Compare Car Insurance South Australia

Living in South Australia and in need of a better value car insurance policy? Check out some of the top SA car insurance policies below.

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Car insurance comparisons on Mozo

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Last updated 14 December 2024Important disclosures
Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limits.
  • Comprehensive Car Insurance

    Youi like to get to know you from the very first conversation, which provides you with the opportunity to find comprehensive car insurance cover that could better suit your lifestyle and your needs. Because we’re all individuals, so we all use our cars differently from day-to-day. Youi is car insurance that’s a bit more you-shaped. Mozo People's Choice Excellent Customer Service Car Insurance award winner in 2024.

    Monthly premiums
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    Yes Costs Extra
    Choice of repairer
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    Optional Extra
    Choice of excess
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    $400 - $2,500
    Agreed or market value
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    Agreed Or Market

    Available discounts

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    • Comprehensive Car Insurance

      QBE’s Comprehensive Car Insurance covers you for things like accident damage, fire and theft. Enjoy three year new car replacement. Get a hire car if you’re not at fault. Repair guarantee. Save $75 when you apply online.

      Monthly premiums
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      Yes Costs Extra
      Choice of repairer
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      Optional Extra
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      $500 - $2,300
      Agreed or market value
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      Agreed Or Market

      Available discounts

      • Online Discount $75
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    • Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance

      Get award winning Car Insurance. Save 15% ^ on your first year’s premium when you purchase a new policy online. Budget Direct offers tailor-made cover, new-for-old replacement, 24/7 claims, a highly-rated claims service, and get a hire car following a theft.

      Monthly premiums
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      Yes Costs Extra
      Choice of repairer
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      Optional Extra
      Choice of excess
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      $550 - $1,900 (varies By State)
      Agreed or market value
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      Agreed Or Market

      Available discounts

      • No Claim Discount
      • Online Discount 15%
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    • Comprehensive Car Insurance

      ROLLiN’ offers affordable monthly comprehensive car insurance with its favourite extras included. No additional excess for young drivers, lodge a claim 24/7 and zero cancellation fees. Hire car is included up to $80 per day for up to 21 days; cover for one tow to our nearest authorised repairer, following a covered incident. No excess on your first covered windscreen, sunroof, and window glass damage once per insurance period. List multiple cars and drivers under the one policy as long as they fit the underwriting criteria (excludes Safe ’n Save policies).

      Monthly premiums
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      Yes
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      No
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      $800 Flat Excess Fee
      Agreed or market value
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      Agreed

      Available discounts

      • Get 10% Off The Base Premium For The First 2 Consecutive Monthly Policies And Up To A 15% Potential Monthly Discount From Your 3rd Month For Being A Safer Driver. Minimum Premiums May Apply. T&Cs Apply.
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    ^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Car insurance Awards and the Mozo People's Choice Car insurance Awards

    *Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.

    Car insurance resources

    Reviews, news, tips and guides to help find the best car insurance for you.

    Finding your perfect car insurance policy in South Australia

    No matter how safe of a driver you are, life can be unpredictable. If you somehow find yourself in a sticky situation along the Lincoln Highway you’ll want to make sure you have adequate car insurance cover so you're not out of pocket when the repair bill comes in. 

    At Mozo, we make it easy to compare some of the top comprehensive car insurance policies in South Australia and their features with our car insurance comparison tool. But before you take on the first policy you see, here are a few of the need-to-knows before signing the dotted line.

    What kind of insurance do you need to legally drive in South Australia?

    In all states including SA, you'll need Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance to legally drive on the roads. It's often known as a 'greenslip' and comes in slightly different formats depending on which state or territory you register your car in. 

    Across Australia, the role of CTP is to cover the costs of injuries you might cause yourself or others while driving. However, in South Australia you will only be eligible for compensation if you’re not at fault or not entirely at fault. If you were responsible for the incident, you'll only be able to make a CTP claim if you sustain lifelong injuries.

