One in five Victorians surveyed say they’ve been involved in a car accident over the past year, according to new research from Compare the Market. Drivers in the state were more likely to say they’ve been involved in a car accident over the past year than motorists anywhere else in Australia.*
A new nationally representative survey found 20% of Victorians reported being involved in a car accident in the past year, ahead of New South Wales (16%), Queensland (13%), South Australia (12%) and Western Australia (7%).
Nationally, almost 15% (14.9%) of Australians surveyed said they were involved in a road incident in the last 12 months, highlighting the ongoing risks motorists face every time they get behind the wheel.
Compare the Market spokesperson Sarah Orr said the results shine a flashing warning sign on Victoria for all the wrong reasons.
“This is one race Victoria won’t want to win,” Ms Orr said. “Almost one in five Victorians report being involved in an accident in just the past year and that’s a flashing warning light for motorists to stay alert behind the wheel.”
The research also found younger Australians were more likely to report being involved in a car accident than older generations.
Almost a quarter (24%) of Gen Z respondents said they had been involved in an accident in the past 12 months, compared to 20% of Millennials, 11% of Generation X and just 6% of Baby Boomers.
Ms Orr said young drivers may face a higher risk while building experience on the roads.
“This is why developing safe driving habits early is so important,” Ms Orr said.
“Staying alert, avoiding distractions and making sure you have appropriate insurance can go a long way towards protecting both yourself and other road users.”
The findings also revealed how Australians dealt with the financial aftermath of a crash. While 6.4% of respondents made a car insurance claim, 5.9% either paid for repairs entirely out of their own pocket or did not have car insurance. A further 2.6% said they had not repaired their vehicle following the accident.
Ms Orr said the results should encourage motorists to review their insurance before potentially facing an unexpected repair bill.
“A lot of motorists have told us they paid for repairs out of pocket,” Ms Orr said.
“It’s important to set an excess that you’re able to afford if you ever need to make a car insurance claim. While opting for a high excess when taking our car insurance may lower premiums, it could mean you’re left with a big bill if the worst were to happen.
“When some car damage bills can rack into the tens of thousands, you really want to make sure that the cover is there for you when you need it.”
*Compare the Market commissioned PureProfile to survey 1,019 18+ aged Australian adults, conducted June 2026.
Survey findings for journalists
Have you been involved in a car accident in the last 12 months?
| State | Yes |
| Victoria | 20% |
| New South Wales | 16% |
| Queensland | 13% |
| South Australia | 12% |
| Western Australia | 7% |
| Australia | 14.9% |
*Compare the Market commissioned PureProfile to survey 1,019 18+ aged Australian adults, conducted June 2026. NT, ACT and Tas included in Australia total.
How Australians responded following an accident
- 6.4% made a car insurance claim
- 5.9% paid for repairs themselves or did not have car insurance
- 2.6% elected not to repair their vehicle
Generational breakdown of being involved in an accident in the past 12 months
- Gen Z: 24%
- Millennials: 20%
- Generation X: 11%
- Baby Boomers: 6%
