km), $500 of personal property cover and $1,000 for replacement keys. You can receive a premium discount of 15% off your first year’s cover by applying for the policy online.
Exceptional Value Car Insurance
Huddle Comprehensive Car Insurance*
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| Huddle Comprehensive |
New-for-old car replacement (under 2 years old)
24/7 online claims lodgement
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Key policy features: Huddle’s pay-as-you-drive policy option is one of its stand-out money-saving features. If you drive under 15,000km a year, Huddle offers up to a 30% discount on yearly premiums. Coverage limits for specific items are still generous. The policy covers $500 of personal property plus $500 specifically for child safety seats and prams, and up to $1,000 to replace locks and keys if stolen. It also comes with $500 to cover travel and accommodation costs after an accident if you are more than 200km from home, plus reasonable towing costs. And if your car is written-off Huddle will replace it with a brand new one (so long as the car is under two years old and you’re the original registered owner, or if it was a dealer demonstrator model when you bought it).
Woolworths Comprehensive Car Insurance*
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| Woolworths Comprehensive |
15% buy-online discount
New-for-old cover (under 2 years)
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Key policy features: Woolies’ Drive Less, Pay Less policy option offers drivers a premium discount when they set and stay under an annual kilometre limit. There’s a range useful policy points with sub-limits, including $500 for personal property and up to $1,000 to replace stolen keys and locks. Plus, this policy also provides new-for-old car replacement if your wheels are written-off (so long as the car is less than two years old), and there’s a discount of up to 15% on your first year’s premium if you apply online.
Exceptional Value Senior Driver Insurance
Youi Comprehensive Car Insurance*
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| Youi Comprehensive Car Insurance |
New-for-old-car replacement (within 2 years)
$1,000 emergency repairs and accomodation
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Key policy features: Youi’s policy features many flexible options you may be after at an affordable price. In an emergency you can access up to $1,000 to cover repairs without an insurance assessment, or choose to use those funds for accommodation and travel if you’re more than 100km away from home. Emergency roadside assistance is also included as standard in this policy. You’ll be able to get back onto the road after a theft or an accident where you’re not at fault with Youi’s hire car cover (for up to 14 days). Youi also offer new car replacement if your vehicle is written-off and under two years old and you bought the car new or as a dealer demonstrator model.
Exceptional Value Young Driver Insurance
Virgin Money Comprehensive Car Insurance*
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| Virgin Money |
Up to 15% no claims discount
Automatic hire car cover after theft or not-at-fault accident
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Key policy features: You’ll be well taken care of by a Virgin Money Comprehensive Car Insurance policy in an emergency. It covers up to $200 per-day in travel and accommodation costs after an accident (maximum $1,000 in total), plus $500 in emergency repairs to get your wheels back on the road, as well as hire car cover for 14 days (up to $1,000) to keep you moving. Hire car coverage is included as standard after a theft or not-at-fault accident, but is only an optional extra for at-fault accidents. If you apply for the policy online, you’ll be treated to a 15% discount on your first yearly premium. And if you keep a clean claims record, you could build up a no claims discount as high as 15% (this can increase for each consecutive year you make no at-fault claims, but can be reduced if you do claim).
Rollin’ Comprehensive Car Insurance*
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| Rollin’ |
$0 excess for windscreen cover
Simplified excess
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Key policy features: Previously known as Poncho Car Insurance, Rollin’ aims to keep cover as simple as possible by offering monthly payments at no additional cost and cover you can cancel any time without penalties. The comprehensive policy covers damage to your car in the event of an accident, storm or theft, and if there’s less than 15,000km on the odometer Rollin’ will replace your car if it’s written-off with a new comparable model. If you damage your windscreen or window glass, repairs will be organised without you having to pay any excess (one claim per policy period). And for other claim types, you’ll be looking at a single $800 excess for all listed drivers, making this a good option for drivers under 25 who might otherwise face an additional young driver excess (just remember unlisted drivers can still face up to $3,000 additional excess).
GIO Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy*
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| GIO |
10% discount of you purchase a comprehensive policy online
Hire car after a no fault accident (for unlimited days)Find out more
What you need to know: GIO is a long-established general insurance provider. They took out a cool 4 out of 6 Mozo People’s Choice Awards this year, including awards in the Outstanding Customer Satisfaction and Excellent Claims Experience categories. Purchase a new GIO Comprehensive Car Insurance policy before 30 June 2022 and you could get a whole year of complimentary GIO Roadside Assist, in case you find yourself in a pinch (T&Cs apply).
