Car insurance is one of those funny things in life – if you’re lucky, in some cases you’ll never need it or need to use it. And in our busy lives, things that aren’t front of mind can easily slip out of focus altogether, until you’re surprised by the worrying thought, “Wait, is my car insured?”
Or perhaps you’re considering buying a used car, and looking for clarity on whether car insurance comes with your new set of wheels, and what cover you might need to purchase yourself.
In either case, you might be wondering how to go about doing a vehicle insurance check. In fact, the process can vary a lot depending on whether you’re checking for Compulsory Third Party (CTP) cover or another type of policy, such as comprehensive car insurance.
We’ve done a deep dive into insurance car checks in Australia, so you don’t have to. Read on to discover what an insurance check can tell you, when you might want to get one, and how to check car insurance in your state or territory.
When might you need to check car insurance?
Here are some reasons why you might want to check auto insurance:
When you buy a used vehicle
Buying a second hand car? In addition to your car history check, it could be a good idea to check the registration and CTP status, especially if you’re buying from a private seller.1 In New South Wales, for example, driving an unregistered vehicle is illegal and can attract some hefty penalties and fines, even if you do so unknowingly.2
When you take a test drive
Planning to do a test drive? As a driver, you’re responsible for making sure any vehicle you operate has CTP – even if you’re just taking it for a spin, regardless of whether you’re buying a car privately or from a dealer. If you’re in an accident while on a test drive in an uninsured car, you could be held liable for injuries and medical costs, so it may be worth checking the vehicle’s CTP status before you get behind the wheel.1
Outside of CTP, if you’re buying a car privately, you may also want to check with the owner whether any vehicle you’ll be test driving is covered by another type of car insurance, should you be involved in an accident.3 Dealers and car traders usually have comprehensive insurance that covers their vehicles during test drives, but it’s not a legal requirement, so it may be worth checking with them first too.4
At renewal time
You might also want to do an insurance check around renewal time, especially if you can’t remember exactly when your policy ends.
For types of car insurance you may choose to take out, such as comprehensive cover, you’ll usually receive a renewal notice from your insurer at least 14 days before your policy expiry date.5 If you haven’t heard from them and you believe your renewal is coming up – or overdue – it could be wise to check.
If it’s been a while since you used your car insurance
There’s so much to keep up with in our daily lives, it’s natural for even important things to occasionally slip our minds.
If it’s been a while since you’ve used your insurance, or even thought about it, you might want to check in to make sure it’s still active. This can also be a good opportunity to review your cover and check other important details, such as your policy expiry date.1
What does a car insurance check actually tell you?
The information you’ll receive from your motor insurance check can vary, depending on where you live and the kind of check you do.
Checking on a vehicle’s CTP insurance status? Known as Green Slip insurance in NSW, this mandatory form of car insurance is included as part of a car’s registration.6
Every state and territory manages vehicle registration and CTP insurance differently,1 and the information you can access by checking a car’s registration status also varies by location. For example, a Queensland vehicle registration check may only show you a car’s registration status and expiry date,7 while registration checks in NSW also include the name of the CTP insurance provider and the policy end date.8 There are however, other ways to check a vehicle’s CTP insurance status if a rego check doesn’t provide that detail – you can read more about that below.
On the other hand, if you’re checking for another type of car insurance, such as comprehensive, third party property only or third party fire and theft, you should typically be able to find out a lot more about the cover you have for your vehicle.
When you purchased your car insurance policy, your insurer will have sent you a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), along with your policy schedule.9 These documents include lots of information about your policy, including:10
- What your insurance does and doesn’t cover
- Your level of cover
- Any limits and special conditions that apply
- How much excess you’ll pay
- The insured value of your vehicle – either Market Value or an Agreed Value.10
What details do you need to do a CTP insurance check?
To check CTP insurance for your car – or a car you’re interested in buying – you’ll typically only need a couple of things on hand.
