Last updated · General information, not legal advice
Understanding driving anxiety
It's extremely common to feel anxious about getting back behind the wheel — or even being a passenger — after a car accident, and this is recognised as a genuine psychological injury under the CTP scheme, not just an inconvenience to push through. Driving anxiety can be claimed alongside physical injuries or on its own, and like other psychological injuries, there's a "threshold psychological injury" category that can apply depending on the formal diagnosis; a more significant, properly diagnosed psychiatric condition can fall outside it.
Common symptoms
Symptoms can take hours or days to appear after a crash. Getting them assessed and documented early matters for your recovery — and for your claim.
- Anxiety, dread or panic when approaching or getting into a vehicle
- Avoidance of driving, certain roads, or specific driving conditions
- Physical symptoms of anxiety — racing heart, sweating, tension — while driving or as a passenger
- Hypervigilance to other vehicles or road conditions
- Flashbacks or intrusive memories of the accident while driving
Free claim check
Not sure where this leaves your claim?
How we help
A free claim check can explain how driving anxiety is generally treated under the scheme, and how it can be claimed alongside any physical injuries from the same accident. Where symptoms are significant or affecting your ability to work or live normally, we'll connect you with an independent lawyer, and can point you toward psychological support regardless.
Getting the right treatment
Your GP is a good starting point for a referral, and a psychologist experienced with post-accident anxiety can provide the formal assessment and treatment (such as exposure-based therapy) that supports both your recovery and your claim. See doctors and allied health for CTP claims for help finding the right provider.
Doctors & allied health for CTP claims
Doctors & allied health
Need a doctor who understands CTP claims?
Your claim runs on medical evidence, so the doctor you see matters. If treatment is what you need, we can refer you to a doctor or allied health provider experienced with CTP claims.
- A doctor experienced with CTP claims — for diagnosis, a treatment plan and your Certificate of Fitness, which records your injuries and your capacity for work.
- Allied health such as physiotherapy, psychology and exercise physiology, for the treatment your injuries need.
- Free, with no obligation. We'll tell you if a provider we refer you to is connected with us, and you can always choose your own.
The CTP insurer generally pays for treatment that is reasonable and necessary for your accident injuries. It decides what's approved, and its decisions can be reviewed.
What matters for your claim
- 1Get a formal assessment from a psychologist, which carries more weight than a GP note alone
- 2Keep a record of specific situations that trigger anxiety and how they affect your daily life
- 3Consider exposure-based therapy or other evidence-based treatment, and keep records of your engagement with it
- 4Document any impact on your ability to work, particularly if your job involves driving
- 5If symptoms are severe or persistent, ask about a formal impairment assessment
Getting the right evidence
If anxiety about driving is affecting your daily life, work, or wellbeing, see your GP or a psychologist — both for your recovery and to create the medical record your claim relies on. If you're in crisis, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or call 000 in an emergency.
This is general information, not medical or legal advice. If symptoms are severe or worsening, seek medical care straight away — call 000 in an emergency.
