Comprehensive insurance is optional and covers only property damage. CTP Compulsory Third Party) insurance is mandatory and covers people injured or killed in motor crashes. We’ll explore both types of insurance, and what factors influence how much you pay.
What’s the difference between CTP and comprehensive insurance?
- CTP insurance is required by law and covers people who are injured or die in a motor crash involving your vehicle.
- Comprehensive insurance is optional and covers damage to vehicles and property, as well as theft and fire.
Australia does not have insurance to cover people and property together. This is why understanding both helps you be fully protected on the road.
What factors affect the price of my insurance?
The factors affecting the price of comprehensive or CTP insurance are similar:
Factors that affect comprehensive and CTP prices
|
Factors |
Comprehensive |
CTP insurance |
|
Postcode |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Driver age |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Driving experience |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Driving record |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Claims history |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Gender |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Type of vehicle |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Business use |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Cost to repair |
Yes |
No |
|
Chance of theft |
Yes |
No |
|
Colour of car |
Yes |
No |
|
Type of garaging |
Yes |
No |
|
Discounts available |
Yes |
No, prices are regulated |
Does where I live affect my insurance costs?
Where you live does affect the cost of your insurance:
- Your state or territory strongly affects the cost of comprehensive insurance.
- Your postcode in NSW strongly affects the cost of your CTP.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive insurance premiums differ across Australia. This relates to, for example, driving conditions, theft rates, types of vehicles driven, and accident rates involving animals.
Average comprehensive premiums by state and territory
|
|
Average comprehensive premium June 2025 |
|
Vic |
$2,940 |
|
NSW |
$2,570 |
|
NT |
$2,283 |
|
Average |
$2,226 |
|
WA |
$2,032 |
|
Qld |
$2,010 |
|
SA |
$1,970 |
|
Tas |
$1,785 |
- Average premiums are highest in Victoria ($2,940) and lowest in Tasmania ($1,785).
CTP insurance
CTP prices vary across 5 geographic areas within NSW. The regulator has designated these 5 areas and insurers must use them to set prices.
Average CTP price by geographic area
|
|
Average CTP price June 2026 |
|
Metro |
$579 |
|
Wollongong |
$482 |
|
Average |
$462 |
|
Outer metro |
$446 |
|
Country |
$406 |
|
Newcastle/Central Coast |
$397 |
Prices are higher in the Metro area because people make more claims for injuries there than in other areas.
- A 45-year-old driver in the Sydney Metro area pays around $579, compared to $397 in Newcastle/Central Coast.
Use the green slip calculator to find accurate prices for your postcode.
Does my gender affect the cost of insurance?
It does affect the cost of your comprehensive insurance, but seemingly not CTP insurance.
Comprehensive
Women usually pay less than men for comprehensive insurance because of their statistically safer driving behaviour and fewer accidents. Men have the biggest share of serious injuries and motor crashes.
Comprehensive insurance prices by gender
| Gender |
Comprehensive cost per year |
Comprehensive cost per month |
| Female | $1,582 | $149 |
| Male | $1,661 | $157 |
Source: Canstar, driver aged 34, March 2026
- Stella Car Insurance offers women-specific coverage with higher protection for personal items and domestic incidents.
CTP insurance
Insurers and the green slip calculator ask for the gender of the youngest driver.
CTP insurance prices by gender and area
| Gender | Metro | Country |
| Female | $579 | $406 |
| Male | $579 | $406 |
- There is no difference in price for a female or male youngest driver.
Does the colour of my car affect my insurance price?
The colour of your vehicle can influence your comprehensive insurance prices, but not your CTP insurance.
Comprehensive
Insurers may charge more for black and darker colours because they are less visible in low light or adverse weather and more likely to be stolen. Safety features typically reduce accident risk more than the colour of your car.
Extra paid for comprehensive insurance by colour
| Colour | Comprehensive price |
Extra paid compared to white |
| White | $1,337 | – |
| Turquoise | $1,337 | – |
| Yellow | $1,337 | – |
| Black | $1,414 | +6% |
| Brown | $1,399 | +5% |
| Grey | $1,399 | +5% |
| Silver | $1,390 | +4% |
Source: iSelect
- The lowest average premiums are for white, turquoise and yellow vehicles.
CTP Insurance
CTP insurers don’t consider vehicle colour when setting prices, so the green slip calculator doesn’t ask for this.
Does the age of my vehicle affect my insurance costs?
Vehicle age affects comprehensive and CTP prices, but for different reasons.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive insurance is affected because it costs more to replace a newer car than an older one.
- Insuring an older car can often be cheaper, because older cars generally have a lower market value and cost less to repair or replace.
- In the last year to June 2026, the cost of insuring vehicles released in 2000–2014 increased by 2–4%, while premiums for 2025 models grew by 11%.
CTP Insurance
Older vehicles may cost more because they lack safety features and are more prone to crash and cause injury.
The green slip calculator considers vehicle year of manufacture to provide accurate CTP quotes.
Price of CTP insurance for cars by age
| Age of car | CTP insurance price |
| 2010 | $584 |
| 2015 | $579 |
| 2020 | $570 |
| 2025 | $570 |
- You pay more for a car manufactured in 2015 or older than a newer car.
Does my age affect the price of my insurance?
Yes. Young drivers typically face higher comprehensive insurance premiums because of their higher accident risks. They also pay more for CTP insurance.
Comprehensive
There is a striking difference between the premium paid by someone aged 50 compared to a male under 25.
Comprehensive insurance prices by age
| Age |
Comprehensive price per year |
Price compared to 50+ |
| Male under 25 | $3,020 | 2.4x more |
| Female under 25 | $2,706 | 2.1x more |
| 25-29 year olds | $2,176 | 72.7% more |
| 30-49 year olds | $1,607 | 27.5% more |
| 50+ | $1,260 | – |
Source: Canstar, June 2025
CTP Insurance
Age is an important factor in the price of CTP. CTP insurers and the green slip calculator ask for vehicle owner age and youngest driver age.
CTP prices by age
| Age | Cheapest CTP price | Compared to 50+ price |
| 20 | $819 | 43.2% more |
| 25 | $778 | 36.0% more |
| 30 | $579 | 1.2% more |
| 40 | $579 | 1.2% more |
| 50 | $572 | – |
- A driver aged 20 pays 43% more for a green slip than someone aged 50, which reflects the lower risk of accidents in more experienced drivers.
Does being loyal to an insurer affect the price?
Loyalty to an insurer can affect the price of comprehensive or CTP insurance.
Comprehensive
Loyalty to a comprehensive insurer may not work in the way you think. According to ASIC in March 2026, existing customers consistently pay more than new customers for the same policy. Staying with your current insurer without first comparing costs the average driver over $300 a year.
CTP Insurance
CTP prices are affected by loyalty to one insurer only, NRMA Insurance. Its prices depend on number of continuous years of holding some form of NRMA insurance. (Prices are no longer based on years of membership of NRMA.)
Can you get pay as you drive insurance?
Pay as you drive, or usage, insurance is available for comprehensive insurance but usually not for CTP insurance.
Comprehensive
It is designed for drivers over 25 who cover less than 15,000 kms per year and have a good driving record. You could save up to $367 compared to standard comprehensive insurance.
CTP Insurance
Most NSW drivers must pay for CTP every 6 or 12 months. Pay as you go is not available for most drivers, but required for taxi and rideshare drivers.
Did you know the green slip calculator helps you quickly and easily compare all NSW CTP insurers using all details that affect your cheapest price?
your opinion matters: