Crash Guide

What if I am at fault?

Crash Guide Editorial TeamPublished 10 September 2026Last reviewed 10 September 2026General information only. Crash Guide is not a law firm, an insurer or a medical service.

Short answer

What happens if the accident was my fault?

If you caused the accident, your comprehensive or third party property policy generally covers damage you caused to the other vehicle, and comprehensive also covers your own. You will usually pay an excess and may lose part of a no-claim discount. If you are uninsured, you may be personally liable for the other party's repair costs.

What your cover does

  • Comprehensive: usually covers damage to the other vehicle and to yours, subject to your excess and policy terms.
  • Third party property: usually covers damage you caused to other people's property, but not your own vehicle.
  • Third party fire and theft: as above, plus limited cover for your own vehicle in those specific events.
  • CTP (green slip, or the equivalent in your state): covers personal injury, not vehicle damage. Every registered vehicle has it.

Crash Guide cannot tell you what your policy covers. Policy wordings differ significantly between insurers and products — read your product disclosure statement or ask your insurer directly.

Hire car cover when you are at fault

The specialist not-at-fault replacement vehicle route is not available to you if you caused the accident. However, some comprehensive policies include a hire car benefit that applies regardless of fault, and some include it only as an optional extra you may or may not have taken.

It is worth checking. Call your insurer and ask specifically whether your policy includes a hire car benefit following an at-fault claim, for how many days, and what class of vehicle. Do not assume either way.

If you are uninsured

This is the difficult one. Without property cover, you may be personally responsible for repairing the other party's vehicle, and those costs can be substantial. The other party's insurer will usually contact you directly seeking recovery.

  • Do not ignore correspondence — it rarely goes away and can escalate.
  • Ask for an itemised assessment rather than accepting a round figure.
  • Payment arrangements are often negotiable if you engage early.
  • Free legal help may be available through Legal Aid or a community legal centre in your state.

Things not to do

  • Do not offer cash at the scene to avoid a claim before you know the real repair cost.
  • Do not fail to report the accident to your insurer because you hope to handle it privately — that can breach your policy.
  • Do not admit fault in writing to the other party before speaking with your insurer.

Common questions

Will my premium go up?

An at-fault claim commonly affects your no-claim discount and can affect your renewal premium. How much depends on the insurer, your claims history and your policy. Ask your insurer what the effect will be before you decide whether to claim on a small amount of damage.

Can I pay for the other car myself instead of claiming?

You can, and for very minor damage it sometimes costs less than an excess plus a lost discount. Get a written repair quote first — visible damage is often the cheapest part of a modern bumper repair. Also check whether your policy requires you to notify the insurer regardless.

Sources

Crash Guide checks state rules against primary government and regulator sources. If something below has changed, tell us and we will correct it.

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