Originally published: Insurance Business, 10 June 2026
A majority of Australians are heading into winter without completing basic home or vehicle maintenance, according to survey data published by Allianz Australia on June 5, 2026, as the insurer’s own claims figures show the season carries a substantial financial burden for the industry.
A widening gap between risk and readiness
Allianz surveyed 1,010 Australians aged 18- to 65-plus through Pureprofile between May 6 and 11, 2026, with the sample drawn in line with Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) census statistics. The results showed that 55% of respondents had done nothing to ready their home for winter this year, while 68% had not carried out any vehicle maintenance ahead of the season. The insurer’s claims data from winter 2025 puts the cost of that inaction in concrete terms. Home and contents claims – excluding classified natural catastrophes – totalled $204.63 million, while motor claims added a further $238.94 million, bringing the combined figure to more than $440 million for a single season. One in five respondents – 20% – said they did not expect seasonal weather to have any impact on them. A further 25% pointed to cost-of-living pressures as the reason maintenance had been pushed back. Both attitudes translate directly into claims exposure.