Depending on your state or territory, you may need the car’s licence plate number or its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).1
A VIN is a 17-digit number.11 You’ll find it engraved on a metal plate, usually behind the windscreen on the passenger’s side of the car or on the driver’s door post. You may also find the VIN in the owner’s manual.11
How to check car insurance by state or territory
Thankfully, every Australian state and territory makes it easy to check CTP car insurance status online, free of charge.1
Here’s how to find out if a car has CTP insurance in your part of Australia.
How to check insurance for your car in the ACT
In the Australian Capital Territory, CTP is known as Motor Accident Injuries (MAI) insurance,12 and drivers select their insurer from four approved providers.6
To check your MAI insurance, simply visit Access Canberra and input the car’s licence plate number into the online form.13 You’ll then be able to see the registration status, expiry date and the name of the car’s MAI insurer.
How to check Green Slip status in NSW
In NSW, drivers may choose their own Green Slip insurer from several approved providers, including Youi.14
You can check a car’s Green Slip status online via the Service NSW website or mobile app with just the registration plate number. Information provided includes the name of the current insurance provider and the policy expiry date.8
It’s worth noting that, in NSW, some vehicles over five years old need an annual eSafety inspection – called a Pink Slip – to be registered.15 You can’t check Pink Slip status online, so if you’re buying a car, it might be a good idea to ask the seller when the last Pink Slip was issued and whether the vehicle has any known safety issues.16
How to check car insurance status in the NT
In the Northern Territory, CTP is provided by the government,17 so drivers don’t choose their own provider.6
You can search for a vehicle registration using just the plate number on the NT government website or the NT Rego app.18
How to check compulsory insurance in Queensland
Queensland allows drivers to choose their own CTP insurer.19
To check CTP insurance in the Sunshine State, simply input the licence plate number into the CTP insurer search tool on the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) website.20
How to check CTP insurance in SA
Youi is one of several CTP insurers in South Australia that drivers can choose from.6
To check CTP, just enter the plate number into the SA Government’s online form. You’ll then be able to see the name of the CTP insurer, as well as the vehicle’s registration expiry date.21
How to check car insurance in Tasmania
In Tasmania, drivers don’t choose their own CTP insurer.6
You can check whether a vehicle is registered by entering its plate number into the Transport Services online form.22
How to check my car insurance in Victoria
Registration in Victoria also includes CTP, so drivers don’t have a choice of insurer.6
Find out whether a car is registered by searching its registration, VIN or chassis number on the Service Victoria check registration tool. You’ll be able to see a range of information, including the registration status and expiry date.23
How to check car insurance status in WA
For drivers in Western Australia, CTP insurance is automatically included in the cost of registration.6
You can check a car’s vehicle licence (registration) expiry date by entering the plate number into the Department of Transport’s Vehicle Licence Expiry Date Enquiry form.24
How do I know if my car is insured beyond CTP
Not sure how to check if you have comprehensive car insurance or another level of cover beyond CTP? Here are a few approaches you could consider.
You could try searching in your email inbox, looking for terms such as:
- Your insurer’s name
- “Car insurance”
- Common insurance terms, such as “policy schedule” or “renewal notice”.
Another approach to finding out if your car is insured can be to check your bank statements. Most car insurance policies will either be billed monthly or annually.25
No luck? It might be time to give the insurance company you think you’re covered by a call. They should be able to help you find out if you have an active or expired policy with them and what steps you might need to take to renew your cover.
Can I transfer insurance when buying a used car?
When you buy a second hand car, some types of insurance automatically transfer, while others probably won’t.
In every state and territory, CTP insurance is tied directly to a vehicle’s registration. This means you’ll become the insured party as soon as ownership is transferred into your name.6
However, other types of insurance, such as comprehensive or third party fire and theft usually don’t transfer to new owners. So, you may wish to contact your insurer as soon as the sale is complete to purchase or update your car insurance to make sure you have the cover you need.26
Does my car insurance automatically renew?
Many car insurance policies in Australia do renew automatically but again, it depends on your insurer and their policy.
It’s always a good idea to read your renewal notice carefully and to make sure you understand the renewal process. If your policy doesn’t auto renew and you don’t pay it, your insurer could cancel your policy, leaving you without cover for your vehicle.5
What cover details should I check before renewing my car insurance?
