News Articles & Blog Posts

With over 3 million electric cars operating globally, where do we stand here at home? EV’s only make up about 0.2% of the total vehicle fleet here in Australia, so let's investigate how we are tracking.
While there are several options on the market to have you driving away in an electric vehicle, it would seem that a large part of the market is reluctant to make the switch - the good news is that it’s slowly changing! And it’s now expected by 2040 that 70% of new vehicle sales will be for EV’s.
By state the picture is quite varied. Victoria has the highest electric vehicle ownership with 1324 EVs bought between 2011 and 2017 - but NSWs is close behind! 
Australia is currently ranks quite low internationally when comparing the total percentage of EVs on the road compared to the overall number of cars. The global leaders include Norway and USA.
So why is this? Well there are a couple of reasons. One of the reasons for the slow adoption of EVs in Australia can be linked to the low incentives to do so. The lack of government policies and financial incentives compared to other countries is notable. 
Another reason for the slow uptake has a lot to do with pressure points around the current infrastructure. By far people's biggest concern when purchasing an electric vehicle is whether there is enough infrastructure to support an increase in electric vehicles. But the good news is that there is a lot of optimism - and the future looks bright!
Carbiz is expanding its own range of Tesla accident replacement vehicles. Need help? Contact us! 📞1300 889 256

Have you ever driven up to an intersection and had a sudden doubt about who’s right of way it is? Knowing who should give way in every situation can be tricky - especially for new drivers!
Here are a couple of scenarios and the best way to handle them.
Roundabouts - did you know? You should give way to all drivers already in a roundabout. If two cars stop at the same time to enter the roundabout, the driver to the right has right of way.
At an uncontrolled crossroad, or one without signs, you should give right of way to any vehicle travelling in the opposite direction, straight across or turning left.
If you find yourself driving on a road that ends in a T-intersection, then you are required to give way to everyone travelling through the intersection.
Intersections with stop and yield signs - it’s important to remember that as a driver arriving at the intersection, you must give way to all vehicles on the road first before giving way to each other. If you are facing a yield sign and a driver is turning right across your path, then they have right of way.
Did you know that if the speed limit is 70km/h or less, you must give way to a bus that has a give way sign on the back of it? Such instances include when the bus is re-entering traffic from a stop or from the side of the road.
If you’re parked and are looking to re-enter traffic, you need to give way to all other moving traffic and signal for a minimum of 5 seconds before entering or merging.
So if you’re caught in an accident that was not your fault or you’re not sure who was at fault, then give our team a call. As experts we’ll be able to help you.📞1300 889 256

Let’s face it - we all love to travel with our furry friends! And while many of us consider them part of our family, there are many of us that are unaware of the rules that apply to our dogs when driving with them.

Whether it's a breakdown or an accident that was not your fault, sitting on the side of the road can be more dangerous than you may think.
What should you do if you are in an accident that was not your fault?
While you may be pretty shaken up, it’s important to remain calm. If you’re not sure what information to exchange, how to get your car towed or even who to call first, then just breathe and remember that the team at Carbiz is on hand! Our dedicated accident support line is only a call away, we’ll help you.
Here are some tips to keep you safer on the side of the road

• If you’re able to, no one is injured and your car is in a condition to do so, you should try to move your car as far to the left hand side of the road as possible
• Don’t stop in the middle of the road, this will make it unsafe for both yourself and other cars trying to overtake or pass.
• In an emergency, it’s a great idea to turn on your hazards, to let others know.
• It’s not a good idea to wave other motorists down for help on the motorway. Rather move to the side of the road and give Carbiz a call, we’ll help you.
• If there’s nowhere safe to wait outside of your car, consider rather waiting inside your car. If you do want to get out and the road is busy, try getting out of the passenger side.
• Make sure everyone is safe and uninjured. If you spot any injuries, call 000 to get help sent to the accident scene.

