Car insurance in Adelaide
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A guide to car insurance in Adelaide
Updated 21 August 2024
What types of car insurance are available in Adelaide?
Comprehensive car insurance
The highest level of car insurance, comprehensive cover, typically provides the most financial protection for your car. Comprehensive policies generally provide cover if you claim for damage from collisions, storm, hail, fire and theft. They also cover damage you cause to other vehicles and property in a car accident.
Third Party Fire and Theft (TPFT)
TPFT policies typically cover damage to vehicles and property owned by others. TPFT car insurance can also cover your car if it’s damaged by fire or stolen. Depending on your insurance, it may cover your car if an uninsured driver damages it.
Third Party Property Damage (TPPD)
TPPD is the most basic form of cover out of the optional car insurance products. It typically covers damages you cause to other vehicles and property in car accidents. TPPD may also include limited cover for your car, such as if an uninsured driver damages it.
Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance
CTP insurance is paid at the same time as your car registration and covers your legal liability for injuries and deaths if you are at fault in a motor vehicle accident. It’s mandatory for all registered vehicles in South Australia to have CTP insurance.
What type of car insurance should I get in Adelaide?
As well as having the mandatory CTP insurance, the right type of cover for you will depend on your situation.
For example, you might consider comprehensive car insurance if you have a new car or are looking for the highest level of cover for your vehicle. This also covers damages to third party vehicles and property in motor vehicle accidents.
However, if you only want cover for accidental damages you might cause to other cars and property, third party car insurance options like TPFT and TPPD may suit you. These policies are typically more affordable than comprehensive cover as well.
| Insurance type | Damage to your car in an accident | Damage to another person’s car or property | Damage/loss caused by fire and/or theft |
| Comprehensive | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TPFT | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TPPD | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Always check the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for full details on the car insurance policy’s inclusions, exclusions, and limits. Reading the Target Market Determination (TMD) could also help you determine if the policy is right for you.
How much is car insurance in Adelaide?
As of March 2024, drivers in Adelaide are paying on average $40.37 a month for comprehensive insurance, which is $6.14 less than the capital city average.1
This pricing should only be used as a guide, as car insurance premiums can vary. Factors that could increase or decrease the cost of your car insurance include:
- The level of cover
- The age of listed drivers
- Driving and claims history
- Where you live and park your vehicle
- Your car and the cost to repair it and replace parts.
The basic excess on your policy could also affect your overall premium. For example, increasing your excess could lower your premium, while lowering it may have the opposite effect. Before increasing your excess, it’s worth considering if it’s an amount you could afford if you need to make a claim.
Conversely, CTP insurance is community rated, so its prices are typically not affected by these factors.
How does living in Adelaide affect my car insurance premiums?
Where you live can impact your car insurance premiums. A city like Adelaide has more traffic than rural areas, which may increase the risk of accidents and needing to make a claim. Cities may also have higher crime rates, which your insurer may consider when calculating your premiums.
Car thefts in Adelaide
There were 109 car thefts recorded in Adelaide in the 2023-24 financial year.2 There were also 208 thefts from motor vehicles in Adelaide during this period.2
Car accidents in Adelaide
In 2022, there was a total of 10,381 crashes recorded in Adelaide.3 The most common types of multi-vehicle collisions were:
- Rear end (2,757)
- Right angle (2,167)
- Side swipe (1,102).
The most common type of single-vehicle collision over this time was a driver hitting a stationary object (1,497).3
Which optional extras should Adelaide drivers look for?
Some optional cover you might consider if you’re living in Adelaide could include:
- Accident hire car cover. Your insurer may provide a temporary car for you to drive if yours is being repaired or replaced after a car accident.
- Windscreen cover. Excess for window glass claims can either be reduced or completely waived with this optional cover.
- Roadside assistance. This cover provides emergency assistance if your car breaks down on Australian roads.
Adding one or more of these benefits to your policy could increase your overall premium.
Meet our car insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As Executive General Manager of General Insurance at Compare the Market, Adrian Taylor is passionate about demystifying car insurance for consumers, so they have a better understanding of what they’re covered for. Adrian’s goal is to make more information available from more insurers, to make it easier to compare and save.
Want to know more about car insurance?
- Australian Automobile Association – Transport Affordability Index March Quarter 2024. Accessed August 2024.
- SA – Crime Statistics 2023-24 Q1_Q3. Accessed August 2024.
- Government of South Australia – Road Crashes in South Australia. Accessed August 2024.