Comprehensive car insurance offers the highest level of protection you can get for your vehicle. But what exactly does it cover? If you're weighing up your options, it helps to understand what’s included and what it might cost so you can choose a policy that suits your needs.
What is comprehensive car insurance?
Comprehensive car insurance gives you the most complete vehicle cover you can get in Australia. It’s there to help with the costs if your car gets damaged, stolen, or you have an accident – even if it’s your fault.
Comprehensive cover is designed to take care of a wide range of driving-related risks and can usually be tailored with optional extras for added peace of mind. While it typically comes with higher premiums than other car insurance policies, the broader protection it provides means you’re less likely to face large out-of-pocket costs if something goes wrong on the road.
What does comprehensive car insurance cover?
Comprehensive car offers the most extensive protection for your vehicle, covering you for:
- Damage to your car due to an accident or collision
- Damage to another person’s car or property due to an accident or collision for which you’re at fault
- Damage to your car due to theft or the theft of your car
- Damage to your car due to fire
- Damage to your car due to a weather event (such as storm, flood and hail)
Some policies also include cover for:
- New car replacement costs in the event of a write-off or theft
- Towing costs following an accident or breakdown
- The loss of personal items in your vehicle due to damage or theft
In addition, many insurers offer optional extras you can add to your policy, such as:
+ Roadside assistance for breakdowns and emergencies like flat tyres or batteries.
+ Hire car cover while your vehicle is being repaired or replaced.
+ Windscreen and window glass cover for repairs or replacements.
+ No-claim bonus protection to keep your discount even if you make a claim.
+ Personal effects cover for loss or damage to belongings inside your car.
+ Replacement keys cover to reimburse lost or stolen key replacement or lock re-coding costs.
This wide-ranging coverage is what sets comprehensive car insurance apart from third-party policies. Third Party Property Damage (TPPD) only looks after the damage your car causes to someone else’s vehicle or property. Third Party Fire and Theft (TPFT) adds a bit more, also covering your car if it’s stolen or damaged by fire. But neither of these will help if your own car is accidentally damaged, which is where comprehensive cover really proves its worth.
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How much is comprehensive car insurance?
Comprehensive car insurance is the most expensive type of cover, though premiums vary widely depending on your car, your personal profile and the policy options you choose.
To show how much costs can differ between vehicles, we compared comprehensive insurance premiums for 2025 models of four popular cars:
| Vehicle | Car type | Fuel type | Transmission | Premium range | Average premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Ranger Raptor | Ute | Petrol | Semi-automatic | $1,819 – $5,392 | $3,765 |
| Toyota RAV4 GX | Midsize SUV | Petrol hybrid | Automatic | $1,438 – $3,741 | $2,697 |
| Hyundai i30 N Line | Small car | Petrol | Semi-automatic | $1,287 – $2,733 | $1,979 |
| Tesla Model Y (RWD) | EV | Electric | Automatic | $3,918 – $4,917 | $4,418 |
| All quotes were sourced from Compare the Market in June 2025. They are based on a 30-year-old male driver from Adelaide with a full driver’s licence and no previous claims. The vehicle is used for private purposes, driven 15,000 kilometres per year and kept in a garage overnight. A standard excess of $800 applies. | |||||
As you can see, smaller petrol vehicles generally attract lower premiums while the Model Y is the most expensive by far, perhaps reflecting the higher repair and replacement costs for electric vehicles like Teslas.
But it’s not just your car that influences car insurance costs – your personal profile and driving habits also make a big difference. Factors such as your age, driving experience and claims history all affect your risk level in the insurer’s eyes. Where you live and park your car, as well as how much you drive each year, can also push premiums higher or lower.
Let’s go back to the Toyota RAV4 from earlier. If a 20-year-old driver wanted comprehensive cover for the same car, under the same conditions, they’d be looking at significantly higher premiums, with quotes ranging from $1,740 to $5,716 and averaging at $3,947.
Meanwhile, if the 30-year-old driver from the original example cut their annual kilometres from 15,000 to 5,000, their premiums could fall to between $1,200 and $3,474, averaging $2,085.
Your policy choices also affect what you pay. Selecting a lower excess generally increases your premium, while adding optional extras like roadside assistance or hire car cover can raise the overall cost.
However, comprehensive car insurance isn’t just about price, and the best policy for you won’t necessarily be the cheapest. When comparing options, it’s important to consider what’s included in the cover, any exclusions or limits, and whether it offers the right level of protection for your needs.
Getting quotes tailored to your personal profile and vehicle can help you understand your options more clearly. Using a comparison service lets you easily review policies side by side and find cover that suits both your budget and the level of protection you’re after.
The pros and cons of comprehensive car insurance
Pros
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Greatest overall cover
Comprehensive car insurance can provide the highest level of protection for your vehicle, covering eligible damages caused by accidents, collisions, theft, fire, extreme weather and more.
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Freedom to add optional extras
There’s a wide range of optional extras that can be added to your comprehensive car insurance policy, so you can consider which of these is most suitable for your needs.
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Peace of mind
Comprehensive car insurance can give you peace of mind while driving, knowing that you can be protected against a range of events included under your policy’s coverage.
Cons
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More expensive premiums
Comprehensive car insurance is generally the most expensive type of car insurance due to the higher level of protection it offers.
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Exclusions remain in place
Even with the most extensive policy, exclusions will still apply, meaning you won’t be covered for all accidents which may take place.
Why compare car insurance policies through Savvy?
How to compare comprehensive car insurance quotes
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Decide what you need from your car insurance policy
Think about what matters most to you. Do you want the cheapest comprehensive cover or is it more important to have all the extras you need? Consider your car, how you use it and what features would give you peace of mind.
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Fill out an online quote form
To get accurate quotes, you’ll need to provide our trusted comparison partner with some basic details such as your age, driving history, location and car model. This only takes a few minutes and helps generate tailored options based on your risk profile and vehicle.
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Compare your options side by side
Once you receive your quotes, take the time to look at what’s on offer. Compare premiums, inclusions, exclusions, optional extras and excess to get a full picture of what you would be covered for.
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Choose and purchase your comprehensive car insurance policy
Once you’ve found a policy that offers the cover you want at the right price, you can complete your purchase online through the provider. Your cover can usually start straight away, so you can drive with confidence knowing you’re protected.
