Queenslanders being slugged huge insurance premiums after February’s devastating flood event are being urged to shop around.

4BC Drive was inundated with calls yesterday from Brisbanites who were shocked to receive huge hikes of $5000 or more on their home and contents insurance, including added on flood coverage.

Some callers had never made a flood-related insurance claim, and didn’t live in a home or street prone to flooding.

CEO of the Insurance Council of Australia, Andrew Hall, said the flood event in February was the fourth largest natural disaster event in Australian history.

The total cost sits at $4.3 billion, with around 220,000 claims.

He says it also “re-wrote the record books in terms of flood levels”.

But Scott Emerson questioned if some people are being penalised for the costly flood event.

“What can happen is that some insurers will price on a postcode, they may price in a way because they already have a high level of exposure in an area and that are just not keen to take on more customers in that area,” Mr Hall said.

The advice is to shop around.

Press PLAY below to hear more of the advice for Queenslanders

Brisbane woman’s bill shock after huge hike to include forced flood cover