South Australia is filled with some of Australia’s most picturesque destinations. From the state’s renowned wine regions – the Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Clare Valley, or McLaren Vale – through to Kangaroo Island, Port Lincoln, or the City of Churches. There are plenty of roads to cover in SA, and any of them can be hazardous.
This is especially true when you consider that 1.4 million vehicles were registered for South Australian roads as of July 2019.1 Many policies offer high levels of protection, and you just need to find one that fits your lifestyle in the southern state. We’re here to help you navigate car insurance in South Australia and what to look for when getting quotes.
Whether you’re looking for car insurance in Adelaide, the Flinders Ranges or somewhere else, there are several car insurance options in South Australia. Generally speaking, the more expensive a policy is, the more cover it’ll offer you.
Comprehensive car insurance offers the most complete coverage of any product. It covers car theft, repair costs for any third party vehicles and property, weather-related damages, plus any repair or replacement costs for your car. Additional benefits may include windshield replacement, cover for your belongings, roadside assistance membership, towing and more!
Third Party Property car insurance pays towards the repair costs for any vehicles or property you happen to damage in an accident where you’re at fault. It doesn’t cover any repair costs for your car (which Comprehensive does cover), so it would be wise to keep some money aside, in case your vehicle needs work in the future. This level of insurance doesn’t cover the cost of replacing your car in the event it’s stolen.
Third Party Fire & Theft insurance functions similarly to Third Party Property cover, with one added feature: it covers the replacement costs of your vehicle if it’s stolen or lost in an unforeseen fire incident. It still won’t cover your vehicle’s repair costs if you’re at fault in a traffic incident, but it’s still slightly more robust than CTP insurance and Third Party Property.
Compulsory Third Party insurance is paid whenever you register your car in South Australia. It covers your liability if injury or death occurs to a third party in an accident. You have the choice of four CTP insurers in South Australia when you register or renew your vehicle’s registration. You can make your selection when you fill out your registration or renewal notice.
In South Australia, every driver must have Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance. However, if you’re concerned about its limited coverage, you might want to consider a higher level of cover. It’s imperative to think about a range of hazards on the road and if your current level of car insurance covers your vehicle’s repair costs after an accident or replacement if it’s stolen.
The average market value of cars for South Australian customers across our database in the 2018-19 financial year was $15,837. With such a costly purchase, wouldn’t you want to ensure your vehicle (and bank account) is protected if you were involved in an accident?
On top of repair and replacement expenses for your own car, you may also have to factor in costs related to another person’s car or property. Taking out Comprehensive car insurance provides cover for both instances.
This table highlights what you’re covered for under each type of car insurance in SA:
| Type of insurance | Damage to your car | Damage to another person’s car or property | Damage to your car or loss of your car caused by theft | Injuries or death to other people in an accident |
| CTP | No | No | No | Yes |
| Third Party Property | No | Yes | No | No |
| Third Party Fire & Theft | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Comprehensive | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Note: Some additional factors and variables may affect your level of coverage. Always refer to your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). | ||||
Typically, SA drivers find great value in some of the below features:
Although some of these features might fall under optional extras and come at an additional cost, they can be well worth the expense – especially if you find yourself in a predicament. For more information, read about whether car insurance extras are worth it.
The cost of car insurance in South Australia varies depending on the level of cover you take out and your circumstances. Factors that influence the price of premiums include:
Completing a quote is a great way to find out how much you could end up paying. Our service is free to use, lets you compare your options in minutes and is easy to use.
Drivers in SA will all have different requirements. Lucky for you, there’s an array of options for you to consider.
Simply fill in your details and you’ll be able to review a range of policies from leading car insurers in one convenient location.
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As of 2019, more than 1.74 million people called South Australia home.3 It doesn’t matter if you’re driving through charming Hahndorf or you’re visiting family in Mount Gambier, South Australia is a fantastic corner of our country. However, despite its surreal landscapes and exotic outdoor destinations, South Australia isn’t exempt from variables outside of our control. The following information gives you an indication of what can affect your car insurance premium.
There’s no doubt that South Australia is an incredible place to live. Take Adelaide, for example, which ranked as the 10th most liveable city in the world in 2019’s Global Liveability Index!4 Yet, regardless of its reputation, it certainly isn’t crime-free.
According to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, 3,403 motor vehicles were stolen in South Australia in the 2018/19 financial year. This was a 13.1% jump in thefts, up from 3,008 the previous financial year. Vehicles most likely to be stolen across the state include Holden Commodores, Ford Falcons, Holden Astras and Nissan Navaras.5
It’s crucial to be vigilant at all times when it comes to your car’s safety, but particularly towards the end of the working week. The most popular time for stealing cars in the state is after 8pm on a Friday.6
Source: National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council – ‘SA – Motor vehicle thefts by time of day and day of week, 2019’ Accessed November 2019
When we first obtain our learner’s license, driving often becomes part of our daily lives. The more you drive, the more likely you are to be involved in an accident.
According to the South Australian Police, there were 485 crashes resulting in serious injury in the state in 2018 and 75 accidents with fatalities, resulting in a total of 80 deaths.7
Surprisingly, those aged between 40 and 49 are most at risk of being involved in a road collision.8
Still looking for answers? We’re here to help you.
Moving house may affect your car insurance premiums. If you move to a postcode that’s considered riskier due to higher rates of theft or a busy city centre where car accidents occur more frequently, you may notice a rise in your premiums. Similarly, your premiums may reduce if you move to a safer area. It’s important to let your insurer know as soon as you relocate.
Read more about how moving how can affect your car insurance.
Lodging a claim, no matter who was at fault, can affect your premiums. An at-fault claim will increase your premiums more, whereas a no-fault claim may not affect it as much. For example, if you made multiple claims within a year, insuring you may be a significant risk for insurers, and they may increase your premiums.
It’s a good idea to regularly compare car insurance policies to ensure you’re paying a premium you’re comfortable with. Our comparison tool to put you in the driver’s seat and allows you to easily assess features, policies and prices in just minutes.
Younger drivers typically pay higher premiums than older drivers. So, provided you don’t make a claim, you may be offered discounts as you get older. However, there are many factors that impact car insurance premiums, so there’s no guarantee it will reduce in price as you get older.
Car immobilisers, antilock brakes, alarms and other anti-theft features may help reduce your car insurance premiums. Even the simple act of parking your car in a locked garage as opposed to a busy street can help reduce the cost of cover, especially if you’re parked somewhere with a high rate of theft or vandalism.
Find out more about what factors can affect the price of your car insurance.
Car insurance can cover your car in the event of hail damage, but you’ll require a Comprehensive policy. That said, it can be more challenging to obtain this level of cover if your car has pre-existing hail damage. Existing damage makes it hard for insurers to determine if the damage was new or already there if you make a claim.
Keep in mind that all cars in South Australia require CTP insurance to be on the roads, but this doesn’t cover damage your car receives from hail. It’s the same case for other third party policies, which will cover damage to other cars and property but not your own. For further information, read car insurance for hail damage.
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