By Taylor Sankey
Ever driven in peak hour traffic in the CBD? Terrifying. Add rain into the mix and it’s a recipe for disaster. If you have ever been in an accident, you’ll know how overwhelming it can be. You will sit there for a second, stunned—and wonder, ‘well, what do I do now?’ The first point of call for most people is to ring up a parent, but we are adults now, which means we should probably know what to do when the proverbial hits the fan.
Insurance is one of the more confusing aspects that we must deal with as part of this whole ‘adulting’ thing. With most of us Glassies aged between 16 and 24, we are collectively what those in the insurance business classify as ‘young drivers’, and the stats aren’t kind to us either. Young drivers are 60% more likely to be involved in serious crashes than our mature-aged counterparts (CARRS-Q, 2020). Being part of such a staggering statistic means it is vital to know what you are covered for if you get into an accident—this article delves into just that.
Am I covered by insurance?
There are a few different types of insurance that cover motor vehicle accidents. They all sort of sound the same, but here is a quick overview of what coverage they provide.
Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance
Compulsory Third Party insurance is, you guessed it, compulsory. You cannot drive your vehicle on the road without it. CTP insurance protects you (and anyone who drives your car) from being held financially responsible if you injure someone in an accident. But don’t worry, if you have paid your vehicle registration (or your parents have paid it for you), you are automatically covered by CTP insurance. In Queensland, CTP insurance is included in your vehicle registration fee (Motor Accident Insurance Commission, 2024). So, when you see that registration notice show up in the mail, pay it. Otherwise, you risk a hefty penalty for being both uninsured and unregistered (Queensland Government, 2024). Without the protection of CTP insurance, you could be liable to pay the medical bills of people you injure in a crash, which sometimes cost millions of dollars. Being university students, we most certainly don’t have millions of dollars to spare.
The vehicle registration fee may seem expensive, but if you are injured in an accident through no fault of your own, CTP insurance will be your best friend. It will also be your best friend if you are responsible for causing someone else’s injuries in a crash, including your passengers. CTP is the only insurance that will cover personal injury in a car accident, so it’s important.
Third Party Property Damage car insurance
Where CTP insurance is all about the people in the crash, this insurance solely covers damage you may cause to other vehicles or property while driving (QBE, n.d.). Third Party Property Damage car insurance is optional. Unlike CTP, this is an opt-in insurance, and the policies vary from provider to provider. The main thing to note is that it will not cover for damage to your own vehicle, theft, or injuries.
Third Party Fire and Theft car insurance
This type of insurance is optional and will cover theft of your vehicle, any damage associated with that theft, and damage to your vehicle in the event of a fire (Compare the Market, n.d.). Much like Third Party Property Damage insurance, injuries and accidental damage that you cause to your car will not be covered.
Comprehensive Car insurance
Comprehensive Car insurance is like the Third Party Fire, Theft, and Property Damage insurance with some added bonuses. This type of insurance is also optional, and coverage is dependent on the policy you choose with your provider. The most basic coverage usually involves damage to other’s property (e.g. damage you caused to someone’s car in an accident) and damage to your own vehicle from accidents, weather events, fire, et cetera (QBE, 2025). Depending on the policy you choose, it can also provide roadside assistance, coverage for personal items damaged or stolen from your car, and the towing of your car if you get into an accident (Youi, 2025).
The name comprehensive is a little misleading, though, because Comprehensive Car insurance does not cover everything. It won’t, for example, cover you for injuries you might receive in a crash.
What if I am injured in a crash?
If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle crash and were at fault, you cannot make a CTP claim for your own injuries because you caused the accident. If you were injured in an accident but weren’t at fault (or only partly at fault), that CTP insurance will come into play, and you can make a CTP claim.
Lodging a claim
The earlier you make a claim, the earlier it can be resolved. That is why it is important to gather the correct information when the crash occurs. This is even more important if you are injured in a crash, so there is not a delay in starting your insurer-funded rehabilitation, if you need it. Even if you are not injured, you may wish to make a claim for damage to your vehicle. To make any type of car crash claim, the information you need to collect, at minimum, includes:
- The other driver’s name, contact information, and driver licence details.
- The other driver’s vehicle model, make, colour, and vehicle registration.
- Documentation of the accident: photos, videos, police reports, medical reports, etc.
When making a CTP claim you must report the crash to the police, even if they did not attend the scene. This is because a Queensland Police report number is required as part of the claims process (Motor Accident Insurance Commission, n.d.).
Most of us are completely clueless when it comes to insurance, until we end up needing it. So, Glassies, I hope this guide has provided a quick snapshot to improve your insurance literacy and level up your adulting skills. Hopefully, you won’t have to use any of this information, but now you know what you can claim for if you do get into an accident.
Drive safe!
