Child safety in your car – what to consider when buying a new car

If you have a family, especially with younger children, their safety in any vehicle that you drive will need to be of paramount importance. Here are a few things that you will need to consider.

How many baby chairs or children’s seats can be accommodated in the back seat of the vehicle – enough for the number of children in your family? Also – look at the amount of room available in the back of the car – you don’t want to land up with your legs folded under the dash because there isn’t enough space for the child seats. Also look at the seat anchor points provided – where are they? If the anchor point is on the boot lip, it will use boot space – whereas if the anchor point is on the back of the rear seat, it won’t.

Something that we don’t always think of is that the configuration of the rear window can affect the amount of sunlight shining on the child – if the rear window is sloping (as in a hatchback), the baby or child will be in direct sunlight if they are rear-facing. If you can’t do anything about this, think about whether there are rear air-conditioning vents in the vehicle, and also whether to equip the rear of the vehicle with after-market sunshades that can be attached to the rear windows.

Look at the amount of boot space available, and make sure that you will be able to fit the pram in as well as everything else that you will normally want to carry in the boot – shopping, for example. Make sure that the pram will go into the boot easily.

Test the rear doors to make sure that they will open widely enough to put in and remove the baby carrier/car seat in and out of the vehicle without undue difficulty.

You want a car that will be as safe as possible. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is a car safety performance assessment programme based in Australia and founded in 1993. ANCAP specialises in the crash testing of automobiles sold in Australia and the publishing of these results for the benefit of consumers. ANCAP provides consumers with transparent advice and information on the level of occupant and pedestrian protection provided by different vehicle models in the most common types of crashes, as well as their ability—through technology—to avoid a crash.

The ANCAP assessment splits safety systems into 3 types:

Structural integrity – how does the safety cell hold up in a collision
Safety features – airbags, ABS (Antilock braking Systems and ESC (Electronic Stability Programs)
Safety Assist Technologies – advanced systems that help the driver to avoid a crash, or restrict its severity, such as AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking), LDW (Lane Departure Warning), BSM (Blind Spot Monitoring) and FMS (Fatigue Monitoring Systems).

Check the ANCAP safety rating, and select only five-star rated vehicles.

As you can see, there are some choices that you can make which can make your driving life easier, as well as safer both for you and for your family.

When planning family transport, explore replacement vehicle options for families and read our guide to understanding ANCAP safety ratings.

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What To Do If Someone Hits Your Parked Car

Coming back to find your parked car damaged is never fun, but knowing how to respond correctly can save you time, money and stress.

Firstly, understand that getting upset is natural, but taking a deep breath will help you make better decisions. Examine your car thoroughly and document any visible damage, taking multiple photos from different angles, including close-ups of dents, scratches or broken parts, and capturing the surrounding area, such as road signs and markings, for context.

Next, see if you can locate the driver responsible. Sometimes, people leave a note with their contact information and insurance details. If there’s no note, look for witnesses nearby who may have seen what happened. You can also check for CCTV from nearby businesses, homes or on the street, as some areas have coverage. If you’re unsure, consider contacting the local council to find out whether cameras are in place that might have captured the accident.

If the driver didn’t leave a note, or if they did but are unresponsive or the information they provided seems incorrect, contact the police to report the accident and provide all the information you have, including photos, footage and witness statements. Be sure to request a copy of the police report, as it can be useful when dealing with insurance.

If you’re still having a hard time getting a hold of the at-fault driver and therefore cannot claim directly through their car insurer, it’s time to lodge a claim with your own insurance provider, if you have one. Provide them with as much information as possible, including the police report. From there, your insurer can determine whether your coverage, along with the information you have, will cover the damage to your car.

If your car insurer happens to find information about the at-fault driver and is able to have them lodge a claim so the costs of the damage are recoverable, you can contact Carbiz for a replacement car while your car is being repaired or until it’s been deemed a total loss. This ensures you’re not left without a car during this time, giving you peace of mind and the ability to keep your life moving.

For help organising your next steps, read our car accident insurance claim checklist and explore accident replacement vehicle options.

What It Means When Your Car Is Declared A Write-Off After An Accident

Updated 6 October 2026.

When an insurer declares a car a write-off, it has assessed the vehicle as a total loss under the policy. The damage may make repairs unsafe, or the cost of repairing the car may make a repair uneconomical. A write-off does not always mean the car is visibly destroyed.

How is a write-off decision made?

The assessment can take account of the vehicle's value, repair costs, salvage value and the policy terms. There is no single repair-cost percentage that determines every write-off across Australia. Ask the insurer for its assessment and the basis for its decision.

A total-loss insurance decision and a vehicle's written-off registration category are related but different matters. Whether a car can return to the road depends on the damage classification and the rules of the relevant state or territory.

Statutory and repairable write-offs

Statutory write-off: the vehicle meets specified damage criteria and cannot be re-registered for road use.
Repairable write-off: repairs may be technically possible, but the vehicle has been assessed as uneconomical to repair. This label does not itself authorise repairs or guarantee re-registration.

Requirements vary across Australia. In NSW, an eligible written-off light vehicle needs an Authorisation to Repair from Transport for NSW before work begins. Only limited applications are considered, and vehicles with statutory write-off damage are excluded. Approval, compliant repairs and the required inspections are separate steps.

What happens to your insurance payout?

The settlement depends on your cover and circumstances. It may be based on an agreed value, a market value or a replacement-vehicle benefit if your policy provides one. An excess, outstanding premium or finance arrangements may affect the amount you receive. Ask for a written breakdown before accepting the settlement.

Keep the assessment, photographs, policy documents and correspondence together. If you disagree with the valuation, provide relevant evidence and use the insurer's complaints process. See AAMI's explanation of total-loss claims for an insurer's example; your own policy determines your cover.

Getting around after a not-at-fault accident

If you need a replacement vehicle, tell Carbiz that your car has been declared a write-off. Eligibility, vehicle availability, the hire period and the terms of the agreement need to be confirmed for your circumstances. A write-off does not automatically entitle everyone to unlimited hire.

Contact Carbiz to discuss your accident replacement vehicle options. For a practical checklist, read what to do after receiving a write-off decision.

28 September 2017