Car Insurance South Australia

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

South Australia, like the rest of the country, has four main types of Car Insurance as listed below. Which cover you choose depends could depend on various factors.

Compulsory Third Party Insurance (CTP)

CTP is a mandatory insurance for every driver in Australia and in SA it’s paid whenever you register your car. It helps provide cover for accidental injury or death to another person caused by your driving. It will generally help pay for medical and some legal costs, but won’t pay for any property damage.

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 that occurred to their vehicle and/or property. Sadly, it doesn’t cover damage to your 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 as above, but on top of that, it also helps cover damage to your car caused by fire or theft. However 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 sometimes at an additional cost.

It’s fairly simple to understand the difference between the Car Insurance available in SA. This table is a quick reference of the main points.

It’s important to review the Product Disclosure Statement for information about policy inclusions, limitations and exclusions before deciding on a policy.

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

With CTP insurance being compulsory in SA, you might think that’s the only cover you’ll need. While it is up to you the level of cover you choose, it may be worth considering the cost of an at-fault accident where you hit someone else’s car/ property. As you can imagine, the price tag on this could get pretty scary depending on the car you hit (stay clear of Porches).

How much does Car Insurance cost in South Australia?

According to iSelect Car Insurance sales data for South Australia, the below are the average comprehensive premiums for FY19, and FY20:

SA car crash statistics

When it comes to crashes, South Australia doesn’t score too well. Sadly, according to the 2019 Road Trauma annual statistical report, SA had the 2nd highest rate of fatal car crashes, per 100,000 people, in the country.

SA Car theft statistics

Thankfully, South Australia does slightly better when it comes to thefts. According to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction council, there were 3,010 car thefts in South Australia in 2020. That’s around two car thefts for every 1,000 vehicles registered. It’s the second lowest rate of theft in the country.

What was stolen?

You might not expect it, but the top ten vehicles stolen in the SA generally weren’t high-end European models. These included models like Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon, Toyota Hilux and Nisan Navara.

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

When choosing a comprehensive Car Insurance policy in South Australia, you may want to consider some of the following:

• Personal effects cover: Check that personal effects in your car are covered if you keep items in your vehicle.
• Towing following an accident: If you haven’t yet had a tow away experience, count yourself lucky. Towing can be more expensive than you might think. Especially if you’re not covered. Double-check with your insurer that this is included in your policy and if there are any limits.
• Agreed or market value: Some insurers will offer you an option where you can agree on the amount that your car will be insured for. This way, if you have an accident resulting in damage beyond repair, you should know how much you’ll be covered for.
• Hire car: If you rely on your car to get you from A to B to C to D, you might not do so well without it, if it were to be caught up in an accident. Good news is, some insurers may 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 at an additional premium. So if you ever find yourself stuck without a spare tire, you can rest assured someone could come to save you. 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.

As well as looking out for those points, there are other steps you may be able to take to help make sure your Car Insurance premium is fitting in with your budget.

• Can you pay monthly? Some providers will let you even out the cost of your Car Insurance by paying in monthly instalments, at no extra cost. Others may charge slightly extra.
• 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.
• Check your cover: Understand the details of your policy; you don’t want to make a claim and then be told you weren’t covered.
• Cheaper doesn’t always mean better: Make sure you check the Product Disclosure statement to ensure you have the cover you need, when you need it.
• 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 Australian’s 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.

How do I compare Car Insurance in South Australia?

Now you know you have more information, let’s get down to detail and start comparing Car Insurance in South Australia. Give us a call on 13 19 20 or simply use our online service to compare from our range of providers.

Last updated: 09/09/2021