Not at fault? Call our team, we'll help you 📞1300 889 256

Driving while distracted has become common practise - but it's a dangerous driving behaviour brought on by bad driving habits. 
Here are a few bad habits that you should drop today. 
Keeping your mobile phone handy while driving
If your phone is easily accessible while driving, you will be more likely to grab for it if you get a notification. Using your mobile phone while driving will ultimately lead to distracted driving. Leave your phone out of reach.
Not wearing a seatbelt properly
It’s easy to think that putting your seatbelt on is a waste of time - and perhaps you don’t find it the most comfortable accessory. However, it’s incredibly important to wear your seatbelt correctly at all times to ensure your safety in the event of an accident.
Eating and drinking while driving
Eating and drinking while driving may stop you from being able to quickly react to a sudden emergency. If you’re desperately hungry or thirsty, consider taking a well deserved break from your journey.
Watch your footwear - lose the thongs and heels!
Some forms of footwear are actually safer than others. While there’s no law or rule against certain types of footwear, thongs or heels can get caught under the pedals.
Accidents can happen in seconds - don’t let one occur in the split second that you are distracted. 
Not at fault? We’ll help you

Accidents are such unexpected events - they can definitely rattle even the best of us. Ever wondered what the process is straight after your car accident, while waiting on scene? Now try to remember everything while being rattled and out of sorts! We’ve created a free guide that you can print and store in your glove compartment for just in case.

Here are a few reminders - and how to handle a situation where the other driver refuses to exchange their details.

• Other driver/s details
• Date and time
• Location
• Driver’s phone number
• Driver’s vehicle registration
• Driver’s name
• Driver’s Insurer
• Driver’s address
• Driver’s vehicle make and model

So what happens if the other driver doesn’t want to exchange their details with you?

Well firstly, this is actually illegal - you are obligated to exchange details with the other driver following a car accident. You must stop after an accident and exchange information about yourself and gather information from everyone else involved. If you’re struggling with the other people involved in the accident, then you should call 000 for assistance.

What if you’re not at fault?

If you’re not at fault, we’ll help you! It’s important that you gather enough information about the at fault driver so that the costs associated with the accident can be recovered. The best case scenario is that you are able to gather all of the information identified. However, if the at fault driver is not obliging then gather what information you can. A description of the other car - and most importantly - the number plate details.

Not at fault? We’ll help you – just give us a call 📞 1300 889 256

If you didn’t already know, our team at Carbiz is child friendly! We want your little ones to be safe - today we look at the rules around child restraints for driving. 
Did you know? Many road rules and traffic laws in Australia differ from state to state, including when it comes to child car seat restraints.
You’re probably aware of the car seat and safety fitting in your own car, but do you know the rules for when you need an accident replacement vehicle.
Children to the age of seven years old cannot travel in a car without a correctly fitted and properly fastened child seat that meets Australian safety standards.
The rules for booked vehicles - such as accident replacement vehicles - are essentially the same as for private cars. We’re family-friendly - so if you are planning on driving around with your little one, then let us know! Our cars have correct anchor points for fitting a restraint.
Did you know? For their own safety, across Australia, no passenger under the age of four years old may sit in the front seat. And no passenger aged between four and seven years may sit in the front seat unless the back seats are also occupied by children under seven years. This rule applies across all vehicles.
As you get into our accident replacement vehicles, know that you and your whole family will have a safer journey!
Not at fault? We’ll help you.📞1300 889 256

Did you know that truck drivers have a very different experience when driving? Their blindspots are different, their turning circle is far larger and the sheer size of their vehicle means that they may not see you at all.
With so many more trucks on the road - how can you be a safer driver?
Here are a few tips for driving near trucks.
Give as much notice about when and where you want to turn
Big rigs need time to see you - but the driver also needs time to slow down or alter their course if they need to. This is more important the heavier the traffic is, so be sure to indicate or slow down as soon as you can. It’s also important to remember that coming to an abrupt stop will not give the truck driver enough time to bring their truck to a stop - and it will likely end up in an accident.
Be courteous and give the truck ample space to turn 
With a turning circle of a truck being so large, it’s just the courteous thing to do to hold back a bit and give the truck ample space to make their turn. So the next time you see a truck approaching a turn, be sure to stop a good distance before the intersection.
Be aware of the truck's blindspots
These are slightly different for trucks than for cars. Trucks have four main blindspots. They are directly in front of the truck, beside the driver’s door, the full length of the passenger side extending out three lanes, and 10 metres directly behind. A good rule of thumb is that if you can’t see the truck's mirrors, then they can't see you - however, if you want to avoid an accident, remember to give the truck ample space, avoid tailgating and be courteous.
Be careful when merging
This is similar advice to giving the truck driver enough space to come to a stop - when merging remember that if you suddenly merge in front of the truck and then have to brake suddenly, the truck driver will not have enough time to properly react.
Not at fault after an accident? Contact our team, we’ll help you! 📞1300 889 256