Animal collisions aren’t new on Australian roads — but the frequency and cost of claims are rising fast, and it’s starting to expose gaps in how motor insurance is structured and understood.
Recent data from NRMA Insurance shows a sharp increase in wildlife-related incidents, with over 12,000 claims recorded in a single year and a significant spike in recent periods.
Even more telling, kangaroos account for the overwhelming majority of collisions, often in regional and semi-rural areas.
This isn’t just a seasonal issue. It’s a growing, structural risk.
A risk that’s easy to underestimate
Animal collisions tend to sit in a strange category — they’re common, but rarely front-of-mind when businesses think about motor risk.
Yet the impact can be significant:
- Vehicles written off or out of action for extended periods
- Supply chain or service delivery disruption
- Unexpected out-of-pocket costs (excess, downtime, replacement vehicles)
- Potential safety implications for drivers
And importantly — many of these incidents occur without another party involved, which changes how claims are assessed and recovered.
Where motor insurance can fall short
Not all motor policies respond the same way to animal collisions.
While comprehensive cover typically includes damage from collisions with animals, outcomes can vary depending on:
- Policy type (comprehensive vs third party)
- Excess structures
- Hire car or downtime provisions
- Claims classification (at-fault vs not-at-fault)
For example, some policies may still treat animal strikes as at-fault incidents, potentially impacting premiums or no-claim bonuses.
For businesses relying on vehicles — especially in regional Australia — these nuances matter.
The real exposure: downtime
The biggest cost often isn’t the repair — it’s the disruption.
If a vehicle is off the road:
- Can operations continue?
- Is there a replacement vehicle available?
- Who absorbs the financial impact?
This is where many standard policies don’t go far enough.
A changing risk landscape
The increase in animal collisions isn’t random.
It’s being driven by:
- Changing environmental conditions pushing wildlife closer to roads
- Increased regional travel and logistics activity
- Seasonal behavioural patterns (particularly dawn/dusk movement)
In other words — this is a risk that’s becoming more frequent, not less.
What businesses should be asking
Rather than assuming cover is adequate, it’s worth pressure-testing:
- Does your policy explicitly cover animal collisions?
- How are these claims classified?
- What happens to premiums after a claim?
- Is downtime or replacement vehicle cover included?
- Are drivers operating in higher-risk regions?
Because when something as unpredictable as wildlife is involved, assumptions can get expensive quickly.
Where Barrack adds value
At Barrack, we work with businesses to identify the gaps that only show up when something goes wrong — not just what’s written in the policy.
Animal collision claims are a perfect example:
- Common enough to matter
- Complex enough to be misunderstood
- Costly enough to disrupt operations
Don’t wait for a claim to find the gap
If your business relies on vehicles — especially in regional or high-exposure areas — now is the time to review your cover.
Talk to Barrack about your motor insurance program and make sure it’s built for real-world risk — not just what’s expected on paper. Contact the team here.
