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GIO Car Insurance

GIO offers a range of car insurance policies to drivers all around Australia. Read our review to learn more about their services!

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, updated on February 16th, 2024       

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GIO is an Australian insurance company formed in 1927 in New South Wales as the Government Insurance Office. Now headquartered in Sydney, it offers insurance across cars and other vehicles, such as motorcycles, boats, caravans and commercial vehicles, as well as home and contents and business insurance.

You can find out about GIO and the insurance policies it offers by reading our review. Learn more about the inclusions and exclusions of its products, as well as the optional extras you can add, today!

Disclaimer: all coverage offered by GIO is subject to the terms and conditions of your policy. Limits and exclusions apply. Please refer to your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or contact GIO if you’re unsure about what is and isn’t covered.

Please note that Savvy does not represent GIO for its car insurance products. All listed policies, inclusions and limits are correct as of June 2023.

What car insurance policies are available through GIO?

GIO offers the following types of car insurance to Australian drivers:

Comprehensive cover

Comprehensive car insurance provides the widest range of coverage options, including damage to your vehicle due to an accident (whether at fault or not). The following features and benefits are included in GIO’s Comprehensive cover policies:

  • Accidental loss or damage to your car due to an incident such as collision, impact, fire, theft, attempted theft, malicious damage, hail and storm
  • Legal liability for damage to other people’s property caused by your car up to $20 million
  • Reasonable cost of a rental car following the theft or attempted theft of your vehicle for up to 21 days
  • Reasonable cost of a rental car following a not-at-fault accident until your car is repaired or your claim is paid
  • New car replacement in the event of a covered total loss if you’re the first registered owner of a new or ex-demo car which is less than two years old
  • Reasonable cost of emergency accommodation if you’re more than 100km from home and your vehicle is deemed unsafe to drive (up to $1,000)
  • Reasonable cost of emergency repairs to make your car safe to drive (up to $1,000)
  • Cost of personal transport from the scene of the incident or to and from your repairer or hire car provider (up to $250)
  • Accidental loss or damage to your personal effects in the car at the time of the incident when your car is damaged in a covered event (up to $1,000)
  • Accidental loss or damage to your tools of trade in the car at the time of the incident when your car is damaged in a covered event, provided this isn’t theft or attempted theft (up to $1,500)
  • Accidental loss or damage to baby capsules or child seats in the car at the time of the incident when your car is damaged in a covered event (up to $750)
  • Reasonable cost of towing and storing your vehicle if it’s deemed unsafe to drive after a covered event
  • Accidental loss or damage to your trailer due to a covered event while attached to your car or if it runs out of control after separating from your car (up to $1,000)
  • Temporary legal liability cover for third party damage caused by a substitute car if your car can’t be driven due to a covered event or is being repaired (up to 14 days and $20 million in cover)
  • Legal liability cover for third party damage caused by your trailer or caravan while attached to your car or after separating from your car and running out of control (up to $20 million)
  • GIO lifetime repair guarantee
Platinum cover

GIO also offers a special Platinum cover policy, which comes with the same inclusions as their Comprehensive but with the following additional benefits:

  • No excess on one windscreen, window or sunroof glass claim per period of insurance (provided this is the only damage you’re claiming for)
  • Lifetime new car replacement in the event of a covered total loss if you’re the first registered owner of a new or ex-demo car which has been insured with Platinum cover from within 13 months of its purchase
  • Reasonable cost of a hire car of a similar make and model after any covered incident which causes your vehicle to be unsafe or unavailable to drive (up to $100 per day until your claim is settled or your car is repaired)
Fire, Theft and Third Party Property Damage cover

GIO’s version of third party fire and theft cover, known as Fire, Theft and Third Party Property Damage cover, is designed primarily to offer cover for the areas listed in its name. However, the incidents and costs under this level of cover with GIO can include:

