What types of car insurance are available in Queensland?
There are four main types of car insurance in Queensland and Australia:
- Third party property damage: The most basic level of optional cover in Australia. Third party property damage provides financial cover towards the expenses you may incur if you cause accidental damage to someone else’s property with your vehicle. It may also cover your legal liability in the event of legal proceedings in relation to the damaged property.
- Third party fire and theft: Covers third party property damage, and also covers your own car if it’s damaged by fire or stolen.
- Comprehensive car insurance: The highest level of car insurance cover in Australia. It includes everything covered by third party fire and theft, along with accidental damage to your vehicle, regardless of who was at fault. It may also cover damage caused by storms or vandalism, but this will depend on the insurance provider and policy. A comprehensive policy may also allow you to choose between insuring your vehicle for its market value or an agreed value that you and your provider come to.
- CTP insurance: Provided alongside a vehicle's registration in Queensland, CTP overs the cost of compensation claims if you injure or kill someone in a road accident. It does not cover you for damage to your own vehicle or damage to other people’s vehicles or property.
What does comprehensive car insurance in QLD cover?
Comprehensive is the broadest optional cover and the focus of this page. It can pay to repair or replace your car after an insured event (for example, an accident where you’re at fault or not, theft, fire, vandalism and often severe weather such as storm or hail), and it typically includes cover for damage you cause to other people’s property. Policies differ by insurer, so check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for inclusions, exclusions and limits.
What comprehensive car insurance commonly includes:
- Accidental damage to your car, regardless of fault
- Third party property damage
- Theft and attempted theft, fire and vandalism
- Weather events (often storm and hail; some also cover flood, but this varies between providers)
- Towing, roadside clean‑up, and a lifetime repair guarantee when you use an approved repairer
Features that commonly vary between providers:
- Hire car after theft or when you’re not at fault
- Windscreen and glass cover
- Choice of repairer and terms on genuine parts vs equivalents
- Cover for accessories and personal items (e.g., child seats)
- Market value vs agreed value for total loss settlements
What to consider in QLD
Queensland’s severe storms, hail, and flood risk make weather definitions important—look for clear wording and any waiting periods. Long regional drives can make roadside assistance and hire‑car benefits more useful. Set an excess you can afford at claim time, and choose between market value (often cheaper premiums) and agreed value (clearer payout for newer or modified cars).
What is the best car insurance in QLD?
The best Queensland car insurance option for you will depend on a variety of different factors, from the type of car you drive, how and where you drive, where you live, your car’s value and what you can afford at claim time.
What 'best' typically looks like in QLD conditions:
- Weather protection that fits the state: storm, hail and flood cover with clear definitions and any waiting periods disclosed.
- An excess you can realistically pay: a higher excess often lowers premiums, but make sure it’s affordable if you need to claim.
- Value basis that matches your car: market value can be cheaper; agreed value can offer clearer outcomes for newer, rare or modified vehicles.
- Claims experience: 24/7 claims lodgement, clear updates, choice of repairer, lifetime repair guarantees and genuine parts terms.
- Practical extras: windscreen/glass (often with reduced or no excess), hire car after theft or when you’re not at fault, roadside assistance for regional trips, and cover for accessories or child seats if you need them.
- Transparent exclusions: unsealed/off‑road use, rideshare and unlisted drivers are common considerations—but make sure to double-check the PDS for the full list of exclusions.
While no single policy suits everyone, Canstar’s awards and Star Ratings are a useful starting point to compare comprehensive cover on value and features relevant to Queensland drivers.
Canstar’s car insurance research analyses premiums and features across a wide set of policies. Our Car Insurance Star Ratings and Outstanding Value Awards highlight providers offering strong overall value, factoring in typical costs and inclusions such as weather cover, claims support and repair arrangements.
