CTP insurance in Victoria: the TAC charge explained
Victoria has no CTP policy to shop for. Injury cover comes from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), a Victorian Government-owned no-fault scheme, and you pay for it through the TAC charge that is part of every vehicle registration. There is no insurer to choose and no price to compare.
Because the scheme is no-fault, anyone injured in a transport accident in Victoria can claim, even if the accident was their fault. What you can influence is limited to the discounts you may be eligible for and the registration term you pick. This page explains how the charge is worked out and what it pays for.
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| Victoria | |
|---|---|
| Name | TAC charge (transport accident charge) |
| Who runs it | Transport Accident Commission (TAC), owned by the Victorian Government |
| Can you choose an insurer? | No. The TAC is the only provider |
| How you pay | As part of your VicRoads registration, alongside the registration charge and insurance duty |
| How the charge is set | Vehicle class (type and use, and sometimes seats), the risk zone of the postcode where the vehicle is kept (low, medium or high), and any eligible discount. Indexed to CPI on 1 July each year |
| Discounts | Eligible pensioners: 50% off the TAC charge. Eligible trade apprentices: 100% |
| Registration terms | 3, 6 or 12 months for light vehicles (since 1 January 2018) |
| Fault basis | No-fault: you can claim even if the accident was your fault |
| Claim deadline | 12 months from the accident, or from when an injury first becomes evident |
| Contact | TAC: 1300 654 329 |
How the TAC charge works
When you register a vehicle in Victoria, the fee breakdown shows three parts: a registration charge, the TAC charge and insurance duty. Each goes to a different government body, and the TAC charge goes to the Transport Accident Commission, which uses it to prevent accidents and to pay for the treatment and support of people injured on the roads.
The TAC charge also protects you. Under section 94 of the Transport Accident Act 1986, it covers the owner and driver for liability, including large court payouts, if the vehicle causes the death or injury of another person. That is the job a CTP policy does in other states.
How the charge is calculated
The TAC charge is not rated on the driver. It is worked out from the vehicle and where it is kept:
| Factor | How it works |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | The type and use of the vehicle: passenger, goods, motorcycle, miscellaneous or special use. It may also take into account the number of seats. Larger and commercial vehicles such as buses are assessed on intended use, seating and carrying capacity |
| Risk zone | The postcode where the vehicle is usually kept places it in a low, medium or high risk zone. The TAC's premium brochure lists every postcode's zone |
| Discounts | Eligible pensioners, concession card holders and trade apprentices can pay less (see below) |
| Indexation | Charges rise with inflation (CPI) on 1 July each year under the Transport Accident Act 1986. The latest indexation took effect on 1 July 2026 |
Discounts, short-term registration and the motorcycle levy
Pensioners may be eligible for a 50% discount on the TAC charge, and trade apprentices for a 100% discount as part of the Victorian Government's free registration for apprentices. Eligibility is checked by VicRoads, not the TAC. The TAC publishes separate premium tables for standard, eligible pensioner and eligible apprentice rates, each for annual, 6-month and 3-month registration.
Since 1 January 2018, owners of light vehicles have been able to register for 3, 6 or 12 months. A shorter term does not change the cover, only how often you pay.
Owners of motorcycles of 126cc or more also pay a Motorcycle Safety Levy inside the TAC charge. It funds rider safety projects and is paid once per owner: additional motorcycles you own are exempt.
When registration expires
There is no grace period for driving. Once your registration expires the vehicle is unregistered, and VicRoads warns that heavy fines apply if you drive an unregistered vehicle. Victoria's Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021 let you renew within 3 months after expiry, but renewing does not register the vehicle backwards for the time it was unregistered.
If the registration lapses for longer, you have to register the vehicle again, and Transport Victoria says a roadworthy certificate is needed to re-register. VicRoads also notes that whether you renew early, on time or late, your registration expiry cycle stays the same.
What the TAC covers
If the TAC accepts a claim, it can help pay for medical and related expenses from the accident. The type and length of support depend on your circumstances, and can include:
- medical treatment, including ambulance transport
- services to help you while you recover, and repair or replacement of damaged glasses or dentures
- income support if you cannot work because of your injuries, and return-to-work support
- a lump sum payment if you are eligible for compensation
- the application fee for a Medical Treatment Visa, if needed because of transport accident injuries.
What the TAC does not cover
The TAC does not pay for damage to your car, truck, motorbike, scooter, bicycle or any other transport, including towing and storage, or for non-medical personal items such as motorcycle gear, clothes and phones. For the car itself you need car insurance: third party property damage at minimum, or comprehensive.
