Does rental car insurance cover injuries in Australia?
Partly. Injuries to other people, like other drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists, are covered by Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, which every registered car in Australia carries. Your own injuries and your belongings aren't covered by rental cover, so bring travel or personal accident insurance. Damage to other people's property is covered by the rental company up to est. US$24.4 million (A$35 million).
Who's covered, and by what
| If this happens | What covers it | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Someone else is injured (another driver, a passenger, a pedestrian, a cyclist) | Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, part of every registered car in Australia, under each state's own scheme | You're covered under the state's CTP scheme; amounts are set under each state's law, with no fixed dollar limit |
| You damage someone else's property (another car, a fence) | The rental company, up to est. US$24.4 million (A$35 million), whoever is at fault | No more than your deductible: US$0 with zero deductible |
| The rental car is damaged | Your rental cover | Up to your deductible with standard cover; US$0 with zero deductible |
| You're injured as the driver | Not rental cover. If you're at fault, CTP generally doesn't cover your own injuries beyond limited statutory benefits | Travel or personal accident insurance covers this gap |
| Your belongings are lost or damaged | Not rental cover (the rental terms exclude your belongings) | Check your travel insurance |
Does zero deductible change any of this?
It changes what you pay for damage: US$0 for the rental car and for other people's property. Injuries work the same way with either cover: other people are covered by CTP, and your own injuries need your own travel or personal accident insurance.
What's still excluded
The usual exclusions still apply to damage cover, with standard cover and zero deductible alike, like driving where the rental terms don't allow (such as unsealed roads), reckless driving or not reporting an accident to police. Full list: What isn't covered, even with zero deductible?
What to sort out before you fly
- Travel or personal accident insurance that covers you as a driver in Australia.
- Cover for your belongings, if your travel insurance doesn't include them.
- Pick standard cover or zero deductible when you book; both are shown on every rate before you pay.
Related questions
Quick answers
Does CTP cover me as the driver?
Is there a dollar limit on injury cover for other people?
How much is damage to other people's property covered?
Are my belongings covered in a rental car?
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