Fifty-six per cent of Aussies don’t conduct basic vehicle checks before embarking on summer road trips, according to a new study that also found 64 per cent of drivers skip checking for severe weather forecasts before hitting the highway.

Data from insurance giant Allianz shows Aussies lodged more than $161 million in car-related claims last summer, including more than $120 million in collision claims. Approximately $9.88 million of those claims were made due to storm-related damage to vehicles, with $400,000 of the total down to damage from falling trees. 

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On top of the 56 per cent who don’t do basic vehicle checks, Allianz’s research also found that 42 per cent of drivers don’t even examine the condition of their tyres before hitting the road.

Other self-inflicted hazards cropped up in the research, with fatigue hitting 46 per cent of motorists, and distractions from screens and phones affecting 25 per cent of drivers on long summer trips. 

Separate data from Allianz showed 67 per cent of car owners want more vehicle functions operated by buttons and switches, with 29 per cent saying touchscreen use has put them in a critical situation behind the wheel, and 75 per cent stating that distractions from in-car technology have increased in recent years.

“Summer means more cars on the road, longer journeys and unfamiliar routes. Yet many motorists are skipping simple preparations, like checking their tyres or the weather before setting off,” said Allianz Australia emerging risks manager Chris Wood.

Allianz’s Summer Risk Report 2026 also found that, with a monster El Nino system in effect, 56 per cent of Australians are more worried about severe weather than they were previously.