Fleet Insurance Australia: Costs, Cover & Quotes (2025)

Fleet insurance is a single policy that covers multiple business vehicles — cars, utes, vans, trucks and even plant — under one umbrella. Instead of insuring each vehicle separately, you manage one renewal, one set of excesses and a consistent level of cover across the lot. You can add or remove vehicles as your fleet changes, choose comprehensive or third party options, and tailor extras like hire car, windscreen, driver personal effects and downtime cover. For many Australian operators, that means fewer admin headaches, clearer claims handling and stronger bargaining power on price.

This guide explains exactly what fleet insurance covers in Australia, who’s eligible, and how policies are structured for small, medium and large fleets in 2025. You’ll learn the difference between fleet, commercial motor and heavy haulage, how CTP fits in, typical inclusions and exclusions, and what really drives premiums. We’ll outline cost ranges, practical ways to trim your bill, how claims and excesses work, telematics and risk management benefits, a checklist for quotes, how to compare providers, notes for taxis/rideshare/couriers/trades, what EVs and ADAS mean for cover, switching mid-term — and how to secure a sharp, reliable quote.

What fleet insurance covers in Australia

At its core, fleet insurance protects your business vehicles against loss or damage and covers your legal liability to others. Policies are typically arranged as comprehensive, third party property damage (TPPD), or third party fire and theft (TPF&T) — letting you choose the protection level vehicle-by-vehicle or across the fleet.

• Own vehicle damage (comprehensive): Accidental damage, theft, fire, vandalism and severe weather events such as storms and floods.
• Third party property damage: Liability if your vehicle damages someone else’s car or property.
• Fire and theft (TPF&T): Cover for loss from theft or fire without full accident cover.
• Emergency costs and towing: Many policies include reasonable towing and emergency expenses after an insured event.

Exact inclusions vary by insurer and cover type. You can often tailor extras such as windscreen, hire car after accident, driver personal effects and downtime cover to match operational needs.

Who needs fleet insurance and eligibility criteria

If you run two or more vehicles for business, fleet insurance can simplify admin, sharpen pricing and standardise cover. It suits trade businesses, SMEs with sales cars or service vans, logistics operators with vans and trucks, and passenger transport operators with taxis or hire vehicles. It’s also useful as you grow, because you can add or remove vehicles mid‑term.

• Minimum vehicle count: Many insurers accept 2+ vehicles; some start at 5+, and Vero targets 15+ fleets. There’s effectively no upper limit.
• Business use: Vehicles must be used commercially (not purely private).
• Vehicle mix: Cars, utes, vans, trucks and, with some insurers, plant/equipment.
• Ownership/control: Common ownership or central management under one entity.
• Underwriting info: Driver/licence details and prior claims/loss history are usually required.

Policy structures and fleet sizes

Fleet insurance is built as one policy that schedules all your business vehicles, with the flexibility to add and remove units as your fleet changes. Some insurers will write anything from a single car to a full fleet, while others focus on larger programs (for example, 15+ vehicles) or medium‑to‑large transport businesses. With certain providers, you can also include plant and equipment under the same motor policy, and larger fleets typically access tailored wording and risk support.

• Policy basis: A scheduled list of vehicles with mid‑term adjustments.
• Cover mix: Choose comprehensive, TPPD or TPF&T per vehicle.
• Vehicle scope: Cars, utes, vans, trucks — and with some insurers, plant/equipment.
• Admin efficiency: One renewal, consolidated excesses and consistent endorsements.
• Large fleet options: Bespoke underwriting, dedicated claims handling and risk services.

Fleet insurance vs commercial motor and heavy haulage

Think of “commercial motor” as the broad product that can cover anything from a single work ute to a fleet of trucks, with comprehensive, TPPD or TPF&T options. “Fleet insurance” is simply that commercial motor cover structured for multiple vehicles on one schedule, streamlining admin and often unlocking fleet-rated pricing. “Heavy haulage” is a specialist transport placement for trucks and prime movers, typically via insurers focused on medium‑to‑large carriers, with tailored underwriting and risk support. Cargo and liability are often arranged alongside, not inside, the motor policy.

