Australian drivers are facing a shock at renewal time. The average comprehensive car insurance premium has reached $2,226 in 2025, up 5.8 per cent in just one year and a staggering 42.4 per cent since 2019. For Victorian drivers, the pain is acute. Comprehensive cover now costs an average of $2,940, nearly $1,400 more than drivers in the Australian Capital Territory.
The numbers speak for themselves, but the drivers behind them reveal a system under genuine strain. Repair costs have climbed 42.2 per cent since 2019 to an average of $5,202 per claim. More alarming is the time it now takes to fix a car. The average repair duration has blown out from 38.57 days in 2019 to 61.25 days in 2024, a 58 per cent increase. That's an extra three weeks of rental car costs borne by insurers, and ultimately by policyholders.
Vehicle parts have become more expensive and harder to source. The cost of parts and accessories has risen 25.9 per cent over five years, while the shift towards electric vehicles has added another layer of complexity. EV components must typically be imported, stretching repair timelines from weeks to months. The industry needs 49,000 trained EV technicians in New South Wales alone to keep pace with demand.
One culprit has received less public attention but is quietly devastating insurance economics: credit hire companies. These firms, which provide replacement vehicles during repairs, have seen their claims volume quadruple since 2019. Worse, their claims cost three times more than standard rental arrangements. The Insurance Council of Australia says unchecked credit hire practices are now a systemic cost driver, one the council wants governments to regulate through a mandatory Code of Conduct.
Consumer protection is also fracturing. ASIC is suing Auto and General, alleging tens of thousands of Budget Direct customers were misled about discount levels. The insurer allegedly removed advertised discounts without notice when customers made policy changes, leaving people paying inflated premiums for years. The regulator has flagged misleading insurance pricing as a 2026 enforcement priority.
The insurance industry's own Motor Insurance Roadmap calls for urgent government action on credit hire regulation and extension of parts access schemes to ensure independent repairers can compete fairly. The council forecasts premium relief could begin within three to five years if these systemic issues are addressed. For now, motorists facing renewal should shop around relentlessly. The difference between insurers can exceed $500 on identical cover, research shows.