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CTP Insurance in Queensland
CTP Insurance in Queensland
Written by
Kervin Mathew
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettCompare car insurance policies the easy way
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What is CTP insurance?
Long story short
CTP is non-negotiable
CTP insurance is mandatory for all registered vehicles in Queensland, covering personal injuries caused by your vehicle on the road.
CTP covers people, not property
CTP helps with financial compensation but won’t cover property or car damage. Consider third-party or comprehensive policies for broader protection.
You can pick your provider
You get to choose from a list of licensed CTP insurers when registering your vehicle – currently Allianz, Suncorp and QBE.
CTP covers you Australia-wide
If you have an accident where you’re at fault, you’re covered across Australia for other people’s injuries or deaths.
CTP costs less than $400 per year
The average annual CTP premium in QLD is $369.90,1Queensland Government – Registration costs making it affordable when compared with higher levels of car insurance.
What is CTP insurance?
CTP stands for compulsory third-party insurance. The name couldn’t make it any clearer because CTP is a must-have if you’re registering a vehicle in Queensland.
There’s a good reason for this, too. CTP can protect you from having to pay thousands in medical and legal costs if your vehicle injures anyone else while being driven. It also helps ensure that everyone gets proper compensation if they’re ever injured as the result of a vehicle accident.
In short, it’s a handy little safety net you’ll be glad to have in place if a slip-up behind the wheel doesn’t end well.
What does CTP insurance cover in Queensland?
CTP is the only type of car insurance that covers your financial liability for injury to others. This is what you would have to pay if you (or someone else driving your car) were to injure someone while driving. This can include:
- passengers in your car
- other drivers and their passengers
- motorcyclists and their passengers
- pedestrians
- cyclists
- public transport passengers
CTP goes a long way here. Depending on the circumstances, it can cover a range of costs: medical treatment, rehabilitation, loss of income, cost of care and support services, and general damages (pain and suffering), depending on the injury and its seriousness.
In the unfortunate event of someone dying as a result of a car accident, CTP can also cover funeral expenses and any financial loss that their spouse, de facto partner or dependents incurred due to their death. Each claim gets assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Keep in mind that people won’t be able to make a CTP claim if the accident was their fault. For instance, if the accident was the injured person’s fault (or nobody’s fault), then they won’t be eligible for a claim.
What does CTP insurance generally not cover in Queensland?
As is the case in other states and territories, CTP insurance in Queensland cannot cover any damage to your or anyone else’s vehicles or property. Third-party property or comprehensive insurance might better suit those scenarios.
It’s also relevant which driver is at fault. In Queensland, CTP might not be able to provide personal injury cover to at-fault drivers – or to anyone, for that matter, if the accident was nobody’s fault.
Regardless of whose fault it is, if you’ve suffered a serious injury in a road accident and feel that you require additional assistance, you can try accessing treatment and support through Queensland’s National Injury Insurance Scheme.2For more information, see NIISQ
Three myths about CTP insurance
Only unsafe drivers need CTP
Nope! Every vehicle on public roads is required to hold CTP. In Queensland, vehicles can’t even be registered without CTP.
CTP covers damage to my car
Unfortunately not. CTP only covers you if you injure someone while driving your car. To cover the repair costs to your car, you’ll need additional car insurance.
CTP only applies to cars
In Queensland, CTP also covers any trailers or caravans attached to your car. So if they accidentally detach and hurt someone, you’ll be covered for their compensation.
How is Queensland different when it comes to CTP?
As a Queenslander, you might consider yourself lucky – and not just because you get to enjoy warmer weather. See, every state and territory treats CTP a little differently. Some states automatically include CTP cover as part of your car’s registration. Queensland drivers get to choose their own CTP insurance provider at registration time.
You can choose from three licenced CTP insurers:
- AAI Limited (trading as Suncorp)
- Allianz Australia Insurance Limited
- QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited.
To take out CTP cover, you simply need to compare your options when renewing your registration, nominate your preferred CTP provider on your registration form or renewal notice and pay your fees.
Alternatively, you can choose to nominate your preferred CTP provider and pay for this separately before renewing your registration.
How much does CTP insurance cost in Queensland?
CTP insurance will cost you less than other forms of car insurance. For Class 1 vehicles like cars and station wagons , the average yearly CTP cost is around $369.60.3Queensland Government – Registration costs This applies to vehicles registered after 1 June 2024. For Class 6 vehicles like utes and small trucks, it’s a bit more.
Queensland’s Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) sets the range for CTP insurance prices. Licensed CTP insurers are then allowed to determine their premium rates every quarter within this range.