    CTP is offered by multiple South Australian insurance companies, and you'll pay for it when you register your vehicle. Remember: CTP doesn't cover any damages to your car or others.

    What are the other levels of cover available in South Australia?

    Once you start shopping around on your insurance, you’ll find that there are different types of policies and levels of cover available. Here’s an explanation on what they are and what they include:

    • Comprehensive:  Comprehensive car insurance provides the highest level of cover. Once you pay the excess on an insurable claim, your insurance provider will cover the cost of replacing or repairing your car as well as any damage you’ve caused to another person’s car or property. Be aware that different policies will include different benefits.
    • Third party insurance: This is a basic cover option which only covers the other person’s car and/or property when you cause an accident. A third party policy won’t cover the cost of repairs to your own car – this is one of the biggest differences between comprehensive and third party insurance. 
    • Third party fire and theft: This provides additional coverage on top of your standard third party car insurance policy. As the name suggests, it covers repairs or losses in case your car is stolen or damaged by fire. Car owners who park in the street overnight or live in areas with higher crime rates might want to consider this level of cover.

    How to make a car insurance claim in South Australia 

    If you’re involved in an accident and need to make a claim on your insurance, it’s a good idea to have the following details jotted down:

    • The date, time and location of the incident
    • The other driver’s details (including phone and licence number)
    • Contacts or statements from any witnesses or other road-users involved
    • Any photo evidence
    • A police report (if applicable)

    When it comes to starting the claims process, you can make a claim online or over the phone.

    Remember: you’ll have to pay an excess to get the wheels rolling on your claim. Also be aware that if you have to make a car insurance claim, your future premiums could rise and your no claims bonus will probably take a hit.

    What is covered by a South Australian car insurance policy?

    Each car insurance policy you come across will have a slightly different range of benefits.  Under a comprehensive car insurance policy, you’ll usually be covered for:

    • Damage to another driver’s car when you are at fault in an accident
    • Damage to your car in an accident
    • Accidental damage
    • Fire damage 
    • Theft and attempted theft of your car
    • Vandalism and malicious damage to your car
    • Emergency repairs
    • Towing costs in an emergency
    • Damage to your personal property in your car

    Are there any optional extras I should get covered for in South Australia

    When you take out a car insurance policy, you do have the option of adding on additional features. Every car and driver is different, so you should carefully consider which additional features may be necessary for you before adding them onto your policy at an additional cost. Some optional extras include:

    • Excess-free windscreen cover (great if you live in rural SA and might need semi-regular windscreen repairs from driving on unsealed roads)
    • Rental car after accident 
    • Modifications
    • 24-hour roadside assistance 
    • No claims bonus protection (this is a veil of protection added onto your clean driving record, keeping it intact if you ever make a claim)

    Car accidents and crime statistics in South Australia

    Like all policies, your cover may be affected by where you live based on the levels of crime and road incidents.

    This will be evaluated in the risk-assessment made by insurance companies when they determine the cost of your car insurance. So, it's important to understand the dangers related to driving in South Australia and recent statistics for vehicle-related crime.

    Fatalities on South Australian roads

    In 2022, South Australia Police * recorded 71 fatalities on the state’s roads from 68 fatal crashes. These numbers were down from 99 fatalities the previous year. There were also less serious injuries on South Australian roads in 2022 (652) compared with 2021 (827).

    In 2022, car drivers accounted for the highest proportion of these lost lives followed by motorcyclists. Speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and illegal blood alcohol levels continue to be the most common factors contributing to these fatalities.

    Car thefts in South Australia

    According to Budget Direct **, South Australia and New South Wales were among the safest states from car theft in 2021.

    However, data by RAA Car Insurance ^ shows that the number of cars stolen in South Australia increased by 24 percent between April 2021 and April 2022. In addition, Adelaide Now ^^ found that 2900 cars were stolen in South Australia between 1 July 2022 and 31 March 2023.

    In recent years, the most commonly stolen car models have been the Holden Commodore and Toyota Hilux.

