Putting your bills under the microscope…
Putting your bills under the microscope…
Car insurance is one of the bills that most frequently jumps at renewal, and it is also one of the easiest to cut. Switching is free, takes minutes, and can save hundreds of dollars a year for identical cover. The trick is knowing which levers actually matter.
Every $100 you add to your excess typically knocks $50–$100 off your premium. Since most people never claim, a higher excess is usually net-cheaper. Just make sure you could cover it if you needed to.
Comprehensive covers your car in most scenarios (theft, accident, fire, weather). Third-party property damage only covers damage you cause to others and is much cheaper, but if your car is written off you get nothing. If your car is worth less than about $3,000, third-party is often the better value.
Insurers publish an AM Best or Canstar star rating that reflects their financial strength and claims service. A four- or five-star insurer usually handles claims faster and is less likely to deny you on a technicality. A cheap plan from an unrated insurer can cost more in stress and delays when you actually need it.
Roadside assistance, rental cars after a claim, and engine protection are optional extras that insurers bundle into the headline price. If you already have roadside cover through your phone plan, a credit card, or a motoring club, you may not need it on your car policy.
Insurers reserve their best rates for new customers. Your renewal offer is often a step up from the equivalent plan a new customer sees on the same website. A 10-minute comparison on renewal day is one of the highest-ROI things you can do.
Lying about where you park or inflating your no-claims discount can invalidate a claim, so always be truthful. But some insurers specialise in young drivers or high-risk profiles — being honest with the right insurer is cheaper than being dishonest and getting refused at claim time.
No. Your no-claims bonus transfers with you when you switch in Australia. Each state has a scheme (often run by the Insurance Council) that lets your new insurer verify your bonus with your old one, so you start at the same level you ended at. It is one of the least-frictionful bills to switch.
Yes. There are no fees to switch insurers in Australia, and you can usually complete the process online in about 10 minutes. You keep your car registration and number plate; only the insurer changes. Cancellation at the old insurer happens automatically once your new policy starts.
Typical annual savings from switching are $200–$500 for an average comprehensive policy, depending on your current premium, excess, and driver profile. The biggest single lever is usually raising your excess and dropping add-ons you don't use.
Yes. Car insurance comparison is live in saivy as a Premium feature. Upgrade to Premium, enter your rego and state, and we'll look up personalised quotes from Australian insurers — ranked against your cover level, excess, and features, with no provider bias and no commissions.
Answer a few questions and agents gather quotes from providers for you.