Comprehensive Car Insurance Quote: What It Is, Costs & Cover

A comprehensive car insurance quote is a personalised estimate of both price and protection for insuring your car against accidental damage, plus damage you cause to other people’s property. It typically includes cover for theft, fire, storms and vandalism, and sits above third party cover. Your quote reflects your car, where it’s kept, how it’s used, who drives it and the excess you choose—and it isn’t the same thing as compulsory CTP.

This article explains exactly what comprehensive car insurance does and doesn’t cover, how it compares to third party and CTP, what’s inside a quote, typical costs in Australia and the factors that influence them. You’ll also learn about excesses, market vs agreed value, popular add‑ons, how to compare quotes fairly, ways to save, claims basics, switching, key documents, exclusions, value vs price, price‑beat offers, premium breakdowns and FAQs—so you can choose with confidence.

What comprehensive car insurance covers (and what it doesn’t)

When life happens—hail, a shopping‑centre bump, or a stolen car—comprehensive insurance is designed to pick up the pieces. It covers your car and other people’s property for defined events, whether you’re driving or parked. Scope varies by insurer and PDS, so before you get a comprehensive car insurance quote, know what’s in and what’s out.

• Accidental damage to your car: Collisions and single‑vehicle incidents.
• Damage you cause to others: Third‑party property liability.
• Theft, fire and malicious damage: Including vandalism and attempted theft.
• Severe weather events: Storm, hail, flood and earthquake.

What it usually doesn’t cover:

• Wear and tear or mechanical failure: Gradual deterioration and breakdowns.
• Illegal use: Unlicensed driving or driving under the influence.
• Racing or unlawful acts: Track use or deliberate damage.
• Undeclared commercial use: Rideshare, taxi or delivery not disclosed.

Always check limits, excesses and any listed exclusions in the PDS.

Comprehensive vs third party vs CTP: what’s the difference?

When you compare a comprehensive car insurance quote with third party and CTP, you’re really choosing between protecting your own car, other people’s property, or people themselves. CTP is compulsory with registration and only covers injuries to people in a crash—so it’s not a substitute for property or vehicle cover.

• Comprehensive: Covers your car and damage you cause to others, plus theft, fire and many weather events.
• Third party property (TPPD/TPFT): Covers damage you cause to other people’s property; your car isn’t covered (fire and theft is optional on TPFT).
• CTP (Compulsory Third Party): Covers injuries or death to people; no cover for cars or property. Required by law and separate from your policy choice.

What does a comprehensive car insurance quote include?

A comprehensive car insurance quote is more than a dollar figure—it’s a snapshot of the cover, limits and conditions built from your answers. Read it like a contract preview: it shows what’s protected, what you’ll pay if you claim, and the options you can tweak to suit your budget.

• Cover summary: Events insured (accidental damage, theft, fire, weather) and third‑party property liability limits.
• Sum insured: Whether it’s market value or agreed value for your car.
• Excesses: Basic, age/inexperienced and any voluntary excess you’ve selected.
• Drivers and use: Listed drivers, kilometres, parking, and whether private, rideshare or business use applies.
• Optional extras: Things like hire car after an insured event, windscreen cover, roadside, or choice of repairer.
• Key conditions/exclusions: Notable limits, waiting periods (if any) and disclosure requirements.
• Price and payments: Total premium, payment frequency options, and any applicable discounts or loadings.
• Repairs and claims info: Repairer arrangements and any repair guarantees or towing provisions outlined.

What does comprehensive car insurance cost in Australia?

There’s no single price tag, because your comprehensive car insurance quote is built around your risk profile and cover choices. As a guide, recent Canstar research places average comprehensive premiums at roughly $1,750–$2,700 per year (about $145–$225 per month). Your actual price can sit below or above that band depending on things like where the car is garaged, its value and safety features, who drives it, claims history, chosen excess, market vs agreed value, and any add‑ons you select. Policies for rideshare, taxi, courier or business use are assessed on different risk settings and limits, so expect pricing that reflects that usage rather than a private‑only benchmark.

