Living in Australia’s southernmost state and in need of car insurance? There are a few car insurance options for you to choose from, so we’ll explain the different types, what they cover, their benefits and more so you can make an informed decision about the right policy for you.
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Comprehensive car insurance is the highest level of cover available. This type of car insurance policy covers repair costs for both your car and other vehicles or property that you damage. It can even cover damage caused by things like storms and hail! Optional extras can also be added to a comprehensive policy.
TPPD insurance covers other vehicles and property from accidental damage that you caused. In some circumstances, your insurer may offer limited cover for your car’s value in an accident. Typically, TPPD will not cover damage to your car caused by events like fires and storms.
TPFT insurance covers other cars for damages caused by your car. While it typically doesn’t cover your car in an accident, some insurers may provide limited cover for repair or replacement costs if your vehicle is stolen or destroyed by fire.
CTP insurance is mandatory for all motorists in Tasmania. If someone is injured or killed as a result of your driving, CTP generally covers any liability you may be subject to. It’s usually bundled in with your registration fees through the Motor Accidents Insurance Board (MAIB).
Comprehensive car insurance in Tasmania provides the broadest cover for many different scenarios, including damage to your vehicle from hail, storms, fire and theft. You may also have a choice of optional extras to add to your policy that may prove to be valuable.
Some of these options can include:
With the exception of CTP, car insurance is completely optional, but it’s still worth considering extra coverage for your car – even if only a third party insurance cover. The additional insurance you buy will depend on how you value your car and what incidents you want to be covered for.
There’s a range of car insurance policies out there, spread across different tiers. Here’s a quick comparison of what each type of insurance generally covers, together with noted exclusions.
Insurance type | Damage to your car | Damage to another person’s car or property | Damage or loss to your car caused by theft or fire | Injuries or death to other people in an accident |
CTP | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Third Party Property Damage | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
Third Party Fire & Theft | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
Comprehensive | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
Note: There are more factors and variables that may affect your level of coverage. Always refer to your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), which includes important information specific to your policy. |
There are a number of factors car insurance providers take into account when calculating your premium. Here are just a few things that might affect the price of your policy:
Excess is the amount you agree to pay for making a claim, which contributes towards your damage repair costs; your insurer then pays the remaining amount or up to the amount agreed to under your policy. However, with car insurance, you generally only have to pay an excess if your insurer will not be able to recoup costs from another party. For some policies, if you can provide the name, address and vehicle registration of the other party this may be sufficient for your insurer to waive or refund your excess.
Other instances where you may be charged an excess is if your claim doesn’t involve a third party driver (e.g. hail damage, or a collision with an animal), or if you or your insurer are unable to obtain the full name, residential address and vehicle registration number to identify the responsible third party.
Excess amounts vary depending on the policy and some providers even offer lower premiums if you agree to pay a higher excess. Conversely, paying a lower excess can lead to paying higher premiums. You may also find that depending on the circumstances of your claim, you might have to pay more than one excess (e.g. if the driver was under 25 years old).
Your Tasmanian postcode might affect your car insurance premiums because your new neighbourhood may be rated differently based on a number of factors, like crime and claim rates or how likely it is for a crash to happen in the area.
Where you park your car overnight in Tasmania also affects your premium. For example, if you previously parked in a garage but you’re now parking on the street, your premiums may rise to reflect the increased security risk.
Most providers will honour your no claim bonus or discount if you switch your car insurance.
Car insurance can cover towing if it’s listed in the PDS and it will usually depend on the type of policy you have. For example, Third Party Fire and Theft insurance may cover towing after a theft or fire incident, whereas comprehensive car insurance can cover it for more scenarios, but this is sometimes available only as an optional extra.
Some comprehensive car insurance policies provide cover for caravans and trailers, but this usually only applies when your car is towing the caravan. Some insurance companies offer specialised caravan insurance as a standalone policy.
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