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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.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team ยท Last reviewed
| 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 |
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.
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 |
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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 the CTP comparison across Australia.
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.
Every state runs CTP differently. If you are moving or registering a car interstate, check the scheme you are moving into, or see the CTP comparison across all eight.
Yes. Injury cover is the TAC charge, which is part of every Victorian vehicle registration fee alongside the registration charge and insurance duty.
No. The Transport Accident Commission is the only provider, so there is no CTP insurer to choose and no premium to compare.
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.
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.
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.
Eligible pensioners may get a 50% discount on the TAC charge. Contact VicRoads to confirm whether you qualify.
