Budget Direct car insurance

Budget Direct has been offering Aussies peace of mind with its insurance policies for more than 20 years, and has organised insurance for over 3 million people. All of its policies are underwritten by Australian based Auto & General Insurance Company Limited. 

The Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance policy is a multi-award winner in the 2023 Mozo Experts Choice Awards, with wins in three categories and the title of Exceptional Value Insurer of the Year. So if you want a simple, smart option for insuring your wheels, check out the car insurance from Budget Direct.

Budget Direct offers the following car insurance policies

Cover information and limits in the table below verified as correct at 28 April 2024. Other information correct at the time of writing.
Advertiser disclosure.

Product Monthly premiums available Maximum no claim discount Online discount Choice of repairer  
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance

Yes costs extra

Not Published

up to 15%

Optional Extra

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Who is Budget Direct insurance?

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. 

What does Budget Direct car insurance cover?

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:

  • Damage caused by natural disasters like storms, hail, flooding or fire
  • Malicious damage and theft
  • Accidental damages
  • Up to $20 million of legal liability cover for damaging other vehicles/property
  • New-for-old car replacement (if it’s under 2 years old and driven less than 40,000km)
  • Stolen or lost key replacement
  • Personal property and baby seat cover
  • Hire car following a no fault accident or theft

How is my car insurance premium calculated at Budget Direct?

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:

  • The make, model, age, value and even colour of the car
  • Special features such as a sunroof, special paint jobs or electric doors
  • Where you live
  • Where your car is kept (in a garage versus on the street)
  • How often you drive your car
  • Your age, driving experience and gender
  • Who drives the car

What discounts are available with Budget Direct?

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.

What does Budget Direct car insurance cover in an emergency? 

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.

How do I make a car insurance claim with Budget Direct?

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:

  • Your car insurance policy number
  • Details about the accident (time, date, location, contact details of other people involved and any witnesses)
  • Photos of the accident, damages and the condition of the road at the time
  • A policy report, if applicable

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:

  • name
  • address
  • phone number
  • email address
  • licence number
  • insurance company
  • registration number of their vehicle

Budget Direct car insurance FAQs

What optional extras can I add to my car insurance?

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

Should I opt for a low or high excess?

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.

Does Budget Direct do agreed value?

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.

How do I pay my premium?

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.

How is Budget Direct car insurance rated?

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.

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Budget Direct car insurance
Overall
Value for money
Policy coverage
Customer service
Claims handling
Trust

1328 Reviews

Recent Budget Direct car insurance reviews

Budget Direct Car Insurance
Overall 6/10
Worth changing too

I was stuck on GIO for years but when I compared Budget Direct, I haven't saved a thousand of dollars but $60 savings will do under the current hardships me n my family r having, evey dollar counts atm

Read full review

I was stuck on GIO for years but when I compared Budget Direct, I haven't saved a thousand of dollars but $60 savings will do under the current hardships me n my family r having, evey dollar counts atm

Value for money
6/10
Policy coverage
6/10
Customer service
7/10
Claims handling
6/10
Trust
6/10
Less
Kate, New South Wales, reviewed about 1 month ago
Budget Direct Car Insurance
Overall 9/10
Great freindly service

Good customer service and price not to bad against other insurance companies.

Read full review

Good customer service and price not to bad against other insurance companies.

Value for money
8/10
Policy coverage
8/10
Customer service
9/10
Trust
8/10
Less
Peter, Western Australia, reviewed 26 days ago
Budget Direct Car Insurance
Overall 10/10
Good

Easy to set up, and easy to change details

Read full review

Easy to set up, and easy to change details

Value for money
10/10
Policy coverage
10/10
Customer service
10/10
Less
Sharna, Queensland, reviewed 26 days ago
Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
Overall 1/10
Beware of budget direct scammers fraud

This is scammers in hail damage about 3 months facing them prove them natural hail damage 50% cover but not fully around 24000 $ cost about my car but paying 5500$ and no car hair until they pass u approved that day all cars in hail after getting unusual question first phase of my life bad experience with this. I prove u

Read full review

This is scammers in hail damage about 3 months facing them prove them natural hail damage 50% cover but not fully around 24000 $ cost about my car but paying 5500$ and no car hair until they pass u approved that day all cars in hail after getting unusual question first phase of my life bad experience with this. I prove u

Value for money
1/10
Policy coverage
1/10
Customer service
1/10
Claims handling
1/10
Trust
1/10
Less
Singh, New South Wales, reviewed about 1 month ago
See all car insurance reviews
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