Taking out extra cover like a third party or comprehensive policy will cost you more. But they could potentially save you a lot of money should you need to make a claim that’s not covered by CTP insurance.
Helpful tip:
An easy way to understand CTP insurance is to think ‘people not property’. Say you’re an at-fault driver in an accident and you damage your vehicle and someone’s property. CTP insurance can help with compensation for personal injuries, but then there’s the question of property damage, including other vehicles. Consider comprehensive or third-party protection to widen your safety net.
Adrian Bennett
General Manager for General Insurance
Is CTP insurance all you need to be covered in Queensland?
CTP is the only type of car insurance that’s legally required, but it won’t protect you from certain risks. CTP won’t cover the costs if you get into an accident and damage someone else’s car. And it won’t cover your car against fire, theft or vandalism. For this kind of protection, you might want to check out the following policies:
- Third-party property: If you have a car accident and crash into someone else’s car or damage their property, then this type of insurance will help cover the costs. It’s a good way to save yourself from having to pay for all the expenses out-of-pocket.
- Third-party property, fire and theft: This gives you the same cover as third-party property insurance. However, your car will also be insured for repairs (or replacement) if it catches fire or if it gets stolen.
- Comprehensive car insurance: You’ll be covered for everything that comes with third-party property, fire and theft cover. Plus, your own car will also be covered for repairs if you get into a car accident, or if it’s damaged by hail, storms, or floods.
These policies are generally more expensive than CTP insurance. However, they might also spare your budget from some serious pain later down the track. Just be sure to read the product disclosure statement (PDS) on your policy for a run-down of what kind of exclusions and limits might apply.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change my CTP insurer?
Yes, you can. You’ll need to get in touch with one of the licensed insurers in Queensland that offer CTP and nominate them as your new insurer. This can be done through MAIC’s website.4For more information, see Motor Accident Insurance Commission – Changing CTP insurer
You can do this at any time, but the switch won’t actually happen until your car registration renews.
What happens to my CTP if I sell my car?
You will need to transfer your registration when you sell your car. Because the CTP is attached to your registration, it will also be transferred to the new owner.
How do I make a claim for CTP?
The injured party will need to lodge a claim through MAIC’s website or with a paper claim form. The relatives or dependants of someone who suffered a fatal injury can also submit a paper claim form. In both cases, supporting documents – as well as the registration number of the vehicle that caused the crash – will be required.
You may also need proof of identity and a medical certificate. If the crash was not reported to the police, you’ll also need to fill out a ‘Report of Traffic Incident to Police’ form and hand it in to the police station.
Do I need CTP in Queensland for an unregistered car?
Yes, you do – if your vehicle, trailer, or caravan is unregistered and needs to be moved on Queensland roads, either by being driven or towed. Specifically, you will need two things:
- an unregistered vehicle permit
- CTP insurance for a Class 22 vehicle
Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads website lets you get both online. Keep in mind that each has separate fees, and the permit has its own set of exclusions and conditions, such as a validity of 1 to 7 days.
Will CTP in Queensland cover me when I’m driving interstate?
Yes. If you have an accident where you’re at fault, your CTP insurance can cover the cost of compensation for other people’s injuries even outside the Sunshine State.
When it comes to your own injuries, the answer is not a clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Rather, it’s a question of where in Australia you’re driving and the relevant ‘fault-based’ laws that apply to the state or territory.
Here’s one way to put it.
Say you’re driving a Queensland-registered vehicle in the ACT, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, or New South Wales and end up being injured in an accident. You may be eligible for some form of compensation, even if you were the driver at fault. The benefits may vary depending on the circumstances that caused the accident.
In other states or territories, the rules are a little less lenient.
South Australia and Western Australia enforce at-fault driver rules. This means if you were at fault, your injuries will not be covered by your CTP insurance, including from single-vehicle accidents that involve only your vehicle. If another driver was at fault, your injuries will be covered by their CTP. These are the same rules that apply at home in Queensland.
It’s important to remember that drink driving, criminal activity, or causing an accident with the intent to self-harm may prevent you from accessing CTP benefits, regardless of where in Australia you’re driving.
Can I get any tax credits for CTP in Queensland?
Some people may be eligible to pay less in tax through a GST tax credit. This won’t be the case if you only use your vehicle for private purposes. However, if you drive a car for business purposes, you might be able to claim the GST you pay on your CTP insurance as a tax credit. You will also need to complete a Business Activity Statement or be a GST registered entity to be eligible.
Where can I compare car insurance policies?
If you’re looking for a bit of extra protection on top of your CTP insurance, then we can help. With iSelect’s car insurance comparison tool, you can compare a range of car insurance policies. Get started now – you might just find what you need!
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