Slow down this summer and avoid a costly kangaroo collision

"A lot of our smashes are kangaroo damage," she said.

"Summer can be more frequent when the kangaroos come off the plains and farms looking for water. They'll come to the roads looking for where water has settled."

Ms Gardener is the manager at Mick Cramer Spray Painter and Smash Repair and said it's mostly frontal damage the shop sees from kangaroo hits.

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"It can be pretty bad, actually," she said.

"Damages can be up into the thousands. It depends on how big the kangaroo is and how much they've hit."

Cars hit by kangaroos can very easily be written off or cost thousands in damages.

"We've got a brand new car in at the moment with damage worth $10,000," Ms Gardener said.

She said the damage can be to the front bar, radiator support, air condensers and other parts of the car.

"And as soon as the headlights are out, it's an unroadworthy vehicle," Ms Gardener said.

"Sometimes you can get a group of kangaroos that have gone right down the sides of the cars.

"The length of one of their tails down the side of a car can damage two doors and a quarter panel."

While kangaroos are a big problem on roads like Wimmera Highway, Hamilton Road and Henty Highway, Ms Gardener said there are other big native animals to watch for.

"Emus," she said. "They can do worse damage than a kangaroo but they are bigger. We've had a couple of emu repairs this year. It's rare, but emus are getting around a lot."

Ms Gardener said avoiding kangaroos can be hard.

"They're hard to avoid. Just slow down and watch. Night is a lot worse. Driving during the day is a lot safer with kangaroos," she said.

Wildlife for Victoria advise drivers to stay alert and drive carefully.

It is also advised to be alert of wildlife grazing on the roadside and to reduce speed to allow more time to react if an animal does dart across the road.

Dusk and dawn are when many native animals are out looking for food.

Use high beam lights when able, to see better and spot eye reflections from wildlife.

If you do hit an animal, Horsham Veterinary Hospital can provide details for a nearby wildlife rescue, or euthanise the animal if needed.

Immediately after an impact with an animal, pull over and put your hazard lights on. Ensure everyone inside your vehicle is safe. If someone is hurt call 000.

Wildlife Victoria's Emergency Response Service on (03) 8400 7300, or lodge a report via the Wildlife Victoria website wildlifevictoria.org.au or via the Snap Send Solve app to get help for the animal. Wildlife Victoria advise even if the animal appears to be unharmed and has hopped or moved away, it will be injured.

Wildlife Victoria's emergency response service can help. Volunteer rescuers can be dispatched to check the animal's condition. Take note of your location and any landmarks to help locate the animal.

It is important if you have hit an animal to check their pouch. A joey can survive in a pouch for several days after its mother has died. Alternatively, the joey may have left its mother's pouch but still be nearby.

If safe to do, remove the carcass from the road to avoid further hazards.

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