What Is a CTP Claim in NSW? A Complete Guide for Injured Drivers

What Is a CTP Claim?

A CTP claim is a personal injury claim made under the NSW Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance scheme, also known as Green Slip insurance. Every registered vehicle in New South Wales is legally required to carry CTP cover, and that premium is paid every year as part of your rego. The scheme exists to cover the medical and income-related costs of people who are injured in a motor vehicle accident on a NSW road.

The modern CTP scheme in NSW is governed by the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017, which came into effect on 1 December 2017. Before those reforms, you had to prove another driver was at fault before you could access most benefits. Under the current scheme, almost everyone injured in a motor accident gets access to statutory benefits for at least the first six months, regardless of who caused the crash.

A CTP claim is separate from a compensation claim for vehicle damage. CTP only covers injuries to people. If you've been injured in a car accident, truck accident, motorbike accident or as a pedestrian struck by a vehicle, the CTP scheme is the pathway for your medical treatment and weekly income support.

Who Can Make a CTP Claim in NSW?

The CTP scheme is designed to be broad. Most people injured on a NSW road in a vehicle-related incident are eligible to claim, including:

• Drivers of cars, trucks, utes, and commercial vehicles
• Passengers in any registered vehicle involved in an accident
• Pedestrians struck by a vehicle
• Cyclists hit by a car, truck, or motorbike
• Motorbike riders and their pillion passengers
• At-fault drivers — since the 2017 reforms, even the driver who caused the accident can claim statutory benefits for up to 52 weeks

The shift to a no-fault statutory benefits model was one of the most significant changes in the 2017 reforms. Before then, an at-fault driver had very limited access to compensation. Now, if you've crashed your own car and injured yourself, you can still claim reasonable and necessary medical treatment and weekly payments while you recover.

If you've just been involved in a crash and aren't sure what to do next, our got-injured page walks through the practical steps — seeing a doctor, getting a Certificate of Fitness, lodging the claim, and starting your treatment.

What Injuries Are Covered Under CTP?

CTP covers both physical and psychological injuries caused by the accident. That includes whiplash, neck and back injuries, fractures, head injuries, internal injuries, burns, dental damage, and post-traumatic stress disorder or acute anxiety arising from the crash.

Under the 2017 scheme, every injury is classified as either a threshold injury (previously called a minor injury) or a non-threshold injury. This classification matters because it controls how long you can receive benefits and whether you can pursue a common-law lump sum claim.

Threshold Injuries

Threshold injuries are generally soft-tissue injuries (sprains, strains, mild whiplash) and minor psychological conditions like acute stress reactions that resolve within a few months. If your injury is classified as threshold, you're entitled to statutory benefits for up to 26 weeks post-accident.

Non-Threshold Injuries

Non-threshold injuries include fractures, nerve injuries, ruptured ligaments or tendons, full-thickness skin damage, brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and diagnosed psychiatric conditions that persist. If your injury is non-threshold, you can access weekly payments and medical treatment well beyond 52 weeks, and you may also be eligible to pursue a common-law damages claim for pain and suffering and loss of future earning capacity.

The classification isn't always obvious in the first weeks after a crash. Soft tissue symptoms can mask nerve damage, and the full picture of a psychological injury sometimes only emerges months in. Our doctors see this often and work to document symptoms thoroughly from the first visit so the injury is correctly classified as it evolves.

What Benefits Can You Get?

A CTP claim gives you access to four main categories of support:

1. Medical Treatment Expenses

The insurer pays for reasonable and necessary medical treatment — GP visits, specialist appointments, physiotherapy, psychology, hospital care, diagnostic imaging (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans), prescribed medication, and surgery if required. Treatment is paid directly by the insurer to the provider, so there's no out-of-pocket cost to you when you see our team under an accepted CTP claim.

2. Weekly Income Payments

If your injury stops you from working, CTP provides weekly payments to replace lost earnings. For the first 13 weeks, payments can be up to 95% of your pre-accident weekly earnings. From week 14 onward, the rate steps down to up to 80%. These payments continue for up to 52 weeks for most claimants, and longer for non-threshold injuries where you're still unable to work.

3. Rehabilitation and Support

CTP funds rehabilitation services aimed at getting you back to work and daily life. That includes physiotherapy, exercise physiology, occupational therapy, psychology, pain management programs, and workplace rehabilitation consultants who liaise with your employer about modified duties.

4. Common-Law Lump Sum (Non-Threshold Injuries Only)

If your injury is non-threshold and another party was at fault, you may be able to pursue a lump sum damages claim. This covers pain and suffering, past and future economic loss, and care needs. The lump sum is separate from and in addition to the statutory benefits you've already received. Our compensation lawyers can advise on your specific situation and whether a common-law claim is the right path for you.

How Long Do You Have to Lodge a CTP Claim?

Here are the key deadlines to remember:

• 28 days — lodge your Personal Injury Claim Form with the CTP insurer to receive weekly payments backdated to the accident date
• 3 months — the compliance window to lodge and still receive benefits (though only from the date of lodgement, not backdated)
• 20 months — the window to lodge a common-law damages claim for non-threshold injuries
• 3 years — the absolute statutory limitation period for most motor accident compensation claims

The CTP insurer is usually the insurer of the vehicle that caused the accident, or your own vehicle's insurer if you're an at-fault driver claiming statutory benefits. The scheme is regulated by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), which publishes the official forms and sets the rules insurers must follow.

What CTP Does NOT Cover

A common point of confusion: CTP insurance does not cover damage to vehicles or property. If your car is written off, the repair or replacement cost is handled through your comprehensive or third-party property insurance (or the at-fault driver's policy). CTP is strictly for personal injury — the people involved, not the cars.

CTP also does not cover:

• Damage to your own vehicle or its contents
• Damage to other vehicles, fences, street signs, or property
• Injuries that occurred outside NSW (other states have their own schemes)
• Injuries from incidents that aren't motor vehicle related — a workplace injury would go through WorkCover instead (if you're unsure which scheme applies to your situation, our should I claim WorkCover guide is a good starting point)

How WorkCover Hub Supports CTP Patients

WorkCover Hub is a dedicated injury clinic. Our doctors conduct CTP assessments, complete the Certificate of Fitness documentation required by the insurer, and manage your ongoing medical care through every stage of recovery. Our team coordinates the physiotherapy and psychology you need under the claim — all on site or through our clinical network — and our compensation lawyers take on disputes, denied claims, and common-law matters at no cost to you. The insurer pays our team directly under the claim, so there are no out-of-pocket fees for appointments, paperwork or treatment that falls within approved CTP cover. You can see the scale of what we handle on our workcover-in-numbers page, and when you're ready to start treatment you can book an appointment with one of our doctors or visit our CTP service page for a deeper look at how claims are managed from start to finish.