Compare Car Insurance South Australia

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 his excess and the repair costs to his own car. Phew – crisis averted!

As we can see, third-party property 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.

If you’re figuring out how much your car insurance will cost in SA, there are quite a few factors that come into play. Here’s a quick rundown of what to look out for:

• Age: Younger drivers, especially those under 25, often face higher premiums because they are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents. On the flip side, experienced drivers typically enjoy lower rates.
• Car: The make, model, and age of your vehicle significantly impact the cost. A Tesla or Mustang tends to attract higher premiums due to their repair costs and theft risk than a second-hand Mitsubishi Lancer. Also, cars with good safety ratings might lower your insurance costs.
• Excess: Car insurance excess is the amount you agree to pay out of pocket when making a claim. A higher excess usually means a lower premium, but it also means you’ll pay more if you need to make a claim.
• Driving record: A clean driving history with no or few claims makes you a lower risk for insurers, often resulting in lower premiums. A naughty history of accidents, traffic violations, or claims can increase your costs.
• Where you live: Urban areas with higher traffic and crime rates generally lead to higher premiums compared to regional locations due to the increased likelihood of accidents and theft.
• Optional extras: Additional coverage options like roadside assistance, rental car cover, or windscreen replacement can increase your premium but provide – well, extra – peace of mind.

It’s a sad fact to state, but a lot of people still lose their lives on South Australian roads. As of August 2024, there were 450 car crashes that resulted in serious injuries, already more than 60% of the total in 2023.¹South Australia Police – Traffic statistics

There were about 3,807 car thefts in the state as of April 2024 – up by 3% from the previous year.²South Australia Police – Offences reported or becoming known to police as of April 2024 And theft from motor vehicle, or when personal effects from inside your car get stolen, was down by 3% – at 9,918.

Regardless of whether the cases increased or decreased, the figures are still in the thousands. So it’s worth getting protection from incidents of theft with a third-party theft or comprehensive car insurance policy!

You might not expect it, but the most common cars that were stolen in 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 Hilux.

Depending on the insurer, some features might automatically be 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, electronics 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 the option to agree on the amount that your car will be insured for, also known as the agreed value. This way, if you have an accident resulting in your car being written off, you’ll know how much your payout will be. The alternative is market value, where payment would be based on your car’s —  you guessed it — market value at the time of the claim.
• 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 and whether there’s a cap on how far you can be from home when you call them for help
• 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.

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 a 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: If you volunteer to pay a higher excess then this will usually reduce your premiums, just make sure you can pull together the excess amount should you need to make a claim.
• Age restricting drivers: Restrict the age of drivers on your policy to over a given age, such as 25 or 30, even 40, and you could land yourself a cheaper premium.

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!

It’s pretty easy, really. You can compare car insurance online with iSelect and look into a range of providers in South Australia.