Cover information and limits in the table below verified as correct at 19 March 2024. Other information correct at the time of writing.
Advertiser disclosure.
Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limits
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 |
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.
1323 Reviews
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 reviewThis 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
I have used Budget Direct for 5+ years and always been very happy with them. They're always competitive with their pricing and have great customer service. Very happy with Budget Direct!
Read full reviewI have used Budget Direct for 5+ years and always been very happy with them. They're always competitive with their pricing and have great customer service. Very happy with Budget Direct!
I don't recommend Budget Direct. It might be cheaper than some but nasty when it came to claim. I have been a member with them since 2016 for full car comprehensive for my car and I have never made a claim before either, they rejected my claim as I was not the driver at the time of the accident. What is the purpose of having full insurance? They make excuses not to cover my car. The customer service is also the worst. You have to keep chasing them up to find out your outcome. They were rude and unhelpful. They never respond to any of my inquiries when asked. It took them over 2 to 3 months to finalize my case. It gives you a lot of stress and is not easy to deal with. Insure with them at your own risk. The worst insurance I have ever dealt with. Don't waste your money and time.
Read full reviewI don't recommend Budget Direct. It might be cheaper than some but nasty when it came to claim. I have been a member with them since 2016 for full car comprehensive for my car and I have never made a claim before either, they rejected my claim as I was not the driver at the time of the accident. What is the purpose of having full insurance? They make excuses not to cover my car. The customer service is also the worst. You have to keep chasing them up to find out your outcome. They were rude and unhelpful. They never respond to any of my inquiries when asked. It took them over 2 to 3 months to finalize my case. It gives you a lot of stress and is not easy to deal with. Insure with them at your own risk. The worst insurance I have ever dealt with. Don't waste your money and time.
Joining Budget Direct, I was carrying a pretty clean insurance slate well into my late 40s. The feeling of security with a reputable insurance company was reassuring. Then, out of the blue, an evening drive turned into a wildlife encounter that wrote my car off and thrust me into the world of insurance claims. At first, everything ran like clockwork. The initial claim submission was straightforward, and I felt that everything would be sorted out quickly and efficiently. That's the level of service I signed up for, and initially, it seemed like I was going to get just that. But the wheels started to come off when the word 'investigation' was mentioned. It's a strange feeling, the shift from customer to 'person of interest.' I understood the need for due diligence, but I couldn't help but feel a twinge of offense at the suggestion that my claim was anything but genuine. This feeling was further compounded by the drawn-out nature of the investigation. Time ticked by, and with each passing day, my patience and trust in the system began to wane. Communicating with Budget Direct during this period was another sticking point. The sense of being just another number in the queue became palpable as I was shuffled between claims managers. It wasn't just the inconvenience of repeating my story; it was the underlying feeling of inefficiency and impersonality that chipped away at the company's initial good impression. Despite these challenges, I must acknowledge that in the end, my claim was resolved. The final settlement was fair, and for that, they earned back some of the goodwill that was lost during the process. Moreover, receiving an apology for the delay showed a level of accountability that I respect. It was a gesture that, while not undoing the hassle, did provide a sense of closure. To sum up my experience with Budget Direct: it's a mix of efficiency at the outset, frustration in the middle, and eventual relief at the conclusion. The company proved it could deliver, but the journey there was far from the straightforward path I was led to expect. It's a solid 6 out of 10 for me - they came through, but the ride was definitely bumpier than anticipated. I hope my experience is a catalyst for them to streamline their claims process and reinforce the confidence customers place in them at the outset.
Read full reviewJoining Budget Direct, I was carrying a pretty clean insurance slate well into my late 40s. The feeling of security with a reputable insurance company was reassuring. Then, out of the blue, an evening drive turned into a wildlife encounter that wrote my car off and thrust me into the world of insurance claims. At first, everything ran like clockwork. The initial claim submission was straightforward, and I felt that everything would be sorted out quickly and efficiently. That's the level of service I signed up for, and initially, it seemed like I was going to get just that. But the wheels started to come off when the word 'investigation' was mentioned. It's a strange feeling, the shift from customer to 'person of interest.' I understood the need for due diligence, but I couldn't help but feel a twinge of offense at the suggestion that my claim was anything but genuine. This feeling was further compounded by the drawn-out nature of the investigation. Time ticked by, and with each passing day, my patience and trust in the system began to wane. Communicating with Budget Direct during this period was another sticking point. The sense of being just another number in the queue became palpable as I was shuffled between claims managers. It wasn't just the inconvenience of repeating my story; it was the underlying feeling of inefficiency and impersonality that chipped away at the company's initial good impression. Despite these challenges, I must acknowledge that in the end, my claim was resolved. The final settlement was fair, and for that, they earned back some of the goodwill that was lost during the process. Moreover, receiving an apology for the delay showed a level of accountability that I respect. It was a gesture that, while not undoing the hassle, did provide a sense of closure. To sum up my experience with Budget Direct: it's a mix of efficiency at the outset, frustration in the middle, and eventual relief at the conclusion. The company proved it could deliver, but the journey there was far from the straightforward path I was led to expect. It's a solid 6 out of 10 for me - they came through, but the ride was definitely bumpier than anticipated. I hope my experience is a catalyst for them to streamline their claims process and reinforce the confidence customers place in them at the outset.