• Fleet insurance: 2+ business vehicles on one policy, mixed types welcome.
• Commercial motor: Single vehicle or small numbers; start here before scaling.
• Heavy haulage: Linehaul/transport operators with heavier units needing specialist terms.

CTP vs fleet insurance: what each policy covers

Compulsory Third Party (CTP) is the mandatory cover tied to vehicle registration in Australia. It responds to injuries to people caused by the use of your vehicle. It does not repair cars, trucks or property. Fleet insurance is the separate, optional policy that protects your vehicles and covers damage you cause to other people’s property. If you operate business vehicles, you need CTP for each one — and fleet insurance for the rest.

• CTP covers: Injury to people (e.g., other drivers, passengers, pedestrians). Required for every registered vehicle.
• CTP doesn’t cover: Damage to vehicles or property, theft, fire, weather, or your own repair costs.
• Fleet insurance covers: Your vehicles for accidental damage, theft, fire and weather, plus third party property damage — with one policy across multiple vehicles.

Standard inclusions and popular optional add-ons

While wording differs by insurer and cover type, most Australian fleet insurance programs share a familiar backbone. Comprehensive cover typically includes your own vehicle damage plus third party property liability, with towing and reasonable emergency costs after an insured event. Third party options limit cover to property damage you cause, but you can stack targeted extras to match how your vehicles actually work.

• Core inclusions (typical): Accidental damage, theft, fire and severe weather (comprehensive); third party property liability; towing and emergency costs after an insured event.
• Glass and windscreens: Optional reduced/zero excess windscreen and window glass.
• Hire car/keep you moving: Optional hire vehicle after accident or theft; downtime/loss of use for commercials.
• Drivers and contents: Driver personal effects/tools cover; increased signwriting/accessory limits.
• Trailers and equipment: Trailer in control for light trailers; some include plant/equipment on the same motor policy.
• Claims cost control: Excess buy‑down, age/inexperience excess waivers, and preferred repairer benefits.
• Operational support: Roadside assistance and telematics-linked incentives (where offered).

Common exclusions and grey areas to clarify

Fleet policies aren’t blanket cover; most have familiar exclusions and some “it depends” conditions that catch operators out. Before binding, confirm how your vehicles are used, where they’re garaged, and who drives them — and get endorsements for anything unusual. If in doubt, ask your broker/insurer to put clarifications in writing.

• Unlicensed/impaired driving: No cover if the driver is unlicensed, disqualified or under the influence.
• Unroadworthy/overloaded: Vehicles in unsafe condition, overloaded or used illegally are typically excluded.
• Wear and tear/mechanical failure: Routine breakdowns, tyres and depreciation unless caused by an insured event.
• Property you own or control: Damage to your own property or items in your custody (including unlisted trailers/goods) is usually not covered.
• Theft without forced entry: Often excluded; keep proof of forcible entry and secure keys.
• Undeclared mods/accessories: Non-standard modifications, signwriting and accessories may be limited unless declared.
• Off-road/remote worksites: Mining sites, water crossings or non-public roads may need specific endorsement.
• Consequential loss: Downtime/loss of income and hire vehicle after accident are optional add-ons, not standard.
• Driver/usage limits: Age/inexperienced excesses, radius and garaging conditions apply; breaching them can reduce or deny claims.

How insurers calculate premiums in 2025

Insurers price fleet insurance in Australia by modelling your exposure and expected loss, then applying credits or loadings for how you operate. In 2025, vehicle tech complexity, repair labour, weather risk and your recent claims performance all meaningfully influence the final number.

Premium ≈ Base rate × Exposure × Risk modifiers ± Claims load − Discounts

• Fleet size and mix: Cars/utes/vans/trucks/plant and their values.
• Cover level: Comprehensive vs TPPD/TPF&T; market vs agreed value; limits.
• Use and radius: Local, regional, interstate; annual kilometres and duty cycle.
• Drivers: Age/experience/licences, driver selection and training records.
• Garaging/security: Overnight locations, immobilisers, cameras, key control.
• Claims history: Frequency, severity and trend; overall fleet loss ratio.
• Operating profile: Industry, sites visited, urban density and peak hours.
• Geography/weather: Hail/flood/storm exposure and catastrophe risk.
• Add‑ons and limits: Windscreen, hire car, downtime, accessories/signwriting.
• Excess strategy: Higher excesses generally reduce premium.
• Risk management/telematics: Policies, dashcams, fatigue and maintenance programs can attract credits.