How insurers price risk: the factors that affect your premium

Every comprehensive car insurance quote is a risk calculation. Insurers use large data sets to predict how likely you are to claim and what that claim might cost, then price accordingly. You can’t change your postcode overnight, but you can tune several inputs to tilt the price–protection balance in your favour.

• Your car: Make, model, year, value, repair costs, safety rating and anti‑theft features.
• Where it’s kept: Postcode risk, garaging vs street parking, exposure to theft, hail or flood.
• Use and kilometres: Private, business, rideshare/taxi/courier and estimated annual kilometres.
• Drivers: Age, licence tenure, listed drivers, driving offences and at‑fault history.
• Claims history: Frequency and severity of past claims, plus recent insurance continuity.
• Mods and accessories: Non‑standard performance or cosmetic changes and declared accessories.
• Security and tech: Immobilisers, alarms, tracking and active safety systems.
• Cover settings: Market vs agreed value, chosen excess, and optional add‑ons (e.g., hire car).
• Payment frequency: Monthly vs annual can change the total you pay over the year.

Excess explained: basic, voluntary and age/inexperienced excesses

Your excess is the amount you pay if you make a claim—insurers price your comprehensive car insurance quote partly around the excess settings you choose. It’s paid per claim, not per year, and multiple excesses can stack. For example, a young or inexperienced listed driver may pay the basic excess plus an age/inexperienced excess if they’re at fault in a covered incident.

• Basic (standard) excess: The default amount on your policy, applied to most at‑fault claims.
• Voluntary excess: An extra amount you choose to add to lower your premium; it increases your out‑of‑pocket cost when you claim.
• Age/inexperienced excess: An additional excess that can apply to younger drivers or those with limited licence tenure.

Note: Many policies also apply an extra excess for unlisted drivers or specific events—check your PDS before you buy.

Market value vs agreed value: choosing the right sum insured

Your sum insured is either market value or agreed value. Market value is the reasonable retail price just before the loss; agreed value is a fixed dollar figure you and the insurer set at inception or renewal. Each choice changes your payout and your premium, so test both options in your comprehensive car insurance quote.

• Market value: Usually cheaper premiums; payout tracks depreciation and local sales.
• Agreed value: Higher premiums; protects against rapid depreciation; certainty.
• Best for (market value): Common cars and easy like‑for‑like replacement.
• Best for (agreed value): Near‑new, limited editions, or high‑cost accessories.
• Tip: List accessories and mods so the sum insured reflects them.

Popular add-ons and options to consider

When you tailor a comprehensive car insurance quote, smart add‑ons can minimise stress and downtime. Not every extra fits every budget, so weigh these against your risk, daily driving and how long you could be without your car.

• Hire car after at‑fault accidents: Stay mobile during repairs.
• Windscreen and glass cover: Excess‑free chip repairs or replacement.
• Choice of repairer: Use your preferred workshop.
• Roadside assistance: Jump‑starts, flat tyres and towing.
• Keys and locks: Higher limits if your keys are stolen.

How online quotes work and the info you’ll need

An online comprehensive car insurance quote is generated from the details you provide. You’ll enter information about the car, drivers and how it’s used, then choose your sum insured type, excess and any add‑ons. As you adjust settings, the premium can change; cover is only final once you confirm your disclosures and proceed to buy.

• Car details: Year, make, model and body/variant.
• Location & parking: Home postcode; garaged or street.
• Use & kilometres: Private, rideshare or business; annual kms.
• Drivers: Full names, DOBs, licence details, claims/offences.
• Finance & mods: Financed/leased; listed accessories and modifications.
• Security & safety: Immobiliser, alarm, tracking, driver‑assist tech.

How to compare quotes fairly (apples with apples)

Comparing one comprehensive car insurance quote to another only works if you standardise the settings. Small differences—sum insured type, excess, listed drivers, how the car’s used, or one add‑on—can skew the price and the value. Align the inputs first, then compare cover depth and the true yearly cost, not just the headline monthly.