“Renewal time is a great opportunity to check your cover to make sure it’s still keeping up with your lifestyle and needs,” shares Marni Jackson, Youi’s Head of Product – Vehicle and Lifestyle.
Your notice of renewal will typically include important information about your cover, such as:5
- The type of cover you have – for example, Comprehensive or Third Party Property Only – and any optional covers you’ve selected
- The insured value of your vehicle which, if you have an agreed value policy, may be less than on your previous renewal as your car depreciates as it ages
- Exclusions and limitations
- Your excess
- Your new premium
- Your renewal date and period of cover.5
“It could be helpful to take some time to look through these details, and make sure your cover still suits your needs and circumstances,” says Jackson.
You may also want to use this time to check your optional cover.
“Optional cover is when you add extras to your car insurance for things you might need. It isn’t included in your policy automatically; you have to request it, and it usually comes at an additional cost,” explains Jackson.
At Youi, for example, you may be able to add optional car insurance cover for business items while they’re stored in your car,27 reduced excess for windscreen repairs28 or for contents in your motorhome or campervan.29
While optional cover can be useful, removing optional covers you don’t use might help to lower your premium.30
Whether you’re in the market for a second hand car or just can’t remember if you’re insured, a car insurance check can be a simple but important way to find out if you’re covered.
And if you’re shopping around for a new policy, looking to renew, or thinking about switching car insurance, consider checking out Youi’s range of car insurance options to see if they’re a good fit for you.
1Source: Canstar – How to check if my car is insured, April 2026
2Source: NSW Government State Insurance Regulatory Authority – Failure to take out CTP insurance, April 2025
3Source: CarExpert – How to organise a test drive when selling a car, April 2024
4Source: NT Government – Buying a new or used vehicle, n.d.
5Source: Canstar – Car insurance renewal: what you need to know, May 2025
6Source: Canstar – Compulsory third party (CTP) insurance: What you need to know, May 2026
7Source: Qld Government – Check registration status, n.d.
8Source: Service NSW – Check a vehicle registration, March 2026
9Source: Financial Rights Legal Centre – Car Insurance Claim, January 2025
10Source: Financial Rights Legal Centre – Understanding your Insurance Policy, January 2023
11Source: carsales – How do I find my VIN?, May 2024
12Source: ACT Government Motor Accident Injuries Commission – Your MAI insurance, n.d.
13Source: ACT Government Access Canberra – Vehicle registration records, n.d.
14Source: NSW Government State Insurance Regulatory Authority – List of CTP insurers, April 2026
15Source: NSW Government – Safety checks and vehicle inspections, n.d.
16Source: Service NSW – Buying a vehicle, February 2026
17Source: NT Government – Drive an interstate or overseas-registered vehicle, n.d.
18Source: NT Government – Check your vehicle registration, n.d.
19Source: Motor Accident Insurance Commission – About CTP insurance, November 2024
20Source: Motor Accident Insurance Commission – CTP insurer search, n.d.
21Source: SA Government – Check a vehicle or boat registration, February 2026
22Source: Tas Government Transport Services – Check your registration status, November 2025
23Source: Service Victoria – Check registration, n.d.
24Source: WA Government Department of Transport – Vehicle Licence Expiry Date Enquiry, n.d.
25Source: Canstar – 11 tips to save money on your car insurance, July 2025
26Source: Cars24 – Understanding RC Transfer!, April 2024
27Optional cover available with Comprehensive and Third Party Fire & Theft policies. Additional costs, exclusions, limits and conditions apply. For full details, see the PDS.
28We may offer you the opportunity to choose to pay extra premium to reduce the basic excess that applies to claims that solely involve your windscreen, window glass or sunroof glass. The excess that will apply to windscreen claims will be shown on your policy schedule. For full details, see the PDS. For full details, see the PDS.
29Optional cover available with Comprehensive and Third Party Fire & Theft policies. Additional costs, exclusions, limits and conditions apply. For full details, see the PDS.
30Source: Canstar – Different types of car insurance explained, March 2026
