RACV reveals top 10 suburbs for kangaroo crashes as one in six claims ends in a write-off

New RACV Insurance claims data reveals Victorian motorists experienced a collision with a kangaroo nearly 20 times a day on average last year, with crashes becoming more frequent, costlier and more severe

RACV members lodged almost 31,000 kangaroo-related collision claims between January 2021 and June 2026, peaking in 2025 with 7,232.

The average claim reached almost $9,000 in 2025, up 48 per cent since 2021, while one in six kangaroo collision claims resulted in a write-off in 2025, compared with one in nine in 2021.

RACV General Manager Insurance and Roadside Bill Bloodworth said the growth of Melbourne's outer suburbs, which has seen the transformation of bush and farmland for housing developments, has resulted in more motorists travelling through areas historically inhabited by kangaroos.

"A lot of people assume this is only a rural-road issue. As our outer suburbs grow, more cars are sharing the road with more kangaroos, and the result is more collisions, more written-off vehicles and bigger repair bills for everyday Victorians," Mr Bloodworth said. 

“We tend to see higher claims volumes in the cooler months, when claims from April to August run more than 20 per cent higher than the rest of the year.

"The risk is greatest at dawn and dusk, so motorists should slow down, stay alert and scan the roadside, particularly where kangaroos are most active."

Top 10 suburbs for kangaroo collisions lodged by RACV members between January 2021 and June 2026 were:

• Sunbury (281 claims)
• Wallan (232)
• Heathcote (230)
• Benalla (226)
• Gisborne (209)
• Craigieburn (193)
• Bendigo (181)
• Doreen (165)
• Woodend (158)
• Castlemaine (155)

The steepest increases between 2021 and 2025 were recorded on Melbourne's fringe, with claims in Wallan more than doubling, up 112 per cent, from 33 to 70, Kilmore rose 193 per cent, Mickleham 169 per cent and Gisborne 93 per cent. 

RACV's tips to avoid a kangaroo collision:

• Know the peak times: kangaroos are most active at dawn, dusk and night.
  
• Slow down: ease off in areas with wildlife signage or when visibility is poor.
• Scan the roadside: watch both sides of the road and the tree line for movement.
• Don't swerve: if a collision is unavoidable, brake firmly in a straight line, as swerving can cause a worse crash.
• Use high beams: when it's safe and there's no oncoming traffic, they help you spot animals sooner.

Mr Bloodworth said while hitting a kangaroo could be distressing, drivers should prioritise safety.

"Pull over safely, turn on your hazard lights and check on your passengers. If anyone is injured, call 000, and if the animal is injured, contact local wildlife services on (03) 8400 7300," he said.

For more information on what to do if you collide with wildlife, visit the RACV Website.