• Sum insured: Use the same type (market or agreed) and the same agreed amount.
• Excess: Match basic plus any voluntary excess; check age/unlisted driver excess rules.
• Drivers & use: List the same drivers, usage (private/rideshare/business) and annual kilometres.
• Location & parking: Use the same postcode and garaged vs street parking details.
• Extras: Align hire car, windscreen, choice of repairer, roadside and keys/locks cover.
• Limits & conditions: Compare third‑party liability limits, repair guarantees, towing and PDS exclusions.
• Payments & fees: Compare annual vs monthly totals including taxes, duties and any instalment fees.

Ways to lower your premium without losing key protection

You don’t need to strip out vital cover to save. The trick is tuning the settings in your comprehensive car insurance quote so you keep the big protections (accidental damage, theft, weather and third‑party liability) while trimming avoidable cost.

• Lift your voluntary excess: Increase it to an amount you can comfortably afford to cut the premium.
• Choose market value (when suitable): Often cheaper than agreed value for common, easily replaced cars.
• Be selective with add‑ons: Keep essentials (e.g., windscreen, hire car if you need it) and drop the rest.
• Pay annually: Avoid monthly instalment fees where they apply.
• Improve security and parking: Garage the car, add immobilisers/tracking and tell your insurer.
• List only regular drivers: Consider under‑age driver exclusions if those drivers will never use the car.
• Match cover to use and kilometres: Pick realistic usage; low‑km or usage‑based options can price better if offered.
• Avoid high‑risk mods: Declare accessories; skip performance mods that hike risk and cost.
• Compare like‑for‑like each year: Align settings, then pick the best value quote, not just the lowest price.

Claims 101: what to do after an accident and how claims affect premiums

In the minutes after a crash or loss, slow things down and protect yourself first. If anyone’s injured, call 000. Don’t admit fault at the scene—stick to facts. Collect the details you’ll need to lodge a claim and let your insurer coordinate towing and repairs. If it’s theft or malicious damage, a police report number will usually be required.

• Ensure safety; move to a safe spot; call 000 for injuries.
• Exchange details: names, licence, rego, insurer; note witnesses.
• Photograph damage, location, number plates and conditions; save dashcam.
• Report theft/malicious damage to police; record the event number.
• Lodge your claim promptly; follow your insurer’s repair/tow process.

Your claims history influences premiums. At‑fault and frequent claims can push future prices up; not‑at‑fault claims with an identifiable third party usually have less impact. Some policies include 24/7 towing, lifetime repair guarantees and a replacement car for not‑at‑fault claims—check your quote/PDS.

Specialised cover for rideshare, taxi, courier and business vehicles

If you earn with your car—rideshare, taxi, courier or general business—standard private policies often won’t cut it. You need cover rated for commercial use, higher daily kilometres, multiple drivers and passenger/cargo exposures. When you request a comprehensive car insurance quote, clearly disclose your business use to get the right protection and avoid claim issues.

• Commercial use declared: Correct endorsements and realistic kilometre estimates.
• Minimise downtime: Options for hire car during repairs, towing and roadside.
• Tools and fit‑outs: Cover for fitted equipment, signage, meters and declared mods.
• Broader liability: Strong third‑party property; pair with public liability or goods‑in‑transit if needed.

Switching insurers mid-term or at renewal: refunds, timing and no-claim benefits

Switching at renewal is straightforward, and you can also change mid‑term. If you cancel mid‑term, you’ll usually get a pro‑rata refund of unused premium, less any fees or statutory charges—check your PDS. Start the new policy before cancelling the old one to avoid gaps. Claims already lodged continue under the old policy.

• Protect your no‑claim benefits: request proof of claims history; many insurers recognise it.
• National Cover can price a fresh comprehensive car insurance quote, estimate your return premium and coordinate dates.

Understanding the PDS and Key Facts Sheet before you buy

Before you hit buy, slow down and read the paperwork. The Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) explains exactly what’s covered, what isn’t, the limits, excesses and how claims work. The Key Facts Sheet (KFS) is a quick comparison tool. Use both to confirm your comprehensive car insurance quote matches the cover you expect.

• Cover scope and limits: Damage, theft, weather events and liability.
• Sum insured: Market vs agreed value and listed accessories.
• Excesses: What can stack—basic, age/unlisted and voluntary.
• Drivers & use: Restrictions on drivers, usage/kilometres and disclosure obligations.
• Repairs & admin: Repairer choice, towing, hire‑car, refunds, instalments and cancellation terms.