Typical cost ranges and budgeting tips

Costs for fleet insurance Australia vary widely by vehicle type, cover and claims history. Insurers write anything from a small 2–5 vehicle schedule through to 15+ fleets and heavy units, so pricing is portfolio‑specific. Instead of chasing a generic figure, build a budget per segment, include likely excess spend, and only add extras that protect uptime.

Annual motor budget = Premium (by segment) + Expected excess spend + Uninsured costs (downtime, glass) ± Mid‑term adjustments

• Band your fleet: Classify cars/utes/vans/trucks and comprehensive vs TPPD/TPF&T.
• Forecast excess spend: Use the last 3 years’ claims to gauge frequency and severity.
• Reserve for shocks: Keep an excess reserve and a hail/flood contingency.
• Assess add‑ons ROI: Buy windscreen, hire car or downtime where duty cycles demand it.
• Plan cash flow: Expect pro‑rata adds/removes; align renewals with your financial year.

Practical ways to reduce your fleet insurance costs

Cutting fleet insurance costs is less about stripping cover and more about reducing loss and proving it. Attack frequency and severity, tighten driver controls, and present clean data at renewal. Then fine‑tune excesses and add‑ons to match how your vehicles actually work.

• Lift excesses smartly: Higher excess on low‑severity classes; keep critical units lower.
• Right‑size cover: Comprehensive for high‑value assets; TPPD/TPF&T on older run‑outs.
• Trim add‑ons: Keep windscreen/downtime where uptime matters; drop non‑essentials.
• Driver standards: Licence checks, age/inexperience rules, induction and fatigue management.
• Telematics/dashcams: Monitor behaviour, evidence not‑at‑fault, share summaries with underwriters.
• Security and garaging: Locked yards, cameras, key control, immobilisers; hail shelters in risk zones.
• Maintenance discipline: Scheduled servicing and tyres; keep defect logs to evidence risk control.
• Preferred repairers: Use agreed networks and rates to reduce repair cost and downtime.
• Fast claims reporting: Notify within 24 hours; chase recoveries on not‑at‑fault losses.
• Standardise fleet spec: Safer vehicles/ADAS and fewer models to cut repair times and parts costs.

Excess options and how the claims process works

Your excess is the amount you contribute when a claim is made; it can be tailored by vehicle class and risk appetite. Most fleets carry a basic excess, with additional excesses for younger or inexperienced drivers and certain loss types. You can often raise the excess to reduce premium, add a lower “glass‑only” excess, or buy down excesses on critical units. National Cover also offers an excess discount when you use preferred repairers.

• Common excess types: Basic; age/inexperienced; theft/hail; glass-only; voluntary higher; imposed for higher-risk use.
• Tactics: Set higher excesses on low-severity vehicles; buy-down where uptime matters; use preferred repairers for potential excess savings.

1. Make safe and record details: Photos, dashcam, third-party info; report to police if required.
2. Lodge promptly: Notify within 24 hours; National Cover accepts claims by email with 365‑day assistance and 24×7 towing.
3. Assessment and authorisation: Insurer allocates an assessor and repairer; preferred networks speed approvals.
4. Excess payment: Pay the applicable excess; if clearly not at fault, recovery may remove or refund it.
5. Repairs/settlement: Repairs proceed (National Cover offers a lifetime warranty). Total losses are settled per your policy value.
6. Recovery and updates: Insurer pursues recoveries; you receive progress updates until closure.

Risk management, telematics and how they impact premiums

Insurers reward proven control of risk, not promises. In fleet insurance Australia, telematics and disciplined risk management reduce crash frequency and claim costs, and give underwriters credible evidence. Dashcams help establish not-at-fault and speed recoveries; GPS and geofencing deter theft; consistent driver rules and secure garaging cut avoidable losses. Better loss ratios can support sharper pricing and more stable terms.

