CTP Insurance in South Australia

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Last Updated 03/02/2025
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Written by

Kervin Mathew

Last Updated 03/02/2025

What changed?

Added new content (long story short, callout box), updated existing copy’s TOV and structure.
Our aim is to help you make better informed decisions. That’s why iSelect’s content is produced in accordance with our fact-checking and editorial guidelines.

Edited by

Ellie Garran

Reviewed by

Toby Hagon

Find out more about how we make money.

View our Privacy Policy.

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Long story short

1
CTP is a safety net for road accidents

CTP insurance covers personal injury caused by road accidents. It’s mandatory in Australia to help ensure that injured individuals get the support they need.

2
It covers people who are injured in accidents and not at fault

From ambulance transfers to physiotherapy to at-home care, CTP insurance can cover medical bills for persons who are injured in, but did not cause the accident.

3
Your CTP doesn’t cover you if you caused the accident

In South Australia, at-fault drivers generally aren’t compensated.

4
You can choose your CTP insurer

As of 2016, SA motorists are free to pick their CTP insurer, with big names like NRMA, Allianz and Youi competing on price and perks.

What is CTP insurance and why do I need it?

When you’re on the road, there’s always the risk that you’ll cause an accident resulting in personal injury. Then, there’s the accompanying chance that you’ll need to pay thousands of dollars in compensation and medical costs. 

With CTP insurance, these costs are likely to be covered by your insurer. Part of the reason it’s mandatory in all states and territories is to help ensure that people who get injured in an accident can access the medical treatment and financial support they need to get back on their feet. 

For the policy holder, CTP insurance can swoop in with financial protection if you get into an accident that injures or kills someone else. 

What does CTP insurance cover in SA?

The basic rules around CTP insurance and what it covers are quite plain and simple in SA. 

If someone is injured or killed in a car accident that was your fault, your CTP insurance can offer them compensation for medical costs, loss of income and non-economic loss such as pain and suffering. 

One of the important benefits of CTP insurance is that it will always cover children under 16 years old for medical treatment if they’re injured in a car accident – no matter who was at fault. 

Let’s get a little more into the specifics of what CTP covers. Depending on the extent of a person’s injuries, recovery costs, and medical history, here’s what might be covered: 

  • ambulance transfers
  • surgeries and other hospital treatments
  • GP appointments and medications
  • chiropractic treatments or physiotherapy 
  • psychiatry, counselling, and psychological treatment. 

CTP insurance might also be able to cover travel expenses related to medical appointments, and at-home help with gardening, cooking and the like. 

What does CTP insurance generally not cover in SA?

South Australia enforces ‘at-fault’ rules when it comes to CTP coverage. That means if you get injured in a car accident that was your fault, you might not be eligible for any compensation through CTP insurance. For instance, SA’s CTP insurance scheme does not cover:  

  • injuries to a driver who is entirely at fault
  • Injuries to a driver for accidents where nobody was at fault
  • damage to vehicles
  • loss or damage to property 

When CTP can’t cover you

In SA, if drivers are at fault, they’re not covered by CTP. But if they sustain serious and lifelong injuries, there’s still a safety net: the Lifetime Support Scheme (LSS). It can help provide care and rehabilitation for injuries such as brain or spinal cord injuries, blindness or amputation. SA drivers are automatically covered by the LSS when they pay their vehicle’s registration. 

How does CTP insurance work in SA?

South Australia is one of the states that lets you choose your own CTP policy and provider. There are currently five different insurers – NRMA, AAMI, Allianz, Youi and QBE – who each offer CTP insurance. 

In the past, CTP insurance was offered exclusively by the Motor Accident Commission (MAC). This all changed in 2016 when new legislation took effect, and the government allowed private insurers to start offering CTP.  

Though insurers are required to offer customers an identical policy, they can get competitive when it comes to prices, customer service, and further benefits. These can include roadside services, discounts, and even at-fault driver protection. 

How do I get CTP insurance in SA?

Let’s be honest, the last thing anyone wants to deal with is extra admin. Buying a car already involves a lot of paperwork. Who wants to add a big insurance kerfuffle on top of that? 

Fortunately, when you buy a new car in SA, it comes with CTP insurance. Better yet, your premium will be the cheapest one applicable to your vehicle’s class at the time of registration. If you’d like to change insurers, you can do so when you renew your registration. 

The same goes when you buy a used car. The remaining registration period and CTP insurance for the vehicle is handed over to you. You’ll also be able to choose a different insurer when you renew the registration. 

How much does CTP insurance cost in SA?

Your CTP insurance premium is mainly influenced by the number of accidents within a vehicle class and average claim costs. 

There’s also the question of where your car is garaged. Metropolitan Adelaide and the Hills constitute District 1 while the rest of South Australia makes up District 2. 

Using the SA Government’s CTP premium calculator, a private passenger vehicle (your typical sedan or station wagon) garaged in District 1 is likely to cost you a CTP premium of around $260 per year. The same type of vehicle garaged in a District 2 location has an annual CTP premium of around $180.1CTP Insurance Regulator – CTP premium calculator. Accessed January 2025

Keep in mind that these prices are always subject to regulatory changes. Overarching factors such as inflation and the economy may also come into play. 

Is CTP insurance all I need?

CTP is the only type of car insurance that’s mandatory in Australia. However, if you want to cover your car for repairs after an accident, or for any damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle or property, then you’re going to need some added protection. 

Without comprehensive car insurance or third-party car insurance, you could be stuck with a repair bill that costs thousands of dollars, even if the accident was not your fault! 

iSelect can help you out if you’re looking to level up your car insurance on top of your CTP. You can compare different car insurance policies from a range of insurers with us online. It’s a quick and easy way to find a suitable policy. 

Most policies are a little bit different when it comes to how much cover they provide and what kinds of things they cover. You’ll always want to check the policy’s product disclosure statement to find out exactly what you’re getting – and what’s excluded – before committing to anything.

Toby Hagon

Motoring Journalist

Frequently asked questions

How do I renew my CTP insurance?

How can I lodge a claim for CTP in South Australia?

What’s the difference between CTP and third-party insurance?

There’s more to insurance than CTP

CTP insurance is great when you need to get out of a tight spot. It does come with its share of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’, though. See how you can protect yourself even more by exploring car insurance policies from our range of providers with the iSelect car insurance comparison tool

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