GIO also offers a 10% online sign-up discount when you purchase a new policy online. You can also request a hire car after a no fault accident (for unlimited days) where you can provide the name, address and registration details of the other driver who was at fault.
Shannons Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance*
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| Shannons |
Hire car after theft and not-at-fault accidents
Excess-free windscreen repair (one claim per policy period)Find out more
What you need to know: Shannons is the car insurance for gearheads, and their comprehensive policy can provide specialised cover for vintage and classic cars. Many modifications and accessories can be covered (you’ll need to come to an agreement on price when you take out a policy), in addition up to $1,000 for personal property inside the car, up to $750 for child seats and up to $1,000 for emergency accommodation or repairs after an insurable incident. You could also be set up with a hire car after a theft or accident where you weren’t at fault (for 21 days) and you can make one claim each policy period to repair window glass or windscreens without having to pay any excess.
The 65% no claims discount (NCD) starts at 0% and increases to 65% after a minimum four consecutive periods of insurance with no claims that impact your NCD. After you have remained on a NCD of 65% for 3 consecutive years, Shannons says the discount will become protected.
In the Mozo People’s Choice Awards, Shannons took home a whopping 5 awards out of 6 categories for the second year running!
Koba Insurance Comprehensive Car Insurance*
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| Koba Insurance |
New car replacement (under 2 years old and 40,000km driven)
$500 emergency repairs
Key details: What makes Koba special is its tailored pricing system which can help you pay less if you drive less. Monthly premiums are based on the exact distance you travel, monitored by a plug-in to your car’s on-board computer which connects to the Koba app. This variable per-km charge sits between 3 and 8 cents per-km for most customers, but there is also a simple fixed cost you’ll need to pay annually. And don’t worry – there are daily (250km) and monthly (1,750km) limits after which you won’t pay more. In terms of coverage limits, there’s up to $500 cover for damaged baby seats per-claim ($1,000 total), hire car cover for up to 14 days following a theft ($70 per-day), and $500 for emergency travel and accommodation if you get stuck more than 200km from home.
Car insurance which can earn you Qantas points
Qantas Comprehensive Car Insurance*
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| Qantas |
Earn more Qantas points for optional roadside assistance
Hire car cover after theft and not-at-fault accident
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Key details: When you take out a Qantas Car Insurance policy you can earn up to 20,000 Qantas points just for signing up (your premium determines the number of points you get, and you’ll need to be paying at least $1,550 annually to qualify). And if you’re keen to add roadside assistance as an optional extra for an additional fee, you’ll earn another 1 Qantas point for every $1 you spend. Besides these perks, this policy has excellent post-accident support. You’ll get hire car cover for up to 14 days (or maximum $1,000) following a theft, or in the case of a not-at-fault accident until your car is repaired or a claim paid. Emergency travel and accommodation costs after an accident are also included ($200 per-day, up to $1,000). And if your car is written-off within two years and has less than 40,000km on the odometer, it’ll be replaced with a new comparable vehicle.
Specialist car insurance for women
Stella Comprehensive Car Insurance*
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| Stella |
Domestic violence damages cover
No-claim excess reward up to $300
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Key details: This is a great policy for parents, with up to $2,000 in baby gear and another $1,000 in personal items covered for theft and accidents. Another differentiating factor in this policy is the domestic violence cover. If your car is deliberately damaged by a current or former partner (or another driver listed on your policy) you don’t have to pay any excess as long as you report the incident to the police. And if your car is less than three years old and has travelled under 60,000km, it’ll be replaced with a new comparable model if it’s written-off. Stella also does discounts a little differently. Instead of accruing a discount on your premium for keeping a clear claims history, you’ll get $100 taken off your excess for each consecutive year you don’t make any at-fault claims (for a maximum of 3 years). Remember, Stella policies are open to all Australians, but there are some special benefits for drivers who identify as female.
Car insurance with excess-free windscreen repairs
Australia Post Comprehensive Car Insurance*
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| Australia |
$1,000 personal property cover
Excess-free windscreen repairs
Key details: An AusPost policy keeps things simple with modifications and car accessories included as standard. Getting your windscreen or window glass repaired is similarly simple, as you don’t have to pay any excess on this kind of claim (although you may have to pay excess on a full replacement). Other generous features include $1,000 of personal property cover for items inside your car, up to $1,000 cover for emergency travel and accommodation if you’re more than 100km away from home, and new-for-old replacement if your car is written-off (up to 3 years old and driven under 60,000km).