Use the data to coach drivers, enforce policies and document improvements. Present quarterly summaries at renewal so credits are tied to measurable outcomes.

• Driver standards: Written policy, inductions and periodic licence checks.
• Telematics discipline: Exception reports, scorecards and coaching records.
• Dashcam evidence: Incident video retention and fair‑use/privacy settings.
• Security controls: Secure garaging, key control and anti‑theft hardware.
• Maintenance records: Scheduled servicing and defect rectification logs.

Fleet quote checklist: information you’ll need to provide

The fastest way to a sharp, accurate fleet insurance quote is clean, complete data. Pull this together before you request terms and you’ll cut the back‑and‑forth, reduce assumptions, and help underwriters price you on facts rather than loadings.

• ABN/legal entity & contacts: Registered name, ABN/ACN and key contact details.
• Business activities & operating radius: What you do, where vehicles travel and typical duty cycle.
• Fleet schedule: Rego, year/make/model, body type; VINs if available.
• Values & cover per vehicle: Market vs agreed value; comprehensive, TPPD or TPF&T.
• Drivers/profile: Number of drivers, licence classes, age mix and training programs.
• Use patterns & garaging: Annual kilometres, overnight postcodes, after‑hours use.
• Security controls: Immobilisers, GPS/dashcams, yard security and key management.
• Claims history (3–5 years): Dates, descriptions, costs and at‑fault status.
• Mods/accessories: Signwriting, racks, toolboxes, non‑standard equipment.
• Finance/lease interests: Financier details to note on the policy.
• Telematics & risk management: Systems, reporting and enforcement evidence.
• Repair/excess preferences: Preferred repairers, glass excess, desired basic excess.
• Special conditions: Remote/mining access, trailer-in‑control, radius restrictions or site requirements.

How to compare quotes and choose the right provider

Line up quotes on identical assumptions so you’re comparing apples with apples. Specify the same cover type per vehicle, values, excesses, driver age rules, operating radius and garaging. Then look beyond the headline premium — the real value in fleet insurance Australia shows up in wording, service and claims outcomes.

• Coverage scope: Comprehensive vs TPPD/TPF&T, limits, windscreen, hire car and downtime.
• Excess strategy: Basic, age/inexperience, glass-only; options to buy down.
• Exclusions/endorsements: Heavy use, remote sites, trailers, accessories and signage.
• Repairs and uptime: Preferred repairer networks, parts policy, lifetime warranties.
• Claims support: 24×7 lodgement, towing, not‑at‑fault recovery, KPI reporting.
• Risk credits: Telematics/dashcams, driver training, security and maintenance evidence.
• Flexibility: Add/remove vehicles mid‑term, plant/equipment on the same policy.
• Commercial fit: Price‑beat or multi‑year rate stability, clear account management.

The Australian market: insurers, underwriters and broker options

Fleet insurance Australia is serviced by a mix of direct insurers, specialist transport underwriters and broker channels. Mainstream carriers offer Commercial Motor/Business Pack for small fleets (e.g., QBE covers single vehicles to fleets; Allianz can place up to 20 by phone). Mid‑to‑large or complex programs often sit with specialists and corporate markets such as NTI (transport/heavy), Vero (typically 15+ vehicles), HDI Global and Zurich (can include plant and equipment). Underwriting agencies like Fleetsure focus on motor fleets, while brokers such as Marsh, Coverforce and Steadfast network firms coordinate placement and risk services.

• Direct insurers: Simple fleets, faster setup, standard wording.
• Specialist underwriters: Heavy haulage/transport or corporate needs.
• Underwriting agencies: Niche fleet expertise and flexible terms.
• Brokers: Market access, program design, claims and risk management support.

Industry-specific notes for taxis, rideshare, courier and trade fleets

Different industries create different claim patterns — and insurers price accordingly. Get the usage declared correctly, match add‑ons to uptime needs, and tidy up risk controls that drive frequency (drivers, routes, garaging). Remember: passenger injury sits with CTP; goods in transit is usually a separate policy; trailers and accessories often need to be listed or specifically endorsed.

