Car insurance in Australia functions identically to car insurance in the United States in the regard that it follows the car it is assigned to and not the driver(s). At the same time, the car in question should also have legal registration in Australia. Driver’s licenses don’t have to be from Australia, but they must be valid within the borders. A standard US license is valid, though some non-English speakers may be required to get an international driving permit. Other required aspects of car insurance for visitors to Australia include compulsory third-party insurance at the bare minimum for liability protection.
Necessary Car Insurance in Australia
Australia has four different tiers of auto coverage that visitors and drivers in the country can choose from –only one of which is required, but the rest can go a long way in terms of protection. These car insurance tiers are:
- Compulsory third-party insurance – As previously mentioned, this car insurance is required in Australia. This functions as basic liability coverage wherein a driver that you injured in an accident is covered by this insurance when it comes to their medical treatment.
- Third-party property insurance – Damage that you cause to another driver’s car in an accident isn’t required by Australian law to be insured. But drivers can do this by getting third-party property insurance coverage. This option is actually quite cheap and can go a long way.
- Third-party fire and theft – This is a sort of add-on to third-party property insurance as it offers all the same coverages as it does but with the addition of fire damage and theft of your car while in Australia.
- Comprehensive coverage – Like in the US, comprehensive car insurance fully protects your car when harm comes to it while it is parked. Australia has some troublesome weather that can cause damage to a parked car. If you lose your keys, you can even be insured for their replacement.
Where to Find Car Insurance in Australia
Car insurance in Australia can be found by approved insurance providers in whatever territory you are traveling to. You may even be directed to the most reliable when you are still planning out your trip. When it comes to Australians and their car insurance process, car insurance is required at the time of vehicle registration which isn’t a unique practice. There isn’t a whole lot of comparing quotes when looking for Australian car insurance, as they all price pretty evenly.
How Much Australian Car Insurance For Visitors Cost
Visitors to Australia can actually find temporary car insurance for a monthly rate during their stay. This can typically cost anywhere from $25 to $35 monthly. Of course, how much you pay exactly for it will depend on the kind of insurance you choose to get during your stay.
