Car Insurance South Australia

What different types of Car Insurance are available in South Australia?

South Australia, like the rest of the country, has four main types of Car Insurance. Which cover you choose will depend on your needs and budget. The below table provides a quick snapshot of the key differences.

Compulsory Third Party Insurance (CTP)

CTP is mandatory insurance for every driver in Australia and in SA it’s paid at the same time as your car registration. CTP insurance is designed to protect you against the liability of causing injury or death to another road user, whilst also providing support to those who’ve been injured in a road accident¹.  

Third Party Property Damage (TPP)

If you have an at-fault accident, let’s say you rear-ended your neighbour’s new Ferrari, Third Party Property insurance could help cover the damage to your neighbour’s new Ferrari. Sadly, it doesn’t cover the damage to your own car or property. So if you take out this type of insurance, you’ll have to pay for your repairs out-of-pocket. 

Third Party Fire and Theft (TPF&T)

Third Party Fire and Theft insurance covers third party property damage like in TPP, but on top of that, it also helps cover damage to your car caused by fire or theft. However it’s important to remember, this cover still doesn’t cover damage caused to your car in an at-fault accident.

Comprehensive

The top cover available in SA is Comprehensive Car Insurance. Whether an accident is your fault or not, a Comprehensive policy will help cover damage to other people’s property and vehicles, as well as your own. Depending on your provider and the policy you choose, it might also cover other events like hail or storm damage. On top of this, you can often add on additional options which could include things like personal effects cover and roadside assistance.

Do I need Car Insurance in South Australia if CTP insurance is included in my registration?

With CTP being compulsory in South Australia, you might think it’s the only cover you’ll ever need. And true, it’s the only type of car insurance that’s a legal requirement, but it still might be worth considering other levels of insurance. 

For an illustration, let’s look at the following example: 

Peter’s Porsche Problem Peter’s normally a pretty good driver. He also loves classic rock. There’s just something about those big, crunchy riffs that he can’t resist.    Unfortunately, one sunny Thursday, while driving to the shops, he gets a little distracted  jamming out to KISS’s ‘Strutter’ on the radio and gets into a car accident. The accident is 100% his fault, and to make matters worse, he’s crashed into the back of a Porsche!  Luckily nobody is hurt, but Peter panics for a moment. 'What insurance do I have again?' he wonders.  If it's only CTP, then Peter’s going to need to pay the repairs for this ludicrously expensive car out of pocket. If Peter thinks he’s getting out of this cheaply, then in the immortal words of Judas Priest, he’s got another thing comin’.  So, Peter whips out his phone and checks his Certificate of Insurance. 'Oh!' he realises, 'it's actually Third-Party Property Insurance.'   Lucky for Peter, this policy covers damage to another person's car, so all he needs to do is exchange insurance information and make a claim. Now he only needs to pay for the repair costs to his own car. Phew—crisis averted!

As we can see, Third Party Car Insurance might just save you a world of trouble if you get into a car accident. And Comprehensive Car Insurance can go even further, covering some of the repair costs if your own car is damaged.

How much does Car Insurance cost in South Australia?

To answer this question, use our interactive chart below to check out the average cost of comprehensive Car Insurance premiums for iSelect customers across Australia to see how South Australia compares.

Car crash statistics for South Australia

It's a sad fact to state, but a lot of people still lose their lives on South Australian Roads. While it isn't the most dangerous state in Australia, it's far from the safest, as of 2021, there were 5.6 fatal car crashes for every 100,000 people in South Australia.²  

Car theft statistics for South Australia

Fortunately, South Australia does much better when it comes to thefts. There were about 2,802 car thefts in South Australia from 2020-2021—only 1.84 car thefts for every 1,000 vehicles registered. That’s the lowest rate of car theft in the country³ during that time period. 

Which cars get stolen the most in South Australia?

You might not expect it, but the most common cars that were stolen in South Australia weren’t high-end European models. Instead, it was more run-of-the-mill models like the Holden Commodore, Holden Captiva, Ford Falcon and Toyota Hilux⁴.

What are some things to consider when looking at Comprehensive Car Insurance in South Australia?

When choosing Comprehensive Car Insurance in South Australia, it’s a good idea to look at a few different policy features.  

Depending on the insurer, some of them might be automatically included with the policy. Others will be optional extras that can add to your policy at an extra cost. What’s on offer will usually range from policy to policy, but it will typically include some of the following:  

• Personal effects cover: This can help cover the cost of replacing the valuables inside your car if they're damaged or stolen. This may include things like clothing, groceries and child safety seats, but it really depends on the terms offered by the insurer.  
• Towing following an accident: It won't always be safe—or possible—for you to drive your car after a nasty bingle. Fortunately, some insurers will cover the cost of towing your car so that it can be stored in a safe place and repaired. Double-check with your insurer to see if this is included in your policy and whether any limits apply.
• Agreed or market value: Some insurers will offer you an option to agree on the amount that your car will be insured for. This way, if you have an accident resulting in your car being written off, you’ll know how much you’re payout will be.
• Hire car: If you rely on your car to get you from A to B to C to D, you might find yourself in a bit of a pickle, if it were to be caught up in an accident. Good news is, some insurers can offer you a replacement car for a period of time, while yours is being repaired.
• Roadside assistance: Some policies will include roadside assistance while others may offer it as  an add-on. So if you drive an old bomb that might break down often, or if you simply don’t know how to change a tyre, having roadside assistance can be a real life-saver. Double-check your policy to see what exactly is included, any costs associated and whether there’s a cap on how far you can be from home.
• New for old car replacement: Some insurers offer to replace a vehicle in a total loss claim with a new car of the same make and model if yours is within a certain age limit.

How can I get the cheapest premiums possible for my Car Insurance?

Like any savvy customer, you'll want to get a great policy at the lowest possible price. The following options can try and help you on this front—especially when it comes to reducing your premiums. But just make sure that they work with your budget and what you need out of Car Insurance, too! 

• Explore payment options: Some providers charge less for your premiums if you pay in one lump sum every year instead of monthly instalments. Still, others might be a little more flexible, and won’t charge extra if you pay monthly.
• Do a regular policy check: At renewal time, you may want to have a look around to see if there’s a better option out there.
• Bump up your excess: An excess is the amount you’ll pay out of pocket when you make a claim. If you volunteer to pay a higher excess then this will usually reduce your premiums.
• Age restricting drivers: Restrict the age of drivers on your policy to over a given age, such as 25 or 30, and you could land yourself a cheaper premium.
• No Claims Bonus: South Australians like safe drivers. That’s why some insurers offer a no claims discount. Essentially, the longer you go without making a claim, the more discount they could potentially give you. Up to a point, of course. 

Finally, it’s important to note that a cheaper policy isn’t always better. You’ll want to check the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure you’re getting the cover you need as well as a good price. You don’t want to make a claim only to be told the policy doesn’t actually cover you! 

How do I compare Car Insurance in South Australia?

Now that you've got a good idea of what Car Insurance involves, it's time to start comparing the different policies on offer*. Give us a call on 13 19 20 or simply use our online service to compare from our range of providers.

^{Sources:
1 CTP Insurance Regulator - About CTP Insurance 
2 Australian Government | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications - Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics | Road Trauma Australia 2021 Statistical Summary (Page 30) 
3 National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council - Dashboard | 1.1 AUS - Motor vehicle theft summary, 2019/20 to 2020/21 
4 As above. - Dashboard | 3.3 SA - Top motor vehicle theft targets, 2020/21}