Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance is a mandatory form of cover for all registered vehicles in Australia, designed to provide compensation for people injured in motor vehicle accidents—such as passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers.
While CTP insurance doesn’t usually cover property damage or injuries to the at-fault driver (except in severe cases), it plays a vital role in ensuring injured parties receive necessary medical treatment.
Your CTP Insurance is more valuable than you think – even if you are the at-fault driver. Across all Australian states and territories, this cover is mandatory, and for good reason.
While it generally won’t cover your own injuries if you’re at fault, CTP insurance ensures that anyone injured because of the accident—whether they’re a passenger, pedestrian, or another driver—has access to essential medical care, rehabilitation, and potential compensation.
In some states, catastrophic injuries may also be covered regardless of who’s at fault, offering an extra layer of protection. So even if you never need to make a claim yourself, your CTP policy is working behind the scenes to support safer roads and fairer outcomes for everyone involved.
If you’ve been in a car accident, and require legal advice and assistance, Revolution Law can help. Our team of Brisbane road accident lawyers are equipped to handle a wide range of personal injury claims, providing you with no-win, no-fee claims advice.
For now, let’s talk about what CTP insurance coverage is, the difference between CTP and comprehensive, and how the requirements differ state-by-state.
What is CTP insurance?
CTP personal injury insurance, or green slip car insurance as it’s known in NSW, covers third-party compensation claims.
This means that if you, or someone driving your car, causes an accident that results in injury to a third party, your CTP insurance will cover the cost.
Third parties who may claim against you are not limited to the occupants of cars you may hit—they can also include passengers in your own car, and other road users like pedestrians and cyclists.
What does CTP cover?
| Scenario | What’s Covered | Covered by CTP? |
| Not-at-fault driver | – Upfront funded medical treatment – Travel expenses for treatment – Future medical treatment – Medication & rehabilitation costs – Domestic assistance (if needed) – Past & future income loss – Pain and suffering damages | Yes |
| Passengers in the car of the “at-fault” driver | – Same coverage as not-at-fault driver: treatment, travel, rehab, income loss, domestic help, and pain and suffering | Yes |
| At-fault driver (injury to self) | – Generally not covered – May receive support from National Injury Insurance Scheme QLD for serious injuries | No |
| At-fault driver (injury to others) | – CTP protects from financial claims made by injured parties | Yes |
| Not-at-fault pedestrians & cyclists hit by a vehicle | – Full coverage: treatment, travel, rehab, domestic assistance, lost income, and pain and suffering | Yes |
| Driver in a “blameless accident” | – May be eligible for support via NIISQ in severe cases (e.g. medical episode, tyre blowout, animal on road) | No (NIISQ may assist) |
| Passengers in a “blameless accident” | – Coverage may apply depending on the situation – Injuries from blameless events such as a medical episode, animal on road, tyre blowout, etc. | Depends – Contact for assessment |
| Injured while using non-registrable vehicles (e.g. bikes, skateboards) | – Not covered by CTP – Check blog for details on options like e-scooter hire insurance | No |
| Property damage (vehicles or other property) | – CTP does not cover property damage – Separate car or property insurance needed | No |
What does CTP NOT cover?
CTP doesn’t cover property damage.
This type of insurance is specifically for people who are injured as a result of a car accident, and the payout is designed to cover the impacted person’s medical treatment, lost earnings, or ongoing care.
To cover property damage, you need comprehensive car insurance, or third-party property damage insurance.
CTP insurance by state
CTP insurance is mandatory for drivers in all Australian states and territories, but how it’s paid, and who provides the cover differs.
The main difference is whether the providers are private insurers, or government-regulated insurers.
For example, in Western Australia, CTP is provided by the Insurance Commission of Western Australia.
However, in NSW and QLD CTP insurance is provided by private insurers.
