Unfortunately, car insurance doesn't cover everything and it's important you understand what is - and isn't - included, so you don't end up out of pocket.
The product disclosure statement (PDS) lists the general exclusions of the policy. You should always read the PDS before choosing an insurance policy.
Here are 13 important car insurance exclusions you should be aware of before hitting the road.
⚠️ Unlicensed or improperly licenced drivers
You must have a valid licence to be covered by insurance. This includes renewing your licence on time and only driving vehicles that you're licensed to drive.
If your licence has expired at the time of an accident, even by a day, you're unlikely to be covered.
⚠️ Unregistered vehicles
If you drive your car while it's unregistered, your insurance will be void. Driving an unregistered vehicle is illegal unless you're driving to get it registered or have a special permit allowing you to drive the vehicle.
⚠️ Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
No insurer will cover you if you try to claim for an accident that happened while you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This includes prescription medications that impact your ability to drive. Refusing to take a drug or alcohol test may also impact your ability to claim.
⚠️ Driving a car that isn’t roadworthy
Insurers may deny your claim if it's clear your car wasn't roadworthy. This includes bald tyres. broken lights, and worn-out brakes.
⚠️ Modifying your car (without telling your insurer)
If you alter your car without letting your insurer know, it may result in a claim being denied. Whenever you make modifications, always update your insurer to check if cover still applies. Even better, check with the insurer before making the change.
⚠️ Restricted drivers
If you add a driver age restriction to your policy, you may be able to enjoy cheaper premiums. However, any drivers under that age limit will not be covered by your insurance.
⚠️ Driving your car while it is overloaded
You won't be covered if you're driving with too many passengers, an unsecured load, a load that's over the legal limit, or a load above what your car is designed to carry or tow.
If you're planning on towing a trailer or caravan, check your car manufacturer's specifications to find out how much your vehicle can safely tow.
⚠️ Legal confiscation or repossession of your car
If your car is legally repossessed, confiscated, or lawfully destroyed by the authorities, you won't be covered by your car insurance. This exclusion also applies to any personal items that were in your vehicle at the time.
⚠️ Mechanical or electrical breakdown
Most insurers don't cover any structural, mechanical, electrical or electronic failure or breakdown. However, if you have roadside assistance, you may be able to access minor breakdown-related repairs and emergency towing services.
⚠️ Motor sports or reckless acts
Car insurance will not provide cover if you participate in any kind of motor sport, including on race tracks, four-wheel drive adventure parks, rallies, skills tests or hill climbs.
You also won't be covered if your claim arises because you were participating in street racing, or driving recklessly.
⚠️ Hiring out your car
Renting out your car or driving for a rideshare service is likely to void your cover. Many insurers exclude claims that arise because your car was being used for hire, fare or monetary reward. If you do plan on using your car for a ridesharing service, compare rideshare car insurance options.
⚠️ Not paying your premiums
If you don't pay your car insurance premiums on time, you could find yourself unprotected. Consider setting up an automatic direct debit to reduce the chance of this happening.
What else isn’t covered?
The situations listed above are only some of the events and circumstances that comprehensive car insurance won’t cover. There are plenty of other exclusions that apply, such as:
No cover for loss or damage that occurs outside Australia
No cover for intentional loss or damage caused by you, or by someone acting with your consent
No cover for loss or damage that arises due to revolution, war or terrorism
No cover for the cost of repairing old damage
No cover for loss of value or depreciation of the car due to it being damaged and then repaired
No cover for unauthorised repairs
No cover if you accidentally use the wrong fuel or lubricant for your vehicle
No cover when your car is being used to transport dangerous, hazardous or poisonous goods
No cover if the driver of your vehicle leaves the scene of an accident when they are required by law to stay at the scene
No cover for liability due to the death or bodily injury of any person (this type of cover is provided by compulsory third party insurance)
No cover for consequential loss of any kind, such as loss of income or wages, losses related to stress or anxiety, or medical expenses
No cover if you drive your car after it has been damaged in an incident (unless you were not reasonably aware that this could lead to further damage
No cover if you fail to take reasonable precautions to prevent any loss, damage or liability occurring
No cover for the replacement of non-damaged parts, including when those parts belong to a set (for example, if two of your set of four alloy wheels are damaged, your policy will only cover the cost of replacing the two damaged items, not the whole set)
No cover if you don’t accompany your car when it is up for private sale and taken for a test drive
No cover if your car is used for any unlawful purposes
This list is not exhaustive and will vary between insurers. Read the PDS to know what exclusions apply to your car insurance policy.
Finder survey: Have many Australians have thought about lying to their insurer about driving for a rideshare service?
Response
No
62.5%
Yes
37.5%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023
Your car insurance responsibilities
When you take out car insurance cover, you agree to meet certain obligations under the insurance contract. If you fail to meet those responsibilities, your policy could be voided.