Common exclusions and limitations to watch for

Exclusions and limits sit quietly in every policy and they’re the traps that turn a ‘yes’ into a ‘sorry’. Always scan the PDS alongside your comprehensive car insurance quote. If an exclusion is triggered, an excess can increase, a benefit can be capped, or a claim can be reduced or declined.

• Wear and tear/mechanical failure: Not caused by an insured event.
• Illegal or impaired driving: Unlicensed, drink or drug driving.
• Racing/track use: Time trials, burnouts/hooning or track days.
• Undeclared commercial use: Rideshare, taxi, courier; tools/cargo often limited.
• Unlisted/excluded drivers: Extra excesses or no cover per PDS.
• Mods and accessories: Not declared or not road‑legal.
• Poor condition/security: Overloading, unroadworthy tyres, or failure to secure keys.

How to judge value, not just price (quote-to-value ratio)

Two comprehensive car insurance quotes can be $50 apart yet miles apart in protection. Judge value by how much real‑world cover and service you get per dollar, not just the sticker. A simple way to think about it is: value per dollar = cover you’ll actually use ÷ annual premium. Weigh these elements before you pick the cheapest.

• Core cover and limits: Accidental damage, theft, weather, third‑party liability.
• Sum insured fit: Market vs agreed value; accessories declared.
• Excess reality: Basic plus any age/unlisted driver excesses.
• Downtime + service: Hire car, 24/7 towing, repairer choice, lifetime guarantees, claims help.
• True yearly cost: Annual vs monthly (instalment fees), and fit for your actual use.

Using price-beat guarantees and matching offers

Price‑beat and price‑match offers can turn a sharp comprehensive car insurance quote into a standout deal—if the cover is truly like‑for‑like. Get a written competitor quote with identical settings, then ask the insurer to beat or match the final annual price (including GST and duties) within any stated time window.

• Identical cover: Sum insured type/amount, excesses, drivers/use, add‑ons.
• Provide proof: Dated competitor quote showing all fees/charges.
• Check conditions: Online‑only, new policies, no double‑discounting.
• Recheck value: Repair guarantees, liability limits, claims support.

Premium breakdown: base premium, GST, stamp duty and fees

When you look at a comprehensive car insurance quote, the “total” is a stack of parts. Knowing what’s in that stack helps you compare apples with apples and spot where differences come from. A simple way to think about it is: total = base premium ± loadings/discounts + GST + stamp duty + applicable fees.

• Base premium: The insurer’s risk price for your car, drivers and cover settings.
• GST (10%): Standard goods and services tax applied in Australia.
• Stamp duty: State/territory government duty on insurance; rates and tax base vary by state.
• Fees and charges: Possible instalment (pay‑by‑the‑month) fees, policy/admin fees, payment surcharges and any cancellation/admin fees.
• Tip: Check your quote’s price summary to see each itemised component before you buy.

Frequently asked questions (Australia)

Quick answers to common Australian questions before you get a comprehensive car insurance quote or switch. Always check the PDS and Key Facts Sheet—benefits and limits vary by insurer.

• Is comprehensive car insurance compulsory? No. CTP is mandatory; comprehensive is optional car protection.
• Does it cover hail, flood and storms? Often yes when listed events are covered—check your PDS.
• Will a not-at-fault claim raise my premium? Usually less impact if an at‑fault third party is identified; policies vary.
• Can I pay monthly? Usually yes, but instalment fees can make the total higher.
• How long is a quote valid? It’s indicative and can change until purchase or if details change.

Final thoughts

You now know what comprehensive car insurance is, what it covers (and doesn’t), how costs are built, and the levers that move your premium—excesses, sum insured, add‑ons and usage. You’ve seen how to compare quotes fairly, avoid common exclusions, make claims confidently and switch without gaps while protecting your no‑claim benefits.

Ready to turn knowledge into savings? Get a tailored comprehensive car insurance quote that balances protection and price, with expert claims support and a price‑beat promise. Start here: Get your National Cover quote and see how much you could save without giving up the cover that matters.