Our most recent award winners were:
- 2026 Car Insurance Outstanding Value Award - National: AAMI, Bingle, and ROLLiN’ Insurance
- 2026 Car Insurance Outstanding Value Award - QLD: ROLLiN’ Insurance
- 2026 Most Satisfied Customers - Car Insurance Award: Bupa
Awards and ratings can help narrow your shortlist, but the 'best' policy still comes down to your car, postcode risk, how far you drive and the cover you expect to use. Always read the PDS and Target Market Determination to confirm the policy matches your situation.
How to find the cheapest car insurance in QLD
If price is your priority, you could start by choosing the minimum cover you’re comfortable with then trim costs without dropping essentials. Your approach might see you:
- Raise your basic excess if you can afford the out‑of‑pocket cost at claim time.
- Keep declared kilometres accurate. Low‑km or usage‑based policies can be cheaper if you drive less.
- Park off‑street and consider basic security measures, such as an alarm or immobiliser.
- Remove add‑ons you won’t use; consider a separate glass excess to lower windscreen claim costs.
- Compare policies at every renewal time, as pricing and discounts can change every year.
- Consider market value if you don’t need agreed‑value certainty.
- Pay your premium annually if you can, as it can often costs more overall to pay monthly.
Expert tip: Third party property damage is usually the lowest‑cost optional cover, but it won’t cover your car. To keep comprehensive affordable, pair a higher excess with realistic kilometres and minimal add‑ons.
How much does comprehensive car insurance cost in Queensland?
The average annual premium for comprehensive car insurance in QLD is $2,169 in 2026, according to Canstar Research.
The cost of car insurance in Queensland will vary depending on a range of factors, including:
- Your age
- Driving experience and history
- Residential address
- The level of cover you require
- The type of car you’re looking to insure (including its make, model and age)
- Where your car is usually parked
- How often and how far you drive
- Your nominated excess
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to find a provider that meets your needs while also providing lower premiums. Switching from the average-priced policy in QLD to an average policy rated 5 Stars by Canstar could save you $419 per year.
How does living in Queensland affect your comprehensive cover?
Queensland’s weather and vastness shape both pricing and cover terms. Hail and heavy rain can raise risk loadings, so check how flood and storm are defined in the PDS. Longer regional drives can lift exposure and may limit low‑kilometre discounts. Theft and collision rates differ by suburb, while animal strikes may be more likely on regional roads. Some policies limit cover on unsealed or off‑road surfaces — check those clauses if you travel outside the city.
Optional extras to consider with comprehensive cover
- Windscreen and glass cover (often with reduced or no excess)
- Roadside assistance
- Hire car after theft or a not‑at‑fault accident
- Choice of repairer with a lifetime repair guarantee
- Cover for accessories and child seats can add value
Market value vs agreed value
Insuring your vehicle for its market value usually means paying a lower premium and receiving a payout aligned to your car’s value at the time of the incident. Conversely, an agreed value is a set figure you and the insurer decide upfront, which can provide clearer outcomes for newer, rare, or modified vehicles.
How to switch comprehensive car insurance in QLD
Switching comprehensive car insurance policies is fairly straightforward. Follow these steps to avoid gaps in your cover—and potentially save on cost:
Step 1: Gather your details
Have your licence, current policy number, car details (make, model, year, VIN or rego), average annual kilometres, parking location and any listed drivers.
Step 2: Compare like‑for‑like
Get at least three quotes with the same excess, the same value basis (market or agreed) and similar add‑ons. Confirm if you’re covered for hail, storm, and flood in each PDS.
Step 3: Check fees and timing
Look for any cancellation fees and whether a pro‑rata refund applies. Set your new policy to begin the minute your old one ends to avoid a gap.
Step 4: Start new, then cancel old
Buy the new policy first. Once your new policy is active, cancel the old one from the agreed date. Keep written confirmation and note any refund you’re entitled to.
Step 5: Update the essentials
Store your new policy and PDS, share the new insurer details with any regular drivers on your policy, and note the excess and inclusions.
