Does car insurance cover hitting a kangaroo?
It depends on the type of cover. The comprehensive car wording we read covers accidental damage from a collision or impact, which a kangaroo strike would reasonably fall under. Third party policies don't cover your own car.
- Source
- Car insurance PDSs from two Australian insurers (comprehensive and third party property damage)
- Updated
Car Insurance — Hitting a Kangaroo
Whether a kangaroo collision is covered depends on the type of car insurance. The comprehensive wording we read covers accidental damage from a collision or impact, which a kangaroo strike would reasonably fall within. Third party property damage policies only cover damage you cause to other people's property, not damage to your own car.
Comprehensive Cover
The comprehensive car insurance wording we read covers accidental loss of or damage to your car from listed incidents including "collision or impact", theft, fire, weather events and malicious damage. A kangaroo strike would reasonably fall within a collision or impact.
The excerpts reviewed do not name animal strikes specifically, so check the full PDS for any exclusion that could apply to your claim. Source: comprehensive car insurance PDS, "What you're covered for".
Third Party Property Damage
Third party property damage policies cover your legal liability for damage you cause to someone else's property. They do not cover damage to your own car, so damage to your car from hitting a kangaroo would not be covered. Both third party wordings we read limit cover to liability to others. Source: third party property damage PDSs, "What you're covered for" and "What we cover".
Conditions to Check
▹ General exclusions apply under every policy and can affect a claim depending on the circumstances.
▹ Cover applies to the vehicle listed on your certificate of insurance or policy schedule.
▹ After-market modifications and accessories may change how a claim is valued, so check whether yours are covered.
Important Notes
Wordings differ between insurers, and retail and broker-arranged policies can have different limits and conditions. Check the PDS and schedule for your own policy, or ask your broker.
Factual information from the policy wordings cited above, at the date above. It is not personal advice, financial product advice or a recommendation, and cover depends on your policy, schedule and circumstances. PolicyAI can make mistakes: check the current Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or ask your broker before relying on it. Spotted an error? Tell us. See our disclaimer.
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