Car insurance in South Australia

Comprehensive car insurance normally provides the widest range of cover. It covers car theft, repair costs for a third party’s property and weather-related damages, as well as repair or replacement costs for your car to cover damages caused by an insured event. Optional cover for purchase may include windshield replacement, hire car, choice of repairer, roadside assistance and more.

Third Party Fire and Theft insurance covers the cost of damage you cause to other vehicles and property in an accident, as well as cover for your vehicle if it’s stolen or damaged in a fire. TPFT generally doesn’t cover your vehicle’s repair costs if you’re at fault in a car accident, but some insurers may cover your vehicle if it’s damaged by an uninsured driver.

Third Party Property Damage insurance is the most basic level of optional car cover. It covers repair costs for accidental damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle or property. Some insurance providers may offer limited cover for your vehicle if it’s damaged by an uninsured driver and you’re not at fault.

Compulsory Third Party insurance covers certain legal liability costs if you cause injury or death to someone else in an accident. It’s included in your vehicle registration, and you have the choice between CTP insurers in SA.

The cost of car insurance in South Australia varies depending on the level of cover you take out and your circumstances. Some of the factors that can influence the price of premiums include:

• How old you are. Younger drivers tend to pay higher premiums because they’re statistically more likely to be involved in an accident.
• Your claims and driving history. Insurers may increase your premium if you’ve previously made claims or have a poor driving history.
• The type of car you drive. Vehicles that are more difficult to replace or repair (such as vintage or prestige cars) may cost more to insure.
• Your car insurance excess. Opting for a higher excess usually reduces your premium, but means you’ll have to pay more if you need to claim.
• Where you live. Some suburbs in South Australia may have higher rates of car claims than others, which can influence your premium. Where you park your car at home (e.g. in a garage or on the street) can also have an impact. Living in places with higher levels of traffic, like Adelaide city and surrounding areas, could also affect your premiums.

Younger drivers typically pay higher premiums than older drivers. So, provided you don’t make a claim, your insurance costs may reduce as you get older. However, there are many factors that impact car insurance premiums, so there may be other reasons why your insurance costs what it does besides your age.

There may be several ways you could get cheaper car insurance, including:

• Installing ant-theft devices like immobilisers, antilock brakes and alarms
• Parking your car in a locked garage instead of on a busy street
• Restricting the age of drivers on your policy (e.g. no one 25 or younger).

You may also lower your car insurance premiums by opting to pay a higher excess. However, it’s crucial to make sure it’s an amount you can afford to pay if you need to claim.

Car thefts in South Australia have decreased in recent years. As of November 2024, there were 3,563 reports of motor vehicle thefts in the state, which is 275 less than the previous year.¹

However, it’s still worth considering car insurance for these situations. Car theft can be covered by either Third Party Fire and Theft or comprehensive car insurance policies, and these policies can also cover vandalism and malicious damage.

Moving house may affect your car insurance premiums. For example, if you move to a South Australian postcode that’s considered riskier due to higher rates of theft, you may notice a rise in your premiums to reflect the increased cost of insuring your car.

Similarly, your premiums may reduce if you move to a safer area, which is why it’s important to let your insurer know as soon as you relocate.