South Australia changes crash reporting rules

From late November, drivers in South Australia will no longer be required to report all crashes to police – provided they fall within certain parameters.

The state government has updated legislation that previously dictated that all motor vehicle accidents with damage above $3000 required mandatory police involvement. That rule is now being dropped.

However, incidents with more than $3000 of damage involving bicycles, motorbikes, heavy vehicles, buses, trams and trains, pedestrians, or those using personal mobility devices will still need to be reported to South Australia Police (SAPOL).

Police will also need to be notified in circumstances of injury, or when a vehicle needs to be towed from the scene.

The new rules will come into effect in South Australia on November 23, 2026.

In all circumstances, drivers are required by law to stop and render assistance where needed, as well as exchange personal details, with police intervention required if drivers have not (or cannot) provide their information to those entitled to it.

With the rising cost of car parts, and more complex technology and engineering in new cars, even minor accidents can now be a costly affair.

According to a report from The Advertiser, the Police Association called for these changes to be implemented back in 2024.

"From a practical standpoint, the requirement to report no longer serves any functional purpose, given that SAPOL does not investigate collisions where there is only property or vehicle damage," wrote Police Association president Wade Burns in a letter to the Transport Minister.

At the time, he claimed the requirement resulted in 600 accident reports every week, consuming at least 150 hours of work by officers.

"The requirement diverts police resources away from critical jobs such as investigating accidents with injuries or fatalities, crime investigations, domestic violence incidents and urgent response taskings," he wrote.

MORE: Top cop calls for major change to Australian petrol stations as fuel thefts surge amid price spike