• Taxis: Declare taxi use and any fit‑outs (meters, cameras, screens). High‑frequency, 24/7 operations benefit from downtime/loss‑of‑use and hire vehicle options. Tight driver and key controls help with pricing; consider public liability for rank/kerbside exposure.
• Rideshare: Ensure the policy notes rideshare use. Rotating drivers? Set clear age/licence rules and consider excess buy‑downs on peak vehicles. Hire car after theft/accident and windscreen cover support uptime; dashcams aid not‑at‑fault recoveries.
• Courier/delivery: Stop‑start metro work drives minor collisions and glass claims — windscreen options and sensible excesses pay off. Lock yards and GPS help deter theft. Cover goods separately under transit/cargo; check radius limits and after‑hours garaging.
• Trade fleets: Utes and vans often carry racks, toolboxes and signwriting — declare accessories and lift limits if needed. Add trailer‑in‑control, and confirm access to worksites or off‑road use. Some programs can include plant/equipment under the motor policy for simpler admin.

EVs, ADAS and new tech: what it means for your fleet policy

EVs and advanced driver‑assistance systems (ADAS) are changing how fleets are insured and repaired. Repairs can be costlier due to battery packs, sensors and calibration, while downtime hinges on parts availability and specialist repairers. In fleet insurance Australia, the trick is aligning cover and operations so tech reduces risk without inflating costs.

• Battery/high‑voltage: Confirm how accidental battery damage and thermal events are handled; wear and tear remains excluded.
• Glass and sensors: ADAS calibrations drive costs — consider glass excess options and repair networks that can recalibrate.
• Charging gear: List mobile chargers/cables as accessories; fixed chargers usually sit under property/liability — clarify placement.
• Towing and recovery: Ensure 24×7 towing includes EV‑safe recovery and approved storage.
• Replacement vehicle: Check hire car terms for EV‑equivalent availability or downtime cover.
• Mods/weight: Declare aftermarket accessories and any payload/GVM impacts; keep spec consistent to control repair times.

Switching providers mid-term: refunds, timing and no-gap cover

Switching fleet insurance in Australia mid‑term is normal. You can cancel and usually receive a pro‑rata return premium for the unused period (subject to minimum premiums, fees and any claims). The key is timing: have the new policy start the instant the old one ends so there’s no coverage gap. CTP stays separate.

• Confirm return premium, fees and any minimum earned amounts.
• Keep the old cover active until the new certificate is issued.
• Align dates/times and request written “no‑gap” confirmation.
• Open claims remain with the outgoing insurer; update financiers and drivers with new claim/tow details.

Why choose National Cover for fleet insurance

Want sharper pricing with fewer headaches? National Cover pairs market research with fleet know‑how to keep vehicles earning, then backs you with decisive, no‑nonsense claims support.

• Price‑beat guarantee: backed by ASIC‑licensed, data‑driven pricing.
• Specialist cover: rideshare, taxis, couriers, trade and mixed fleets.
• Fast claims: email lodgement, 365‑day help, 24×7 towing, lifetime repair warranty, not‑at‑fault replacement car, preferred‑repairer excess discount.
• Transparent value: Quote‑to‑Value Ratio and clear endorsements.
• Flexible admin: add/remove vehicles mid‑term; switch anytime with return‑premium guidance.

Key takeaways

Fleet insurance brings your vehicles under one policy, lets you mix cover levels, and simplifies admin, excesses and claims. CTP still covers injuries only; your fleet policy handles vehicles and third‑party property. Premiums hinge on fleet mix, usage, claims and controls, so clean data, telematics and disciplined drivers genuinely shift price and terms.

• Accurate declarations: Usage, radius, garaging, accessories and trailers clearly noted.
• Prove risk control: Driver policy, telematics, dashcams, secure yards and maintenance.
• Fit‑for‑purpose cover: Comprehensive vs TPPD/TPF&T with only the add‑ons you need.
• Smart excesses: Higher on low‑severity classes; buy‑down for critical units.
• Quote‑ready data: Complete schedule plus 3–5 years of claims history.

Ready for sharper pricing and decisive claims support? Get a tailored fleet quote from National Cover.