Car insurance in WA
Your car isn’t just a valuable asset, it’s also your freedom machine, and Western Australia is a big state to get around. No matter whether you’re heading to the surf breaks of Margaret River, crossing the Nullarbor on the road trip of a lifetime or just buzzing between Cottesloe and Subiaco, a car can be very useful in WA—and that can make your car worth protecting with insurance.
Car insurance in WA can be compulsory or optional, depending on the type of cover. Here are the different types of car insurance available to drivers in WA.
Compulsory Third Party insurance
Compulsory Third Party (CTP) Insurance in WA is compulsory for WA-registered vehicles, and the premiums are included in your car’s registration fee. However, CTP only covers you for the cost of any claims if you injure or kill someone in a car accident. You won’t be insured for the cost of any damage to property including your own car.
Third party property insurance
Third party property insurance covers you if you damage someone else’s property in an accident. Your own car is not normally protected under this type of insurance. Some insurers may cover your car under third party property insurance though it is typically for a low sum, often as little as $5,000.
Third Party Fire & Theft insurance
Further along the scale is third party fire and theft insurance. This generally provides the same type of cover as third party property policies with the additional benefit that your car is insured if it is stolen or catches fire. Here, too, the level of cover for your car can be low, for example being limited to a certain amount, such as a maximum of $10,000.
Comprehensive car insurance
Comprehensive car insurance in WA provides a broad range of protection. While policy details can differ between insurers, you are typically covered for the cost of repairs or replacement of your car if it is stolen, damaged by collision or fire, or if it experiences malicious damage and even weather-related damage. Comprehensive car insurance usually also includes cover for damage you cause to someone else’s car or property in a collision.
How much does comprehensive car insurance cost in WA?
The cost of comprehensive car insurance in WA will vary depending on a range of factors including the make, model and age of your car, how much excess you choose and, of course, your choice of insurer.
Premiums can also vary depending on where you live in WA. Some suburbs have higher accident and crime rates. Others can be prone to extreme weather that could pose a risk to your car. The northwest coastline between Broome and Exmouth for instance, is well-known for cyclone activity, and this can impact the cost of car cover in the region.
The only way to really know what you’re likely to pay for comprehensive car insurance in WA is to shop around and compare premiums across a variety of insurers. You can use the table at the top of this page to compare WA comprehensive car insurance policy features.
That said, the premium shouldn’t be the only factor you weigh up. The level of cover a policy provides can make a big difference to the value for money you receive.
To help you shop around, you may want to take a look at Canstar’s Car Insurance Star Ratings and Awards that considers both cost and features.
What is the best car insurance in WA?
The best car insurance in WA (or anywhere else) depends on the level of cover you’re looking for. Comprehensive car insurance is generally regarded as the gold standard for car cover simply because of the breadth of protection it provides. This can also mean the premiums are likely to be higher than for other types of optional cover. The upside is that your finances are better protected if the unexpected happens.
None of us get behind the wheel expecting to have a collision. But WA has some well-known car crash hot spots including the Albany Highway in Cannington and Kelmscott as well as Nicholson Road, Canning Vale.
It’s not just about having an accident though. According to the official WA Police Force monthly crime statistics document for the financial year to date (July 2024 to March 2025), 3,798 vehicles were reported stolen in Western Australia during this period. Having comprehensive cover in place can protect you financially if thieves target your car.
It’s also worth noting that if your car is under finance, the lender may make it a condition of your loan that you have comprehensive cover in place. The upshot is that comprehensive car insurance offers a lot more protection for your car, and your finances.
How can I get cheap car insurance in WA?
A number of steps can help you pocket savings on car insurance premiums.
- Install anti-theft devices: Safety and security devices such as immobilisers may lower the risk of your car being stolen, which may help to reduce insurance premiums.
- Select a higher excess: The excess is the lump sum you pay your insurer when you make a claim. As a general rule, the higher the excess you select, the lower your premium will be. Just be sure to pick an excess you can afford to pay at claim time.
- Use your car less frequently: Road accidents can be a numbers game—the more you drive, the greater the likelihood you could be involved in an accident. This is why many insurers will ask how many kilometres you drive each year when working out your premium. Some insurers offer savings on premiums to drivers who notch up fewer kilometres annually.
- Compare premiums for agreed value versus market value: If you’re taking out comprehensive car insurance in WA, you’re likely to find the premium differs depending on whether you choose to insure your car for market value or an agreed value. It can be tempting to accept the value that results in the lowest premium, but choose carefully because if your car is written off, the insurance payout may be needed to fund a new vehicle.
The table above may be helpful to you in finding a car insurance policy that suits your needs. It lets you compare comprehensive car insurance covers from various providers, with filters to narrow down your results for greater relevance. You may also want to take a look at Canstar’s latest Car Insurance Star Ratings and Awards that compare car insurance policies based on both cost and features.
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