Early history National Roads Association , from a 2005 exhibition. The Australian National Roads Association, which would become the NRMA, was launched in 1920. Its original aim was not to provide road service or insurance, but to obtain "reasonable and just legislation" to fund and improve roads. The early 1900s brought the arrival of motorised road transport and car and truck use were gaining popularity. The government was placed under pressure to improve roads as competition increased with railways. The 1919 Local Government Act left all decisions to local councils, where decisions were made "from the point of view of the local utility." The 1950s heralded the beginning of a huge surge in the number of cars on Australian roads, and NRMA membership increased in kind. It hit one million members in the 1970s, and by the late 1980s, that number had doubled. NRMA Insurance is now
Australia-wide with the exception of
Victoria. The NRMA The NRMA is a member-owned mutual organisation. In 2024, NRMA provided roadside assistance to over 2.8 million members in NSW. Outside NSW, service to NRMA members from NSW is provided by other state-based motoring clubs such as RACV, RACQ and RAA. Likewise, when members from other states visit NSW, the NRMA provides roadside assistance to them. Other motoring services provided by the NRMA include mobile car battery replacement, driver training, vehicle inspections, International Driving Permits and car advice As part of the NRMA, there’s a benefits program My NRMA Rewards which provides a range of discounts exclusive to members on a variety of goods and services. These include everyday items such as groceries and fuel, as well as discretionary purchases like fashion, movie tickets, experiences and accommodation.
Relationship with RACA When
World War II began, it followed the RACA's early lead in forming the NRMA Transport Auxiliary. This force of 500 drivers would provide rapid troop transport if required. Staff member, Miss K. Broadbent, organised a Women's Auxiliary Transport Corps which trained 506 women to drive more complex vehicles such as trucks, ambulances and motorcycles. At the end of the war, RACA made the decision to cease its road service operations. The NRMA's growth had made its competing operations considerably wider in scope and reach. RACA's members were served by an agreement with the NRMA whereby RACA membership included entitlement to full NRMA services.
Demutualisation NRMA Insurances' financial success had led to a huge accumulation of surplus funds which could not be distributed back to members and was attractive to outside interests. Insurance premium rebates to members had the effect of artificially and harmfully deflating the price of NRMA's insurance products. After years of discussion and acrimony, NRMA Insurance Limited was demutualised in August 2000 and was separated from the National Roads and Motorists' Association Limited. NRMA Insurance Limited later changed its name to
Insurance Australia Group. By 1994 "Road service and lobbying for the interests of the vehicle owner" were long departed from the profit ledgers of the NRMA.
Separate paths NRMA remains a mutual company owned by its members. Insurance Australia Group is a listed company owned by its shareholders. It has a number of operating subsidiaries using the NRMA brand, including NRMA Insurance Limited, as well as a number of other insurance and related brands. During 2004 and 2005, the NRMA, in a joint venture agreement with JF Meridian Trust, acquired the
Travelodge Australia chain of hotels in Australia. This was sold in 2021. In September 2006, the NRMA purchased a 75% shareholding in the Australian
Thrifty Car Rental franchise from
Mitsubishi Motors Australia. The deal was highlighted in the media and in NSW Parliament as potentially involving conflict of interest with the board member Gary Punch. In December 2008, the NRMA acquired the remaining 25% shareholding in Thrifty. In 2021 the Thrifty franchise was relinquished and the NRMA became a
Sixt franchisee. It has also continued to grow its travel and holiday operations by investing in tourist parks, and in January 2007, acquired a major stake in the travel wholesaler Adventure World. In March 2021, it was announced that the NRMA had purchased the Tasmanian tourism assets of the
Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania (RACT) including Cradle Mountain Hotel, Freycinet Lodge, Gordon River Cruises and Strahan Village to be operated under the NRMA Expeditions brand. In November 2022, the NRMA acquired Pumphouse Point, located in the
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, to also be operated under the NRMA Expeditions brand in Tasmania. In 2017 the NRMA purchased
Manly Fast Ferry.
EV In 2012 the NRMA opened free public charging stations for electric vehicles in Sydney (fast charger) and Canberra. They also undertook electric vehicle roadshows to help raise awareness, and also trialled one of the first electric vehicles as roadside assistance vehicles.
Criticism In 2008 the NRMA was criticised for its anti-
cycleway stance.
Lord Mayor of Sydney,
Clover Moore, said the NRMA, like big petroleum companies, has a vested interest in campaigning for car use.
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said the NRMA has an anti-cycleway agenda. Said Rhiannon: "The NRMA's anti-cycleway campaign is a crude attempt to boost money for road building. It's time the NRMA leadership came into the 21st century and recognised that encouraging more cyclists is an easy way to reduce road congestion." Rhiannon accused the NRMA of using misleading statistics in its campaign. ==Policy positions==