    If you are worried about your car being stolen, we advise that you insure your car for theft, fire and malicious damage. To help reduce the risk of theft, you might consider parking your car on your property or in a garage, as this can, theoretically, reduce the likelihood of theft or damage.

    External sources* South Australia Police (2023), 'Traffic statistics: Yearly comparisons' - accessed August 2023

    **Budget Direct (2022) ‘Car Theft Survey & Statistics 2022’ - accessed August 2023

    ^ RAA Daily (2022), ‘Why are more cars being stolen in South Australia?’ - accessed August 2023

    ^^ Adelaide Now (2023) ‘Search our map: Police data shows Saa’s car theft hot spots’ - accessed August 2023

    Picture of Olivia Gee
    Olivia Gee
    Money writer

    As a personal finance writer at Mozo, Olivia investigates insurance, banking and property. After completing a double degree in journalism and media and communications, Olivia became a lifestyle editor at Time Out Sydney and freelanced for notable publications such as Guardian Australia and SBS News. Now she is Mozo’s resident car insurance enthusiast, and is certified (ASIC RG146 Tier 2) to provide general advice in general insurance. She also creates audible finance adventures as co-host of Mozo’s podcast, The Finance Burrito.

    South Australia Car Insurance FAQs

    Are there different kinds of car insurance around Australia?

    Most car insurance companies operate Australia-wide, but you might go with a provider based in South Australia for more tailored cover or to take advantage of local community incentives and programs.

    If you're looking to compare car insurance policies in a different state or territory, Mozo has the details on localised providers outside SA, including those in:

    What generally isn't covered by South Australian car insurance?

    Regardless of the policy you choose, there are a few things you can expect to be excluded from your car insurance cover. These are general exclusions that apply to most policies, and include:

    • Depreciation of your car's value: The more you drive your car, the more it depreciates in value. As this is a normal and expected part of driving, it isn’t covered under your policy.
    • Mechanical or structural faults: This applies if damage is caused without an accident – for example if your window gets stuck – you usually won’t be covered.
    • Wear and tear: You will need to check policy, as each provider has a different definition but general wear and tear on a vehicle isn’t covered, as it’s simply part of owning a car.

    What's the difference between 'market value' and 'agreed value' in South Australia?

    Once you start your car insurance hunt, you’ll soon find two of the more common terms you’ll come across are ‘market value’ and ‘agreed value’.

    In short, market value is what the value of your car would be if it were on the open market, while agreed value is the predetermined amount you agree to insure your car for.

    The type you choose will depend on the quality of your car. For instance, if you’ve just bought a new car, you may opt for agreed value as your car will start to depreciate in value as soon as you start driving it, and if you were to have an accident, you’d probably want your insurance to cover the cost of replacing it with another brand new car. On the other hand, market value is often cheaper and is a likely choice for a driver with an older car.

    What does car insurance cost in South Australia

    Car insurance policies are priced based on the ‘risks’ of insuring you and drivers in your demographic. Some of the factors that help insurance companies determine how much your premium will cost include:

    • Gender: Our research shows that men typically pay higher premiums than women.
    • Age: In your twenties and got that youthful glow? Insurance companies hate that, as data shows those over the age of 25 generally pay higher premiums. Young drivers may also get stung with extra excesses when making a claim.
    • Driving record: Your record is impacted by the number of years you’ve been driving, the number of accidents you’ve been in, speeding tickets and other driving offences. The better the record, the lower the premium.
    • Driving habits: This involves when you drive. Driving during peak hours might result in more accidents than a weekend joyride and might bump up your premium. Using your vehicle for business is also a red flag.
    • Parking habits: Where you live in South Australia and where you choose to park your car also makes a difference to the price of your policy. Parking your car on the street is a lot riskier than leaving it under lock and key in the garage.
    • Type of car: While it’s standard to pay a pricier policy for an expensive car, you might be surprised to know this also includes: the size/weight of your car, how old your car is, the cost of repairs and replacement parts, and the likelihood of it being stolen.

    Are there any car insurance discounts I can get in South Australia? 

