What is a CTP claim?

CTP in one minute

CTP stands for Compulsory Third Party insurance. In NSW it's often called the Green Slip, and every registered vehicle must have it. It pays compensation to people injured or killed in motor accidents in NSW.

A CTP claim is the claim you make to a CTP insurer for that compensation. Drivers, passengers, riders, pillion passengers, cyclists and pedestrians can all claim. See who can make a CTP claim.

A NSW Government regulator oversees the CTP scheme and its insurers. The insurers make decisions on claims under the scheme rules, and you can challenge those decisions.

Which law applies

If your accident happened on or after 1 December 2017, your claim is covered by the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW). Accidents before that date fall under the older Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999, which works differently.

Some rules changed for accidents on or after 1 April 2023. For example, what used to be called a "minor injury" is now called a "threshold injury", and benefits for these injuries generally last up to 52 weeks instead of 26.

Our guides cover accidents from 1 December 2017. Your accident date matters, so keep it handy.

Who pays

The claim goes to a CTP insurer, not to the driver. Which insurer depends on what happened:

• Usually the CTP insurer of the vehicle that was at fault, which may not be your own insurer.
• If you were the driver at fault, or no other vehicle was involved, usually the CTP insurer of the vehicle you were in.
• If the vehicle drove off or wasn't insured, the Nominal Defendant, a NSW Government-backed fund that stands in for the missing insurer. See hit-and-run and uninsured vehicles.

You don't sue the other driver personally. You claim against the insurer, and it deals with the claim under the scheme rules. Here's how to find your CTP insurer.

The two parts of a claim

Statutory benefits are paid as you go. They can include weekly payments if you lose income (including if you're self-employed), reasonable and necessary medical, dental, pharmaceutical and rehabilitation expenses, travel to and from treatment, and paid domestic help and personal care if you need it while you recover.

Common law damages are a lump sum that only some people can claim. You may be able to claim damages if another driver was at fault and your injury is more than a threshold injury. If you were wholly or mostly at fault, your right to damages may be limited or unavailable. Get legal advice.

Damages can include past and future loss of earnings. Damages for pain and suffering are only available if your whole person impairment is more than 10%.

More detail: what you can claim and lump sum damages.

What CTP doesn't cover

CTP covers injuries and deaths only. It doesn't pay to repair or replace vehicles or other property damaged in the crash. For that, check whether your own car insurance covers it, or seek the cost from the at-fault driver or their insurer.

NSW statutory benefits are only for crashes in NSW. If you were hurt in another state or territory, what you can claim depends on the law where the crash happened. See interstate accidents.

If you were hurt at work (including driving for work), it's usually a workers compensation claim, which is a different scheme. We can point you to the right help. See driving for work.

Two early decisions that shape your claim

Fault. Most injured people can claim statutory benefits regardless of who was at fault. If you were wholly or mostly at fault, your statutory benefits generally stop after 52 weeks, and your right to damages may be limited or unavailable. "Mostly at fault" means your contributory negligence is found to be greater than 61%. See if you were at fault.

Threshold injury. A threshold injury is generally a soft tissue injury (for example to muscles, tendons or ligaments, but not a full or partial tear of a tendon, ligament, meniscus or cartilage) and/or a threshold psychological injury. For accidents from 1 April 2023, benefits for a threshold injury generally last up to 52 weeks. The insurer decides, based on a medical diagnosis, and must tell you within 9 months of your claim being lodged. See threshold injury.

How we help

We're an independent service. We're not the government, an insurer, a law firm or a medical practice. We help you understand where you stand, get your claim ready and lodged, and we stay with you while the insurer decides.

When you're ready, start your claim.

Check the current rules

Rules change. This page reflects the rules as we understand them in September 2026. General information, not legal advice.