NRMA Insurance has reported a rise in animal-related motor claims across Australia. According to NRMA Insurance claims data, more than 15,000 animal collision claims were lodged in 2025, a 21% increase on 2024. The insurer’s figures show that exposure was not evenly distributed across the year: claim frequency rose between April and September, with July recording the highest number of animal collision claims nationally in 2025. Kangaroos were the main species involved, representing 84% of animal collision claims, followed by wallabies, wombats, deer, and foxes. There were also claims involving possums, echidnas, koalas, and emus, indicating a wide range of wildlife present on Australian roads.
With Easter and school holidays typically associated with long-distance road trips, NRMA Insurance has highlighted the implications for motorists travelling through regional and rural areas, where animal strike frequency is highest and physical damage costs are a recurring issue for motor books. “Animal encounters on Australian roads increase through autumn and winter as the days become shorter and wildlife activity peaks at dusk, dawn, and night. Wildlife can appear on the road with little warning, which is why it’s so important for drivers to stay alert, particularly when travelling long distances in regional areas these school holidays,” NRMA Insurance executive manager claims Nick Kirkovski said.
The insurer’s 2025 data points to a regional concentration of animal collision risk, with specific towns and road sections consistently appearing in claims. In New South Wales, Dubbo, Goulburn, and Yass recorded the highest levels of animal collision claims. In the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, Belconnen, and Kambah led suburb-level counts. Major ACT routes associated with higher collision activity included William Hovell Drive in Belconnen, Monaro Highway near Hume, and the Barton Highway near Hall. Similar patterns appeared in other jurisdictions. In Queensland, Goondiwindi, St George, and Charters Towers were the suburbs with the most animal collisions, with locations such as the Newell Highway near Goondiwindi, Moonie Highway near Dalby, and the Leichhardt Highway at Taroom linked to frequent incidents.
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In Western Australia, Collie, Margaret River, and Busselton were the main suburbs involved, alongside Bussell Highway near Margaret River, Baldivis Road at Baldivis, and the Shark Bay approach at Denham. South Australian hotspots included Hawker, Port Augusta, and Adelaide, with Stuart Highway near Port Augusta, Thiele Highway near Morgan, and Main South Road at Yankalilla often referenced in claims. In the Northern Territory, Katherine, Mataranka, and Adelaide River led suburb counts, with multiple sections of the Stuart Highway (Katherine, Mataranka, and Daly Waters) repeatedly identified. In Tasmania, Cradle Mountain, Campbell Town, and Coles Bay, and roads such as Cradle Mountain Road, the Tasman Highway near Swansea, and Arthur Highway at Copping, showed elevated activity.
In Victoria, Wodonga, Mildura, and Benalla generated the most animal collision claims, with Sturt Highway and Silver City Highway near Mildura and the Hume Highway near Benalla among the most-affected roads. Kirkovski said driver responses at the time of an encounter can affect claim outcomes. “If you encounter an animal while driving, it’s important to slow down safely and avoid swerving, as sudden movements can increase the risk of a more serious crash,” Kirkovski said.
NRMA Insurance is outlining several measures to help limit the likelihood and severity of animal collisions. These include avoiding travel at dawn, dusk, and night where possible, given increased wildlife activity and lower visibility; ensuring adequate rest before long drives and taking 15‑minute breaks every two hours; reducing speed in signposted wildlife zones; and braking in a controlled manner rather than swerving when animals are on or near the road. Where a collision occurs, the insurer advises that, if it is safe to do so, drivers should check on the animal and contact local wildlife rescue services. Such measures are intended to reduce the frequency and severity of losses, including bodily injury and repair costs.
The animal collision trends sit alongside broader road safety data from the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), which shows that national road deaths have continued to increase. In the 12 months to Feb. 28, 2026, 1,336 people died on Australian roads, 56 more than in the previous corresponding period, a 4.4% rise. This was the 33rd consecutive month in which the rolling 12‑month road toll was higher than a year earlier, with the last decline recorded in May 2023.
Vulnerable road users – those not travelling in a car, bus, or truck – accounted for 523 deaths over the period, up 7.0%. This comprised 202 pedestrians, 271 motorcyclists, and 50 cyclists. Pedestrian fatalities rose 16.8% and cyclist deaths 19.0%, while motorcyclist fatalities fell 1.1%. All Australian governments agreed to the National Road Safety Strategy 2021‑30, which sets a target of halving road deaths by 2030. According to the AAA, overall fatalities have increased during the first five years of the strategy, and three of its five headline targets are still not being measured.
The AAA figures show varied trends across states and territories, which are relevant to insurers’ monitoring of regional exposure. In the 12 months to Feb. 28, 2026, New South Wales recorded 377 deaths, up 20.1% from 314 a year earlier, while Queensland’s toll rose 8.2% to 317 from 293. Tasmania’s fatalities increased 25.0% to 45 from 36, and the Australian Capital Territory’s total rose from 10 to 15, a 50.0% increase. Victoria’s deaths fell 6.1% to 275 from 293, South Australia’s declined 10.9% to 82 from 92, Western Australia’s edged down 1.1% to 187 from 189, and the Northern Territory’s toll dropped 28.3% to 38 from 53.
On a per‑capita basis, the Northern Territory had the highest fatality rate at 14.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, down from 20.3 in the previous corresponding period. Tasmania followed at 7.8 (up from 6.3), ahead of Western Australia at 6.1 (down from 6.3), Queensland at 5.6 (up from 5.2), New South Wales at 4.4 (up from 3.7), South Australia at 4.3 (down from 4.9), Victoria at 3.9 (down from 4.2), and the ACT at 3.1 (up from 2.1). The national fatality rate increased to 4.8 from 4.7.
