Having the right car insurance policy is essential in South Australia, whether you're residing in the vibrant heart of Adelaide, further north in the Barossa Valley or Port Augusta or in the state’s south in Kangaroo Island.
Fortunately, comparing car insurance policies online has never been easier than it is today. That means you can give yourself the best chance of finding the cheapest and best deal from the comfort of your home.
What car insurance options can I choose from in South Australia?
The four levels of car insurance available to you in SA are:
Compulsory third party (CTP)
CTP insurance is the only mandatory type of car insurance in Australia. It covers injuries or death caused to others in an accident but not damage to property, other vehicles or the driver’s own injuries or vehicle.
You can take a more detailed look at some of the main inclusions and exclusions of each policy type in the table below:
| Claimable event | Comp. | TPFT | TPPD | CTP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage to someone else’s property | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Damage to your car due to fire | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Damage to your car due to theft | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Damage to your car due to weather | ✔* | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Damage to your car due to accident or collision | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Injury or death of someone else in an at-fault accident | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| *Not all weather-related incidents are covered under a comprehensive car insurance policy. Check your PDS to find out what's covered and what isn't. | ||||
South Australia car insurance requirements
In SA, like all other states and territories of Australia, you must take out CTP insurance as a condition of registering and driving your car. This premium is paid alongside your vehicle registration, allowing you to choose from a set of CTP insurance providers licenced in the state before you pay.
How much does car insurance cost in South Australia and Adelaide?
There’s a range of factors that’ll determine the cost of your car insurance policy in South Australia. Two of these are the vehicle model you’re insuring and your gender (the latter only being a minor difference), which you can see in action here:
Comprehensive car insurance quotes based on a 35-year-old driver who obtained their licence at 17, has held comprehensive cover with no claims over the last five years, is employed full-time, is a homeowner and lives in Adelaide (5067), uses their car for private purposes and commuting only (business usage included in the Ford Ranger quote) and drives approximately 12,000km per year. All quotes are based on a $1,000 excess. All cars are garaged, have no modifications or non-standard accessories and have an alarm installed. Quotes obtained through Compare the Market on 18 November 2025.2025 Ford Ranger XL 2WD Two-Door Cab Chassis
Gender
Cheapest premium
Average premium
Most expensive premium
Male
$1,046
$1,597
$2,033
Female
$1,067
$1,596
$2,024
2025 Toyota RAV4 GX 2WD
Gender
Cheapest premium
Average premium
Most expensive premium
Male
$808
$1,561
$2,065
Female
$823
$1,559
$2,055
2022 Hyundai i20 N
Gender
Cheapest premium
Average premium
Most expensive premium
Male
$640
$1,162
$1,489
Female
$663
$1,164
$1,482
2020 Mazda6 Sport
Gender
Cheapest premium
Average premium
Most expensive premium
Male
$854
$1,462
$1,842
Female
$868
$1,460
$1,832
Another key element of your car insurance premium is where you live, whether that’s in the suburbs of Adelaide or out in the country. The following table shows how insurers look at different locations across the state for the same 2020 Toyota RAV4:
Car insurance quotes based on a 35-year-old male driver who obtained their licence at 17, has held comprehensive cover with no claims over the last five years, is employed full-time, is a homeowner, uses their car for private purposes and commuting only and drives approximately 12,000km per year. All comprehensive quotes are based on a $1,000 excess and TPPD quotes on a $500 excess. All cars are garaged, have no modifications or non-standard accessories and have an alarm installed. Quotes obtained through Compare the Market on 18 November 2025.2020 Toyota RAV4 GX 2WD
Location
Cheapest TPPD premium
Cheapest comprehensive premium
Norwood
$321
$770
Glenelg
$280
$777
Mount Barker
$256
$742
Salisbury
$339
$890
Mount Gambier
$234
$760
Victor Harbor
$213
$757
Whyalla
$234
$771
How do I compare car insurance in SA?
When it comes to comparing your car insurance options in South Australia, there are several key areas to think about. Before you sign on the dotted line, here’s what you should for when contrasting different policy offers:
- What the policy covers: of course, you’ll need to make sure that your policy offers the coverage you’re looking for. There’s little point buying a policy that doesn’t have the protection you need.
- How much it costs: one simple way to work out which policy might be best for you is looking at the premium. The cost shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all, but it’s prudent to avoid overpaying for coverage.
- Choice of excess amount: the excess is what you pay when your claim is accepted by your insurer. Setting your excess to a higher amount means you’ll pay more in the event of a claim, but your premium will be lower.
- Agreed or market value cover: this is important to be aware of in the event your car is written off. You can either be paid a sum equal to its market value at the time of the accident or a sum agreed upon with your insurer. The latter is typically more expensive, but may give you a greater lump sum if the car is written off.
- Whether optional extras are worth it: car insurers will generally offer things like a choice of repairer and roadside assistance for an added cost. Work out whether an optional extra is worth the extra outlay before you buy your policy.
- Whether you’ll get a discount for annual premiums: most providers will offer the ability to pay your car insurance monthly or annually. In some cases, annual premiums are offered at a discount.
