Rates and fees verified as correct at 28 February, 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 | Go to site |
| Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance | Yes costs extra | Not Published | up to 15% | Optional Extra |
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.
1107 Reviews
Our vehicle was involved in a not at fault minor collision which occurred in a car park. We were directed to present the car to their repairer where after a week we were informed the the vehicle was a total write off citing that the repair costs were greater than the market value (economic write off). I disputed the estimate of market value and provided an example, I also questioned repair costs and requested a second quote but was refused. I asked if they would return my vehicle in the state I delivered to them. I asked If I could access my vehicle to collect personal items. All requests were refused. Still in dispute.
Read full reviewOur vehicle was involved in a not at fault minor collision which occurred in a car park. We were directed to present the car to their repairer where after a week we were informed the the vehicle was a total write off citing that the repair costs were greater than the market value (economic write off). I disputed the estimate of market value and provided an example, I also questioned repair costs and requested a second quote but was refused. I asked if they would return my vehicle in the state I delivered to them. I asked If I could access my vehicle to collect personal items. All requests were refused. Still in dispute.
FOUR months after making a claim from being hit by an uninsured P plates driver who ran a red light I still have no car, it took Budget Direct almost THREE month just to arrange for my vehicle to to towed to their chosen repair for assessment as it took them this long to “investigate” and finally approve my claim! The day after they received the quote for repairs $12,600 they called to say the claim needed to be reviewed again, noteworthy this was the first phone contact I had received since making the claim, after making numerous calls and complaints a had a call to say the claim was again approved and work could proceed. But no .... over a week later the repairs have still not commenced AND they flat out refuse to offer a hire car as compensation for their pathetic handling of this matter.
Read full reviewFOUR months after making a claim from being hit by an uninsured P plates driver who ran a red light I still have no car, it took Budget Direct almost THREE month just to arrange for my vehicle to to towed to their chosen repair for assessment as it took them this long to “investigate” and finally approve my claim! The day after they received the quote for repairs $12,600 they called to say the claim needed to be reviewed again, noteworthy this was the first phone contact I had received since making the claim, after making numerous calls and complaints a had a call to say the claim was again approved and work could proceed. But no .... over a week later the repairs have still not commenced AND they flat out refuse to offer a hire car as compensation for their pathetic handling of this matter.
Always get a better policy as we don't know when accidents happen Budget direct is really crap. They added additional 500$ excess on the approved and added driver citing reasons. They couldn't give an estimate on the days they take to repair the car and no replacement car in this case as it is a fault at our side. It's been 16 days and my recent call said they might need another 30 days to get the spare parts.
Read full reviewAlways get a better policy as we don't know when accidents happen Budget direct is really crap. They added additional 500$ excess on the approved and added driver citing reasons. They couldn't give an estimate on the days they take to repair the car and no replacement car in this case as it is a fault at our side. It's been 16 days and my recent call said they might need another 30 days to get the spare parts.
When making claim you have to pay the excess first before they can process your claim. This is quite absurd. This is the first time that we have to pay for the excess first when making a claim in the 22 years of driving in australia and having car insurance. We are not at fault, as police report already determined that. They are not even trying to listen and understand our situation. I guess we get what we pay for. We are going to cancel our two policies.
Read full reviewWhen making claim you have to pay the excess first before they can process your claim. This is quite absurd. This is the first time that we have to pay for the excess first when making a claim in the 22 years of driving in australia and having car insurance. We are not at fault, as police report already determined that. They are not even trying to listen and understand our situation. I guess we get what we pay for. We are going to cancel our two policies.
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