    Yes, but you're going to have to do some searching! Here are some of the most common ways you can snag a discount on your car insurance policy in South Australia:

    • Online applications: Have a laptop handy? Sweet, you could score up to a 20% discount on your first year's premium just for applying online.
    • Staying loyal: Loyalty goes a long way in the insurance game and if you’ve worked hard at your relationship, you could be rewarded with a discount.
    • No claim bonus: This is a discount most insurance companies offers. If you’ve maintained a spotless record in terms of your driving history, your provider may give you a discount on your premium.

    How do I cut the cost of my South Australian car insurance?

    You don’t have to pay through the nose for quality cover. Here are a few ways to bring down the cost of your comprehensive car insurance policy:

    • Own an old car: While we’d all love to be cruising down the highway with a flashy set of wheels, insurance quotes are generally lower on second-hand cars.
    • Go online: Depending on your provider, you could save up to 20% on your policy just for applying online.
    • Bundle it up: You could shave off more premium dollars by bundling your car insurance with your home and contents insurance.
    • Be safe: Who doesn’t like to be rewarded for good behaviour? Depending on the provider, you could receive a discount of up to 70% on your South Australian car insurance policy if you have a no claims bonus. 
    • Beef up security: Adding an alarm to your car can also bring down the price of your policy as it helps to reduce the risk of vandalism and theft.

    Car Insurance Reviews

    Budget Direct Car Insurance
    Overall 8/10
    Good value car insurance

    Haven't made a claim....but their price is good

    Read full review

    Haven't made a claim....but their price is good

    Value for money
    9/10
    Policy coverage
    9/10
    Trust
    8/10
    Less
    John, Victoria, reviewed 3 days ago
    RACV Comprehensive Car Insurance
    Overall 1/10
    Terrible all round

    1. I was with RACV for many years, had to make a claim for a not at fault and they refused to cover all damage from the incident. 2. Premiums keep going up, started at $130 a month then to $180 per month, then to $190 per months, then wanted to go up to $230 per month (no claims made between 180-230). I quickly cancelled and they still charged me an extra month. 3. I brushed passed a car and accidentally made an approx 15cm scratch with my handbag, not a very deep scratch. Person made a claim a month later with RACV and they are now trying to charge me $2,343.64 RACV is price gouging and money hungry.

    Read full review

    1. I was with RACV for many years, had to make a claim for a not at fault and they refused to cover all damage from the incident. 2. Premiums keep going up, started at $130 a month then to $180 per month, then to $190 per months, then wanted to go up to $230 per month (no claims made between 180-230). I quickly cancelled and they still charged me an extra month. 3. I brushed passed a car and accidentally made an approx 15cm scratch with my handbag, not a very deep scratch. Person made a claim a month later with RACV and they are now trying to charge me $2,343.64 RACV is price gouging and money hungry.

    Value for money
    1/10
    Policy coverage
    1/10
    Customer service
    1/10
    Claims handling
    1/10
    Trust
    1/10
    Less
    Victoria, Victoria, reviewed 3 days ago
    RAA Comprehensive Car Insurance
    Overall 6/10
    RAA Very expensive. Look around other Canstar Coy'

    My car us 1 yr older, therefore worth less than a year ago. Yet RAA increased my renewal to over $1600 for my Mitsubishi Eclipse SUV. I have been with RAA for decades, have never made a claim and drive only around 7,000km a year. My car is 3 yrs old. I have now gone to a 5Star Canstar company and is $700 cheaper than RAA.

    Read full review

    My car us 1 yr older, therefore worth less than a year ago. Yet RAA increased my renewal to over $1600 for my Mitsubishi Eclipse SUV. I have been with RAA for decades, have never made a claim and drive only around 7,000km a year. My car is 3 yrs old. I have now gone to a 5Star Canstar company and is $700 cheaper than RAA.

    Value for money
    5/10
    Policy coverage
    9/10
    Trust
    7/10
    Less
    Kerry, South Australia, reviewed 24 days ago

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