To ensure that you will always be covered by your policy you must:
Take all reasonable precautions to prevent damage or theft. If you leave your car unlocked, unattended and with the keys in the ignition in a busy public car park, don’t expect an insurer to pay your claim. So lock your car and close the windows when it’s unattended, remove the keys from the ignition, accompany anyone who takes your car for a test drive when you’re selling it, and avoid dangerous situations like rising floodwaters.
Keep your car in good condition. It’s your responsibility to make sure your vehicle is well maintained and kept in a roadworthy condition. Replace worn-out tyres with new ones, replace broken brake lights, fix major rust issues and repair any scratches and dents you don’t claim on your policy.
Service your car regularly. You’ll need to make sure that your car receives regular servicing at the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals. Keeping records of each service will also come in handy if you ever need to claim for mechanical damage that arises because of an incident covered by your policy.
Co-operate at claims time. You also have a responsibility to provide honest and complete information when you make a claim, and to provide any documentation the insurer requests to support your claim.
If you don’t meet any of these responsibilities, the insurer can pursue either or both of the following options:
Reduce or refuse your claim
Cancel your policy
And if you’re guilty of fraud, the insurer is well within its rights to treat your policy as if it never existed.
The sheer length of the list of general exclusions from most car insurance policies can seem a bit overwhelming at first, but the reality is that most of them are commonsense and can be easily avoided. If you stick to the road rules and abide by the terms and conditions outlined in your policy, you shouldn’t have any trouble accessing the cover you need if you ever have to make a claim.
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No. Your car must be fully-registered to be covered by insurance.
There are lots of events or situations that aren't covered by comprehensive car insurance, including reckless behaviour, driving under the influence of alcohol, and general wear and tear. You can find a more comprehensive breakdown earlier in this page or in your product disclosure statement.
No. You must have a valid license for the vehicle you are driving.
If you accidentally damage your car, you will be covered by insurance as long as you meet the conditions. However, if you intentionally damage your car, and the insurer finds out, you will not be covered.
No. You are responsible for repairing mechanical faults or failures.
No, your insurance would not cover the cost to repair brakes. However, if your brakes failed suddenly and you subsequently damaged your car or other property as a result, your insurance may cover the cost of repairs.
It depends. If the mould was caused by an insured event, it may be covered. For example, a hailstorm broke your windows, water entered your car and mould developed. However, if the mould gradually developed over time because you live in a humid area and didn't adequately protect your car, it would not be covered.
Alexandra Koster is Finder's publisher for car, home and pet insurance. She has a Tier 1 certification in General Insurance, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Cultural Studies from the University of Sydney. Her hobbies include reading Product Disclosure Statements and deciphering complicated insurance lingo to help people save on their insurance so that they can spend their money on better things – like dogs.
I have a young relative on a workers visa to Australia. She obtained a drivers licence in UK in March 2023 and needs to buy a car here for work purposes . She has made an offer on a car but is having difficulty in obtaining Car Insurance, Fully Comprehensive . Can you please offer some advice. Thank you
Thanks for getting in touch. I’d suggest getting some quotes from car insurance providers in Australia and seeing who offers cover. Every insurer differs in how they offer cover – so your best bet is to get lots of quotes and then compare prices.
I have a really elderly male acquaintance who has had a fall and his shoulder is severely restricted but he insists on driving. What are the implications for insurance if he causes an accident in this state of health due to his restriction? I am extremely concerned for him.
Thank you for getting in touch! There’s no explicit restrictions on this type of thing unless he’s been advised that he shouldn’t be driving by his doctor. If that’s the case and he’s found to be driving, it’s probable that a claim might be denied.
If he does have the green light to drive and does end up getting in an accident, his CTP insurance should cover the legal and medical costs arising from the accident.
Hi,
I had a incident with my car where my engine bay caught on fire, i filled up with fuel not long before i was driving along the highway for about 3kms after leaving the service station i stopped at a set of traffic lights then started to drive again. As to me being unaware my car had caught alight i then proceeded drive for another 2kms unaware to have my car loose power an suddenly stop as i was pulling to the side of the road a witness stopped going in the opposite direction to try and get my attention the my vehicle was in fact on fire, to which then a fireball went up the windscreen and the whole front of the vehicle was on fire.
I have had a mechanical report done on vehicle to which the report came back that inlet fuel line to injector rail manifold had came off under loaded pressure and fuel vapors and fuel had covered the engine bay an covered electrical to which helped ignite the fire.
Now the insurance company still hasnt taken liability for the claim or given me their outcome its been almost 10days, ive been told my claim is been investigated and assessed.
What is your professional opinion on my situation with getting a positive?
