Rates and fees verified as correct at 18 May, 2021. Other information correct at the time of writing. Advertiser disclosure.
| Product | Monthly premiums available | Maximum no claim discount | Online discount | Choice of repairer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Car Insurance | Yes costs extra | Not Published | up to 15% | Optional Extra | |
| Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance | Yes costs extra | Not Published | up to 15% | Optional Extra | Go to site |
While ‘budget’ is in its name, Budget Direct doesn’t skimp on quality. The provider simply aims to provide comprehensive cover at an accessible price point. Alongside its award-winning car insurance, Budget Direct also offers home & contents cover, travel, life and pet insurance.
The organisation insures drivers across Australia and also has outposts in the UK, South Africa and Singapore.
Budget Direct offers cheap car insurance for motorists who want third party property cover (plus fire and theft) as well as wallet-friendly comprehensive options.
If you’re taking out a comprehensive car insurance policy with Budget Direct, there’s a wide range of standard features. This includes cover for:
Most car insurance premiums are calculated on the likelihood of you making a claim. The more likely you are to claim, the higher your premium will be.
But how does an insurance company know if you are likely to make a claim? They base it mostly on details about your past as a driver, what kind of car you're insuring and other demographic factors. Details that might affect your Budget Direct insurance premium include:
Discounts can make a huge difference in what you’re paying for your car insurance policy. With Budget Direct, you can access a 15% discount on the first yearly premium when you buy online, and you can also build up a no claims discount. How much your no claims discount is worth will depend on which state you live in and how long you’re insured through Budget Direct without making a claim.
There’s also the option to choose a low kilometre policy with Budget Direct. This means you could score a premium reduction if you drive less than 12,000km a year.
Your Budget Direct car insurance policy includes cover for alternate transport and accommodation in case of an emergency, plus towing of the vehicle. There are dollar limits for this coverage, so check your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).
Also remember roadside assistance is an extra you would have to opt into, and your cover does not extend to any emergency repairs you have done without an assessment. So if your car is damaged, make sure you contact Budget Direct before going ahead with any repairs to be sure costs will be covered by your insurance.
To make a claim on your Budget Direct car insurance, you can either call or go online and lodge a claims form. To make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible, try to have a few key details on hand, including:
If you’re a little frazzled after the accident, here’s a checklist of the information you should ask for from other drivers involved in the incident and any witnesses:
As mentioned, roadside assistance is an optional extra you can choose to add to your Budget Direct insurance policy. Others include cover for the cost of a rental car after you have an accident where you are at-fault, and any special modifications on your car.
Just remember: optional cover will usually mean you pay a higher premium.
When you take out most kinds of insurance, you often have the option to choose a low or high excess, which can impact how much you pay for your premium.
The excess is the amount you need to pay before you can get any money from your insurance cover, when making a claim. For example, if your excess is $200, and you’re claiming damages worth $600, you’ll pay the first $200 and your insurance company will pay the remaining $400.
With a Budget Direct policy, you can choose the level of your excess. If you go for a low excess, you’ll likely pay a higher premium, and vice versa.
Top tip: You won’t have to pay excess when claiming on a not-at-fault accident with another car.
Yes, Budget Direct gives customers the option to insure their vehicles at a value which they elect, or at the market value.
Choosing between agreed or market value for your car can impact your premium and how much your insurance provider will pay to cover or replace your vehicle should you write it off. The market value (what the car would sell for if it was advertised at the time of the crash) generally scores you a lower premium, but could mean you don’t get as substantial a payout if your car is totalled or stolen.
There are a number of ways to pay for your Budget Direct car insurance. You can choose to pay your premium annually, monthly or fortnightly, and payment methods include by direct debit, credit card or PayPal when you buy online.
Mozo users have rated Budget Direct car insurance on price, features, convenience, trust and customer service so you can see what real Aussies have to say about their experiences.
1168 Reviews
worst of worst.. they made me send 5 year driving history, and sent me link. but that link doesn't work.. I applied 4 months ago, but still pending.. I will never do it again with this company.. worst...
Read full reviewworst of worst.. they made me send 5 year driving history, and sent me link. but that link doesn't work.. I applied 4 months ago, but still pending.. I will never do it again with this company.. worst...
I got my car involved in minor accident , no issues with accepting claim with evidence, but very bad customer service , call centre based in Brisbane and never return call if it drop after 30 minutes on wait , given car rental for 14 days but there accessor takes 15 days to access car and send me unacceptable list to use non genuine- used parts to fix car , which is unrealistic and still arguments going on , don't know what's going to happen with my car . As it's over 1r days and want rental car back and I ll be left without any car don't know how my kids are going to go to school now.. do be careful with them
Read full reviewI got my car involved in minor accident , no issues with accepting claim with evidence, but very bad customer service , call centre based in Brisbane and never return call if it drop after 30 minutes on wait , given car rental for 14 days but there accessor takes 15 days to access car and send me unacceptable list to use non genuine- used parts to fix car , which is unrealistic and still arguments going on , don't know what's going to happen with my car . As it's over 1r days and want rental car back and I ll be left without any car don't know how my kids are going to go to school now.. do be careful with them
the worst ever save yourself the hassle and insure with professional company not a stupid company like this
Read full reviewthe worst ever save yourself the hassle and insure with professional company not a stupid company like this
It was easy to sign up and there were no hidden fees. Customer service is very friendly and you don't have to wait on hold for hours.
Read full reviewIt was easy to sign up and there were no hidden fees. Customer service is very friendly and you don't have to wait on hold for hours.
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