Car Safety features to look out for

You want a car that will be as safe as possible – but are you having difficulty decoding the various acronyms and descriptions of safety features that manufacturers include in their specification write-ups? What should you spend your money on, and what is not worth the additional cost?

Airbags are one of the safety features that you should not be doing without – covering as much of the interior of the vehicle as possible, especially those focussing on head protection and side impact, as well as driver knee protection.

Cameras and sensors that help you to park your car safely are important safety features – not necessarily for the driver and passengers – but for those people around your car.

A nice to have feature is rear-cross traffic alert, which will warn you of potential dangers behind you even when not visible to you. What happens here is that sensors in the rear corners of the vehicle scan for any out-of-sight traffic behind you and provide an alert if necessary.

Adaptive cruise control (ACC) will allow you to set your required speed, and automatically reduce speed if the vehicle comes up behind a slower moving car.

Auto emergency braking (AEB) and forward collision warning can stop your vehicle and avoid cars or obstacles ahead. In some cars the system operates only for lower speeds, and in others, a warning is provided to the driver if a potential collision is identified – this technology is applied differently in various vehicle makes and models.

Blind-spot monitoring will warn you by lighting up an area of your side mirror when a car is alongside you that you may not see.

Lane departure monitoring will provide you with an alert if you are travelling on a road marked by clear lanes, and you veer outside of the white lines. Some systems even make minor corrections to your steering inputs to ensure that you stay on course.

Electronic Stability Control will stop a car from sliding and a driver from losing control. Stability-control programs – which monitor the position of your car and can apply the brakes to the inside wheels and/or reduce power to keep you in a straight line – prevent an unknowably large number of car accidents every year. The Electronic Stability Control is mandated by law in new cars, but if you are looking at a used car, do ensure that the vehicle comes equipped with this safety feature.

Fatigue Monitoring System (FMS) has the ability to notice when you’re tired – simply by measuring your steering inputs and pedal movements – and warn you.

When deciding on which car to purchase, safety features should play a role. Be sure to let your car broker know which features you are most looking for. Contact us on 1300889256 or message us today to start your car buying journey.

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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.

19 September 2017