Will the insurance company try not to take liability for this?
Thanks for reaching out! I’m bummed to hear about what happened – great to know you are okay! As much as I would like to help out – we aren’t in the position to give professional advice as we are a product comparison website and not experts on car insurance claims. I suggest to follow up on your insurance while reading the terms and conditions of your policy. Hope this helps and hope this gets resolved soon.
I had a fire on my vehicle within the back wheel in the brakes. the fire siezed the brake and calliper so much so that they had to use a sledge hammer to belt it off. The insurer is saying its mechanical fault. The fire is the issue. Not worried to take off the part and replace it if that was the case. The fire welded and distorted the parts requiring extra labour and making the parts unserviceable. Cost $3k
I’m sorry to hear about this. Although can’t really give you a personal advice to your situation, I understand that you’d want to validate that the issue was a not mechanical breakdown. In this case, you might need to speak to your insurance company again and discuss what can be done. But before doing that, you may want to revisit or check your policy again and see what you are covered for and check how you can prove that the fire was the real issue. You can draft a narrative of what really happened and that your car was in good condition when the fire happened.
In case there’s no resolution to your appeal, you can escalate it to the dispute department of your insurer and you’d need to put your complaint in writing. Although we hope that your issue will be resolved at this stage, otherwise, you can then go ahead and contact Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). Please note though that it may take time before your complaint with AFCA will be resolved.
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I have a young relative on a workers visa to Australia. She obtained a drivers licence in UK in March 2023 and needs to buy a car here for work purposes . She has made an offer on a car but is having difficulty in obtaining Car Insurance, Fully Comprehensive . Can you please offer some advice. Thank you
Hey Don,
Thanks for getting in touch. I’d suggest getting some quotes from car insurance providers in Australia and seeing who offers cover. Every insurer differs in how they offer cover – so your best bet is to get lots of quotes and then compare prices.
Thanks,
Gary
I have a really elderly male acquaintance who has had a fall and his shoulder is severely restricted but he insists on driving. What are the implications for insurance if he causes an accident in this state of health due to his restriction? I am extremely concerned for him.
Hi Wyn,
Thank you for getting in touch! There’s no explicit restrictions on this type of thing unless he’s been advised that he shouldn’t be driving by his doctor. If that’s the case and he’s found to be driving, it’s probable that a claim might be denied.
If he does have the green light to drive and does end up getting in an accident, his CTP insurance should cover the legal and medical costs arising from the accident.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jeni
Hi,
I had a incident with my car where my engine bay caught on fire, i filled up with fuel not long before i was driving along the highway for about 3kms after leaving the service station i stopped at a set of traffic lights then started to drive again. As to me being unaware my car had caught alight i then proceeded drive for another 2kms unaware to have my car loose power an suddenly stop as i was pulling to the side of the road a witness stopped going in the opposite direction to try and get my attention the my vehicle was in fact on fire, to which then a fireball went up the windscreen and the whole front of the vehicle was on fire.
I have had a mechanical report done on vehicle to which the report came back that inlet fuel line to injector rail manifold had came off under loaded pressure and fuel vapors and fuel had covered the engine bay an covered electrical to which helped ignite the fire.
Now the insurance company still hasnt taken liability for the claim or given me their outcome its been almost 10days, ive been told my claim is been investigated and assessed.
What is your professional opinion on my situation with getting a positive?
Will the insurance company try not to take liability for this?
Hi Stuart,
Thanks for reaching out! I’m bummed to hear about what happened – great to know you are okay! As much as I would like to help out – we aren’t in the position to give professional advice as we are a product comparison website and not experts on car insurance claims. I suggest to follow up on your insurance while reading the terms and conditions of your policy. Hope this helps and hope this gets resolved soon.
Cheers,
Nikki
I had a fire on my vehicle within the back wheel in the brakes. the fire siezed the brake and calliper so much so that they had to use a sledge hammer to belt it off. The insurer is saying its mechanical fault. The fire is the issue. Not worried to take off the part and replace it if that was the case. The fire welded and distorted the parts requiring extra labour and making the parts unserviceable. Cost $3k
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your comment.
I’m sorry to hear about this. Although can’t really give you a personal advice to your situation, I understand that you’d want to validate that the issue was a not mechanical breakdown. In this case, you might need to speak to your insurance company again and discuss what can be done. But before doing that, you may want to revisit or check your policy again and see what you are covered for and check how you can prove that the fire was the real issue. You can draft a narrative of what really happened and that your car was in good condition when the fire happened.
In case there’s no resolution to your appeal, you can escalate it to the dispute department of your insurer and you’d need to put your complaint in writing. Although we hope that your issue will be resolved at this stage, otherwise, you can then go ahead and contact Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). Please note though that it may take time before your complaint with AFCA will be resolved.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May