You can take a closer look at the differences in CTP insurance state-by-state in the table below :
| State/Territory | Is CTP Mandatory? | Who Provides It? | How Is It Paid? | Key Features / Notes |
| QLD (Queensland) | Yes | Private insurers (Suncorp, RACQ, Allianz) | Included in vehicle registration | You choose your insurer when registering your vehicle. Covers personal injury to others. |
| NSW (New South Wales) | Yes (often called a Green Slip) | Private insurers (AAMI, NRMA, QBE) | Separate to rego | Covers injury to others; partially fault-based but reforms introduced partial no-fault benefits. |
| VIC (Victoria) | Yes | Transport Accident Commission (TAC) | Included in registration | No-fault scheme. Covers all injured parties, including the driver, regardless of fault. |
| SA (South Australia) | Yes | Four approved private insurers | Included in registration | Partial choice of insurer. Covers injury to others. No cover for vehicle damage. |
| WA (Western Australia) | Yes | Insurance Commission of Western Australia | Included in registration | No-fault cover for catastrophic injuries; fault-based for general claims. |
| TAS (Tasmania) | Yes | Motor Accidents Insurance Board (MAIB) | Included in registration | No-fault scheme. Covers driver and all parties regardless of fault. |
| ACT (Australian Capital Territory) | Yes | Government-regulated insurers | Included in registration | Changed in 2020 to a hybrid no-fault scheme. Covers injuries regardless of fault with capped benefits. |
| NT (Northern Territory) | Yes | Territory Insurance Office (TIO) | Included in registration | No-fault scheme. Includes broader benefits than many other states. |
How to get or renew CTP insurance
In certain states and territories, CTP insurance cover is included as part of the vehicle registration fee—which means you don’t have a say in who your provider is, but you don’t have to go through the rigmarole of acquiring the insurance yourself.
This is the case in Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory.
CTP insurance in QLD, NSW, South Australia, and the ACT requires drivers to purchase their CTP insurance from a number of privately owned, licensed insurers.
The number available to drivers differs by state, with six available in NSW, three in QLD, five in SA, and four in the ACT. This insurance is purchased when you buy your car, and when you renew your yearly registration.
Though it’s not included in your registration, getting or renewing CTP insurance in these states and territories is easy, and can be done online.
How can Revolution Law help?
If you need to make a road accident injury claim, or have questions about anything from green slips in QLD to motorcycle CTP insurance, Revolution Law can help.
Backed by extensive experience and expertise, we’re dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome for our clients. If you or your loved ones need legal support, our personal injury lawyers are here to help.
FAQs about CTP insurance
1. Does CTP come with rego?
Yes, if you live in Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, or the Northern Territory. In these states, CTP insurance is included in the registration fee, and provided by government bodies like the Insurance Commission of Western Australia or the Territory Insurance Office (Northern Territory).
If you live in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, or the Australian Capital Territory, then you’ll need to purchase CTP insurance separately from a number of privately owned, licensed insurers, including QBE, NRMA, or Allianz (depending on where you live).
2. Do I need both CTP and comprehensive insurance?
At a minimum, you need CTP and third-party property damage. This is because CTP insurance categorically does not cover any property damage.
CTP insurance only exists to cover the medical needs and care of any injured person. Cars, buildings, or other property that were damaged in the same incident will not be covered.
3. Does CTP cover any driver?
Yes, CTP insurance generally covers any driver of a registered vehicle, as long as they have permission to drive it.
It’s designed to cover injuries to other people—such as passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers—if they’re hurt in an accident.
However, it doesn’t cover damage to vehicles or property, and it usually won’t cover the at-fault driver’s own injuries unless it’s a severe case (like through the National Injury Insurance Scheme in QLD).
Each state has slightly different rules, so you’ll need to check what applies in your area.
4. Does CTP cover damage to other cars?
No, CTP insurance does not cover damage to other cars or property. It only covers compensation for injuries caused to people in a motor vehicle accident—including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or cyclists.
If you want cover for vehicle or property damage, you’ll need to take out separate comprehensive or third-party property car insurance.
5. How does CTP insurance work?
CTP insurance is a legal requirement for all registered vehicles in Australia.
It’s designed to protect you financially if you’re involved in a car accident where someone else is injured.
If you’re at fault in an accident, your CTP insurance helps cover the medical costs, rehabilitation, and compensation for other people hurt in the crash—such as other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or cyclists.
It doesn’t cover damage to vehicles or property, and in most states, it won’t cover your own injuries unless the accident meets certain criteria (like being blameless or severe).
You usually pay for CTP when you register your car, and how it’s managed varies slightly depending on which state or territory you’re in.
6. Does CTP cover property damage?
No, which is why it’s essential to take out either third-party property damage or comprehensive insurance in addition to CTP insurance.
CTP insurance exclusively covers damage to any people involved in a car accident. This could mean passengers in your own car, or a car you collide with, pedestrians, or cyclists.
CTP insurance covers any necessary medical care for the injured party, as well as ongoing medical needs, and income loss.