Who can make a TAC claim
You can claim if you were injured (including a mental injury) or someone died in a transport accident in Victoria caused by the driving of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, bus, train or tram. That includes:
- drivers and passengers, including the driver who caused the accident
- pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooter or e-bike riders injured by one of those vehicles
- cyclists who collided with a stationary motor vehicle on or after 9 July 2014
- people with a diagnosed mental injury who were involved in, witnessed, helped at or saw the immediate aftermath of a transport accident, or who lost a loved one in one.
Unregistered and overseas vehicles
To drive an unregistered vehicle on a public road, for example to take it for inspection and registration, you need an Unregistered Vehicle Permit from VicRoads. The permit includes a TAC charge, which covers you against claims for injury or death if you crash.
If you crash on a public road in a vehicle that is not registered in Australia or covered by a permit, the TAC can recover what it pays to injured people from the owner and driver, and it cannot pay loss of earnings to the owner of that vehicle.
Crashes outside Victoria
A Victorian resident injured or killed in an interstate accident involving a Victorian-registered vehicle can claim with the TAC, as can anyone travelling in a Victorian-registered vehicle. A non-Victorian injured interstate by a Victorian-registered vehicle may also have a claim against the TAC, usually limited to common law damages under the law of the state where the crash happened. For the rules in other states, see how CTP works in every state.
Making a TAC claim
If you were injured while working, submit a WorkSafe claim first. Otherwise, lodge a TAC claim as soon as you can: you have 12 months from the accident, or from the date an injury first becomes evident, with limited exceptions set out in the TAC's claims policy. You can include immediate family members on the same form. Mental injury claims can be lodged by phone on 1300 654 329 or online.
Our guide to CTP claims by state compares Victoria's process with the other schemes.
CTP in other states and territories
Every state runs CTP differently. If you are moving or registering a car interstate, check the scheme you are moving into, or see how CTP works in every state.
General advice only. This information doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether the product is right for you and read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before you decide. We don't compare every product in the market, and we may earn a commission if you take up a product through our links.
What to watch for
- Check whether you qualify for the pensioner or apprentice discount. VicRoads, not the TAC, confirms eligibility.
- Where the car is kept sets its risk zone. Update your address with VicRoads when you move.
- You have 12 months to lodge a TAC claim. Work-related crashes go to WorkSafe first.
- The TAC never pays for vehicle repairs, towing or personal items like phones and riding gear.
- Driving an unregistered or overseas-registered vehicle without a permit can make you personally liable for injury costs.
Common questions
Is CTP included in rego in Victoria?
Yes. Injury cover is the TAC charge, which is part of every Victorian vehicle registration fee alongside the registration charge and insurance duty.
Can I choose my CTP insurer in Victoria?
No. The Transport Accident Commission is the only provider, so there is no CTP insurer to choose and no premium to compare.
What is the TAC charge?
The transport accident charge collected with Victorian registration. It funds the TAC's accident prevention and its support for people injured on the roads, and it covers the owner and driver for liability if the vehicle injures or kills someone.
Does the TAC cover you if the accident was your fault?
Yes. The TAC is a no-fault scheme: if you are injured in a transport accident in Victoria, you can make a claim for treatment and support even if you caused it.
Why is my TAC charge different from my neighbour's?
The charge depends on the vehicle's class and the risk zone of the postcode where it is kept, plus any discount. Different vehicles, a boundary between zones or a pensioner discount can all explain a difference.
Do pensioners pay a lower TAC charge?
Eligible pensioners may get a 50% discount on the TAC charge. Contact VicRoads to confirm whether you qualify.
How long can you drive after rego expires in Victoria?
You cannot legally drive it at all once the registration has expired, and VicRoads warns that heavy fines apply for driving an unregistered vehicle. You can renew within 3 months after expiry, but the renewal does not cover the time the vehicle was unregistered.
How can I make CTP cheaper in Victoria?
You cannot shop around: the TAC charge is set by the state and collected with your registration. What can lower it is a concession: eligible pensioners may get 50% off the TAC charge and eligible apprentices 100%. The charge also depends on the vehicle and the risk zone of the postcode where it is kept, which must be your real address.
How can I pay less for rego in Victoria?
Check the concessions. VicRoads gives Pensioner Concession Card holders 50% off the registration fee and 50% off the TAC charge on one personal vehicle, and Health Care Card holders 50% off the registration fee but no TAC discount. Eligible trade apprentices get free registration, and Veterans Card Victoria holders up to $100 off a year. A 3 or 6-month term changes how often you pay, not the cover.