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Am I Covered for Kangaroo and Wildlife Collisions?
Am I Covered for Kangaroo and Wildlife Collisions?
Written by
Kervin Mathew
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettCompare car insurance policies the easy way
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Long story short
If you hit any wildlife with your car, keep calm – but don’t carry on
Check the welfare of the people and animal involved. You might also need to alert the authorities.
If you make a car insurance claim after hitting a kangaroo, you’ll need to pay an excess
And you’ll likely only be covered if you have a comprehensive policy.
To avoid hitting wildlife, drive in daylight hours
It’s also worth driving slowly and watching for road signs.
What do I do if I hit a kangaroo with my car?
Sadly, animal hits on country roads are sometimes unavoidable. While the chances of hitting a roo may seem low, they are never zero. On NSW country roads, one in every 41 crashes resulting in injury or death involves an animal hit.1NSW Government Centre for Road Safety – Watch for animals So why not educate yourself with some handy dos and don’ts before heading out?
Stay calm and pull over
Park your car in a safe spot, turn on your hazard lights, and make sure everyone in the vehicle is safe.
Check for danger
Contact emergency services if:
- a person is injured
- the crash is disrupting traffic.
Check on the animal
Don’t approach it too closely – larger animals like roos and wallabies can lash out if you approach them when they’re injured.
If the animal is injured, call your local wildlife rescue service. Each state has its own wildlife rescue authority that can assist with injured or killed wildlife. Most rescue services are open 24/7 on all days.
If the animal has died and is causing a road hazard:
- remove it from the road if you’re able to
- if you’re not able to remove it from the road, call your road services organisation or your local council. They might be able to help.
If help is coming, try to stay close to the animal until it arrives.
Check your vehicle for damage
Inspect your vehicle to make sure it’s still driveable. A small animal like a bird may cause minor damage if hit, but kangaroo damage may lead to significant damage or even a write-off.
If your car is damaged, contact the police.
Contact your insurer
If your car is damaged, you can contact your insurer either online or over the phone and make a claim like you usually would. You can even try asking your insurer for assistance with getting a tow.
Before you make a claim:
- jot down the identification, contact, and insurance details of anyone else who might’ve been involved in the collision, along with a statement of what happened
- take photos of any damage as evidence.
Drive off without stopping
A damaged car can be a hazard to its occupants, as can an injured animal to other motorists. Look out for those in your car, other motorists and the animal; some animals can survive a hit if the right help is provided.
Take a wild animal into your care
Despite your good intentions, nursing injured wildlife back to health by yourself may not work out the way you think. Wild animals, especially young ones, would likely need specialised care to survive a vehicle hit.
Stay calm and pull over
Park your car in a safe spot, turn on your hazard lights, and make sure everyone in the vehicle is safe.
Check for danger
Contact emergency services if:
- a person is injured
- the crash is disrupting traffic.
Check on the animal
Don’t approach it too closely – larger animals like roos and wallabies can lash out if you approach them when they’re injured.
If the animal is injured, call your local wildlife rescue service. Each state has its own wildlife rescue authority that can assist with injured or killed wildlife. Most rescue services are open 24/7 on all days.
If the animal has died and is causing a road hazard:
- remove it from the road if you’re able to
- if you’re not able to remove it from the road, call your road services organisation or your local council. They might be able to help.
If help is coming, try to stay close to the animal until it arrives.
Check your vehicle for damage
Inspect your vehicle to make sure it’s still driveable. A small animal like a bird may cause minor damage if hit, but kangaroo damage may lead to significant damage or even a write-off.
If your car is damaged, contact the police.
Contact your insurer
If your car is damaged, you can contact your insurer either online or over the phone and make a claim like you usually would. You can even try asking your insurer for assistance with getting a tow.
Before you make a claim:
- jot down the identification, contact, and insurance details of anyone else who might’ve been involved in the collision, along with a statement of what happened
- take photos of any damage as evidence.
Drive off without stopping
A damaged car can be a hazard to its occupants, as can an injured animal to other motorists. Look out for those in your car, other motorists and the animal; some animals can survive a hit if the right help is provided.
Take a wild animal into your care
Despite your good intentions, nursing injured wildlife back to health by yourself may not work out the way you think. Wild animals, especially young ones, would likely need specialised care to survive a vehicle hit.
Will car insurance cover damage to my car if I hit a kangaroo?
That depends on your level of cover.
Only comprehensive car insurance is likely to cover repairs to your car.
If you damage somebody else’s car or property while avoiding an animal hit, third-party cover might cover the damages. But a third-party policy will leave you to pay for any repairs to your own car.
Do I have to pay an excess if I hit a kangaroo?
Yes. You’ll likely have to pay your policy’s excess if you claim any damage involving a kangaroo or other wildlife. Your no-claim bonus may also be affected if you claim, which may lead to an increase in your next premium.
So, a word to the wise: going out of pocket for minor damage might work to your advantage in the longer run – at least when it comes to saving on car insurance.
Of course, there may be instances when insurers choose to take the excess out of the equation. For example, with Huddle’s comprehensive car insurance, you have a ‘Kanga Cover’ optional add-on which can waive the excess on your first animal collision claim within a 12-month period – ideal, if you travel on country roads a lot.
Helpful tip
Injuring an animal while driving can not only be distressing, but it can also leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere and paying for unexpected repairs, a hire car, or even a place to stay.
Comprehensive car insurance can come to your rescue in such a situation. In addition to covering your car’s repairs, a comprehensive policy might also cover the costs of towing, emergency accommodation, and a hire car. If your car is written off due to a kangaroo hit, you might even be able to get a new one to replace it. Be sure to check your product disclosure statement (PDS), as some of these benefits may come with terms and conditions.
Adrian Bennett
General Manager for General Insurance
Tips to avoid hitting a kangaroo
Before you hit the roads of rural Australia, be mindful of how you can avoid hitting a kangaroo. You can reduce the risk to yourself, your passengers, and other drivers by observing a few road safety tips. You’d also potentially save the life of one of nature’s most fascinating animals.
Pick a safe time to drive
Daylight hours are the safest. Kangaroos and other wildlife are more active at dusk or dawn, and the daylight makes them easier to spot.
Also, try saving your country drives for the warmer months, as winter sees the most kangaroo-related car collisions. That said, be mindful of droughts or hot days when kangaroos tend to move around more in search of water or food.
Keep a wildlife rescue kit handy
You don’t have to deck yourself up like you’re Batman! Keep it simple:
- a torch and reflective vest help ensure you can see and be seen
- a blanket or towel may help you handle or calm the injured animal
- thick or disposable gloves can help with handling the injured animal.
Try not to ‘fly solo’ when driving
If you do want to be a superhero, make sure you have a trusty sidekick next to you on kangaroo watch. Driving long distances can be a dreary yet intensive task, so it always helps to have another set of eyes keeping a lookout for animals or crucial road signs.
Look out for road signs warning of wildlife
No mixed signals here! Road signs will tell you where wildlife crossings occur the most.
Keep it steady and slow down
When you see a kangaroo on the road, you’re better off keeping the steering wheel steady and slowing down gradually. If you swerve to avoid hitting an animal, you might lose control of your vehicle and collide with other vehicles nearby, resulting in more damage.
Use the horn instead of high beams
If you spot a roo on or near the road, honk your horn as a potential warning to the animal. Be sure to turn off your high beams, as they could stun or blind a kangaroo into freezing in the middle of the road.
Be alert when choosing car insurance
You wouldn’t want it to be a ‘near miss’ when looking for a better deal on car insurance, would you? Try our comparison tool if you’re in the market for a change of scenery.
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