CTP Claims in NSW: How to Claim, Steps and Time Limits

After a crash, a claim form is the last thing anyone wants to deal with. But the NSW CTP scheme has some short deadlines, and a few early steps make the rest much simpler. This guide walks through who can claim, where the claim goes, what you need and what happens after you lodge. It's based on SIRA, Service NSW and NSW legislation pages we checked on 30 October 2026.

GreenSlipInsurance.com.au is a general information site operated by Dominet BV. This page is general information only and is not financial, legal or insurance advice. It does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. We are not an insurer or broker, we don't sell green slips and we don't recommend any insurer. SIRA (the State Insurance Regulatory Authority) is the official source of green slip information in NSW, so check its website or your insurer before you act. Facts were checked on 30 October 2026. Read our general information notice. This page explains the process only. For help with your own claim, SIRA's CTP Assist service can guide you.

Who can claim

SIRA's claims information for individuals and families (updated 19 December 2024) says drivers, passengers, motorcycle riders, pillion passengers, pedestrians and cyclists injured in a NSW crash can make a claim. You don't need to own a car or have been driving. Service NSW's Apply for personal injury benefits page adds that the crash must have happened on or after 1 December 2017, when the current scheme started.

Statutory benefits (weekly payments, treatment and care) are available regardless of who was at fault, with exceptions. Under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017, there are no statutory benefits for an at-fault driver or owner of an uninsured vehicle, and none are payable to an injured person once they've been charged with or convicted of a serious driving offence related to the crash. Fault and the type of injury also affect how long benefits last, as our CTP benefits guide explains.

If the crash happened while you were working, SIRA says you'll also need to make a workers compensation claim.

Step 1: collect the details

SIRA suggests recording as much as you can soon after the crash:

• names, contact and licence details of the drivers involved
• make, model and number plate of each vehicle
• contact details of any witnesses
• the time, date and exact location, including the nearest cross streets
• whether police or ambulance came
• photos of the scene, if you're able

Don't worry if you can't get everything. SIRA says you can still submit a claim and the insurer will contact you for more, and you can add information later.

Step 2: get a police event number

SIRA says you need a police event number to lodge a CTP claim. Report the crash to police and ask for the number.

Step 3: see a GP for a Certificate of Fitness

You also need a Certificate of Fitness, which a GP can give you, preferably on SIRA's Certificate of Fitness form. Keep receipts for any treatment, and gather proof of earnings such as pay slips from before and after the crash if you're claiming for lost income.

Some treatment can be paid before you lodge. SIRA's medical expenses page says the insurer can pay for a GP visit plus two treatment sessions before a claim is made. Anything more needs a claim. SIRA also says you may be able to claim ambulance and public hospital costs as part of a CTP claim.

Step 4: find the right insurer

The claim goes to the CTP insurer of the vehicle at fault, not necessarily your own. If you don't know who that is, SIRA has an online "Connect with the Insurer" tool on its claims page, and its CTP Assist service can help.

If the at-fault vehicle was uninsured or can't be identified, the claim goes to the Nominal Defendant, which the Motor Accident Injuries Act sets up for this purpose. SIRA's 2017 CTP Scheme Performance Report for the year to 30 June 2025 shows Nominal Defendant claims were 8.7% of claims in 2024-25.

Step 5: lodge the claim

SIRA and Service NSW describe three ways to lodge:

1. Directly with the insurer of the at-fault vehicle.
2. Through Service NSW, using your MyServiceNSW Account, after adding the "Motor accident injury claims (CTP insurance)" service under My Services.
3. By form. Send the completed Application for Personal Injury Benefits form to the insurer, with your Certificate of Fitness, medical receipts and proof of earnings. SIRA suggests registered post if you post it, so it can be tracked.

The route you choose doesn't change which insurer handles the claim.

Time limits

There are several deadlines, and each does a different job.

Late statutory benefits claims (after 3 months) can only be accepted if there's a full and satisfactory explanation for the delay. A damages claim made after 3 years also needs a satisfactory explanation. SIRA's lump sum compensation page covers the damages rules.

What happens after you lodge

SIRA sets out the insurer's timeframes:

• Within 3 days, the insurer contacts you to confirm it received the claim, explain the next steps including how to get treatment, and give you a claim number.
• Within 4 weeks, the insurer makes a liability decision about your treatment and care and loss of income.
• Within 10 working days of accepting liability, the insurer starts weekly payments if you're entitled to them. SIRA's Motor Accident Guidelines (version 10.1, from 12 December 2025) set the same 10 business day rule.

If the insurer denies the claim, SIRA says it must give you the reasons and tell you how to seek a review.

If you disagree with a decision

You have 28 days after receiving notice of the decision to ask the insurer for an internal review. SIRA says someone within the insurer who wasn't involved in the original decision reviews the claim.

If you're still not satisfied, you can apply to the Personal Injury Commission for an independent review.

SIRA's CTP Assist service can guide you through the claims process. SIRA also runs the CTP Legal Advisory Service, which gives eligible injured people access to funded legal advice in some disputes where legal costs aren't otherwise covered. CTP Assist can confirm eligibility. Contact details for both are on SIRA's claims page.

What a CTP claim doesn't cover

A CTP claim is for injuries to people. It won't pay for repairs to your car or anyone else's, or for other property damage. That sits with third party property or comprehensive insurance, if anyone involved has it. Our cover types guide explains the difference.

What this means for you

If you've been hurt, the early steps are the same for everyone: police event number, a GP's Certificate of Fitness, the at-fault vehicle's insurer, then lodge. Aim for the 28 day mark if you'll need weekly payments, since that's what keeps them backdated to the crash.

Keep copies of everything you send and receive, note the dates of any decisions, and remember that the internal review window is also 28 days.

Frequently asked questions

Can a passenger make a CTP claim?

Yes. Passengers and pillion passengers are among the people SIRA says can claim after being injured in a NSW crash.

Do I claim with my own CTP insurer?

You claim with the CTP insurer of the at-fault vehicle. SIRA's Connect with the Insurer tool can help you find it. If the vehicle was uninsured or unidentified, the claim goes to the Nominal Defendant.

What do I need to lodge a CTP claim?

A police event number and a Certificate of Fitness from a GP. Proof of earnings and treatment receipts help if you're claiming for lost income or costs.

How long do I have to make a CTP claim in NSW?

The general limit for a statutory benefits claim is 3 months after the crash. Lodging within 28 days means weekly payments can be backdated to the crash date.

Can I get treatment before I lodge?

The insurer can pay for a GP visit plus two treatment sessions before a claim. More treatment needs a claim.

Does a CTP claim pay for car repairs?

No. CTP covers injuries to people, not damage to vehicles or property.