  • Accidental loss or damage to your car due to fire, theft or attempted theft
  • Legal liability for damage to other people’s property caused by your car up to $20 million
  • Reasonable cost of a rental car following the theft or attempted theft of your vehicle for up to 21 days
  • Reasonable cost of a rental car following a not-at-fault accident until your car is repaired or your claim is paid
  • Reasonable cost of emergency accommodation if you’re more than 100km from home and your vehicle is deemed unsafe to drive (up to $1,000)
  • Reasonable cost of emergency repairs to make your car safe to drive (up to $1,000)
  • Cost of personal transport from the scene of the incident or to and from your repairer or hire car provider (up to $250)
  • Accidental loss or damage to your personal effects in the car at the time of the incident when your car is damaged in a covered event (up to $1,000)
  • Accidental loss or damage to your tools of trade in the car at the time of the incident when your car is damaged in a covered event, provided this isn’t theft or attempted theft (up to $1,500)
  • Accidental loss or damage to baby capsules or child seats in the car at the time of the incident when your car is damaged in a covered event (up to $750)
  • Reasonable cost of towing and storing your vehicle if it’s deemed unsafe to drive after a covered event
  • Temporary legal liability cover for third party damage caused by a substitute car if your car can’t be driven due to a covered event or is being repaired (up to 14 days and $20 million in cover)
  • Legal liability cover for third party damage caused by your trailer or caravan while attached to your car or after separating from your car and running out of control (up to $20 million)
  • Damage to your vehicle caused by an uninsured motorist who was completely at fault (up to $5,000)
  • GIO lifetime repair guarantee
Third Party Property Damage cover

The lowest level of optional car insurance cover, Third Party Property Damage (TPPD) cover mainly offers protection to you against damage you might cause to other people’s property. GIO’s TPPO cover can include the following:

  • Legal liability for damage to other people’s property caused by your car up to $20 million
  • Reasonable cost of a rental car following a not-at-fault accident until your car is repaired or your claim is paid
  • Cost of personal transport from the scene of the incident or to and from your repairer or hire car provider (up to $250)
  • Temporary legal liability cover for third party damage caused by a substitute car if your car can’t be driven due to a covered event or is being repaired (up to 14 days and $20 million in cover)
  • Legal liability cover for third party damage caused by your trailer or caravan while attached to your car or after separating from your car and running out of control (up to $20 million)
  • Damage to your vehicle caused by an uninsured motorist who was completely at fault (up to $5,000)
  • GIO lifetime repair guarantee
CTP Insurance

Compulsory third party (CTP) insurance, otherwise known as Green Slip insurance in NSW and Motor Accident Injuries (MAI) insurance in the ACT, is mandatory in all states and territories in Australia. However, while some state governments offer this as part of vehicle registration, others have a list of approved insurers from which you can buy cover. In the case of GIO, you can buy CTP insurance if you’re in NSW or the ACT. Though the cover specifics vary between states, these policies can include:

  • Liability for injuries caused to third parties in a motor vehicle accident by any driver of your car
  • Medical expenses for those injured in an accident, regardless of fault, for up to 12 months of reasonable, necessary treatment
  • Payment of a portion of your lost pre-injury income for up to 12 months off work

Are there any optional extras available through GIO?

Yes – GIO offers several optional extras on their Comprehensive and TPFT cover policies. These are:

  • No excess on one windscreen, window or sunroof glass claim per period of insurance, provided this is the only damage you’re claiming for (automatically included with Platinum policies)
  • Reasonable cost of a hire car of a similar make and model after any covered incident which causes your vehicle to be unsafe or unavailable to drive (up to $75 per day for up to 21 days)
  • GIO Roadside Assist

What are some of the pros and cons of buying car insurance through GIO?

  • Wider selection of policies: on top of the three standard car insurance offerings, GIO provides a further protection option to its Comprehensive policy in the form of Platinum cover.
  • Option for lifetime vehicle replacement: through Platinum cover, you can gain access to lifetime vehicle replacement in the event of a total loss, provided your car and the incident meet the required criteria.
  • Generous hire car cover: platinum also comes with no limits on hire car cover, while you can access protection for up to three weeks through their Comprehensive and FTTPPD policies.
  • No no-claim bonus: GIO only offers a no-claim bonus on its boat, caravan and trailer and motorcycle policies, meaning it isn’t available through their car insurance.
  • No cover for key replacement: unlike other policies, GIO doesn’t offer any cover for the replacement or recoding of keys and locks if your keys are stolen.

Common questions about GIO car insurance

Does GIO offer any discounts?

Yes – there’s a range of discounts offered by GIO as of June 2023. These include:

  • 10% discount for buying online
  • 10% discount on a comprehensive or platinum policy if you’re under 25 and have parents who are comprehensively covered
  • 10% discount for bundling three or more eligible policies with GIO
Can I choose my own repairer when buying car insurance through GIO?

Yes – provided they meet GIO’s criteria for repairers, you may be able to select your preferred repairer for your car.

How can I make a car insurance claim with GIO?

Through GIO, you can submit your claim online or via its app. They don’t offer the ability to make a claim over the phone.

In which states does GIO operate?

You can purchase a GIO car insurance policy in any state or territory in Australia.

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