Is Budget Direct car insurance good?

A good policy for you will differ to what a good policy for your friend is, because how good a policy is depends on your personal circumstances and what you need out of the policy. Budget Direct comprehensive car insurance won the 2026 Finder Award for Value because it has a similar level of coverage to other more expensive insurers but for a cheaper cost. If you're looking for a good-value policy with a nice balance of features at an affordable price, then Budget Direct may be a good car insurance option for you.

Who owns Budget Direct?

Budget Direct is underwritten by Auto & General Insurance Company Limited.

Who needs to be listed on the policy?

Any person living with you who drives the car, as well as any other regular drivers, must be included for coverage to apply.

How does choice of repairer work?

The insurer typically selects the repairer. You can nominate your own only if you have paid for this optional add-on and the quote is approved.

Budget Direct car insurance review

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Budget Direct often provides competitive pricing and was awarded for value in 2026.
Comprehensive cover includes hail alert service with optional extras like roadside assistance and choice of repairer.
While often good value, compare liability limits and personal effects cover as these vary from other providers.

Pros

Budget Direct's comprehensive car insurance policy received two 2026 Finder Awards for value and cost, as it provides a similar level of cover to other insurers but at a lower price.
You get access to its hail alert service, Hail Hero.

Cons

It's legal liability limit is $20,000,000 while some other insurers offer higher limits at $30,000,000.
Budget Direct's comprehensive policy covers personal effects Up to $500 while other insurers cover higher

"Budget Direct Car Insurance has been a great product to have for peace of mind. I have Third Party, Fire and Theft because I drive an older car (that I would replace if it were damaged or broke down) and the pricing has consistently been better than other options I've looked at. "

Taylor Blackburn

Finder crew member

Compare Budget Direct policies

Finder Score	Accidental damage	Fire and theft	Hire car after theft
9.5 Excellent Budget Direct Gold Low Kilometres Comprehensive	9.5 Excellent	Standalone	If your car is written off in the first 2 years or is under 40,000kms	Up to $1,500 - Up to 21 days	Discount: Receive 15% off your first year's premium when you purchase cover online. T&Cs apply.	Get Quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.5 Excellent Budget Direct Comprehensive Finder Award	9.5 Excellent	Standalone	If your car is written off in the first 2 years or is under 40,000kms	Up to $1,500 - Up to 21 days	Discount: Receive 15% off your first year's premium when you purchase cover online. T&Cs apply.	Summary: Budget Direct Comprehensive is highly commended as a feature-packed car insurance. It's cheaper than most, plus you can lower costs by adding age restrictions. Who it might be good for: Anyone who wants a good value policy.	Get Quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
8.6 Great Budget Direct Third Party Property, Fire and Theft	8.6 Great	Standalone		Up to $1,500 - Up to 21 days	Discount: Receive 15% off your first year's premium when you purchase cover online. T&Cs apply.	Get Quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.3 Excellent Budget Direct Third Party Property Only	9.3 Excellent	Standalone			Discount: Receive 15% off your first year's premium when you purchase cover online. T&Cs apply.	Who it might be good for: Drivers who only want cover for damage to another person’s vehicle and up to 15% off your first year.	Get Quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

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15% online discount on car insurance Receive 15% off your first year's premium when you purchase cover online. T&Cs apply. Get deal Get deal		loading Fetching your data...

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Congratulations, Budget Direct!

Budget Direct was a big winner in the 2026 Finder Awards.

Winner, Best Value Car Insurance: Budget Direct Comprehensive
Highly Commended, Best Features Car Insurance: Budget Direct Comprehensive
Winner, Best Low Cost Car Insurance: Budget Direct Comprehensive

Full list of 2026 car insurance winners

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Why choose Budget Direct car insurance?

The following features and options are available through Budget Direct car insurance:

Age-based premium tiers. You can choose from five specific age brackets (21+, 25+, 30+, 40+, or 50+) to lower the cost of your premium.
Online purchase discount. Buying a new policy through the website provides a 15% reduction on the first year's premium.
Dedicated low-kilometre policy. A specific policy option is available for vehicles driven less than 10,000km per year.
Two-year new car replacement. If your car is written off in the first 2 years or is under 40,000kms of its first registration, it is replaced with a new model.
Lifetime repair guarantee. Authorised repairs are guaranteed for as long as you remain the owner of the vehicle.
Uninsured motorist cover. Third-party policies include up to $5,000 in coverage for damage caused by an uninsured driver in a no-fault accident.

How much does Budget Direct car insurance cost?

To help give you an idea about Budget Direct car insurance costs, we gathered annual quotes across their various policy types. Just remember, prices are going to change based on things like your vehicle make, model and year, where the car is parked, driver's age, claim history and your address, so it's always worth comparing policies and getting a few quotes.

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Comprehensive annual quote	Third party fire & theft annual quote	Third party property damage annual quote
9.5 Excellent Budget Direct Gold Low Kilometres Comprehensive	$1,188.90	N/A	N/A	Get Quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.5 Excellent Budget Direct Comprehensive Finder Award	$1,212.97	N/A	N/A	Get Quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
8.6 Great Budget Direct Third Party Property, Fire and Theft	N/A	N/A	N/A	Get Quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.3 Excellent Budget Direct Third Party Property Only	N/A	N/A	$426.66	Get Quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

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To determine these insurance costs, we sourced comprehensive, third party fire and theft & third party property damage car insurance quotes for a 30-year-old male driver living in postcode 2011 (NSW). The profile used for these quotes assumes a 2020 Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport Direct Shift CVT with an annual mileage of 15,000km. We selected an excess as close to $850 as possible across all providers to ensure a fair comparison. These quotes were obtained in March 2026.

What isn't covered by a Budget Direct policy?

To ensure you know exactly what is and isn't covered, always read the product disclosure statement. The following list reflects some of the general exclusions found in the Budget Direct car insurance product disclosure statement:

Unlisted drivers
Drivers under the selected age restriction
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Unlicensed or suspended drivers
Business, commercial, or ride-sharing use

Racing, trials, or use on a racetrack
Mechanical or electrical breakdown
Wear and tear, rust, or corrosion
Unsafe or unroadworthy vehicles
Pre-existing damage

How to make an online claim

The following steps are required to submit a car insurance claim through the Budget Direct website:

Access the online portal. Sign in to the 'Policy Manager' using your policy number and personal details.
Select the claim type. Choose the category that describes the incident, such as a collision, theft, or weather damage.
Input incident details. Provide the date, time, and specific location where the event occurred.
Provide third-party details. Enter the name, address, and vehicle registration of any other involved parties.
Upload documentation. Attach digital copies of photos showing the damage and any relevant police report numbers.
Pay the excess. Complete the payment for the required excess amount as specified in your policy schedule.
Submit for assessment. Once sent, the portal provides a claim number and allows for tracking of the repair or settlement status.

FAQs about Budget Direct car insurance

A good policy for you will differ to what a good policy for your friend is, because how good a policy is depends on your personal circumstances and what you need out of the policy. Budget Direct comprehensive car insurance won the 2026 Finder Award for Value because it has a similar level of coverage to other more expensive insurers but for a cheaper cost. If you're looking for a good-value policy with a nice balance of features at an affordable price, then Budget Direct may be a good car insurance option for you.

Sources

Thank you for your feedback!

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Jason Loewenthal as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Peta Taylor

Publisher of Insurance

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Peta Taylor is a publisher at Finder, working across all of insurance. She's been analysing product disclosure statements and publishing articles for over 2 years. Peta is passionate about demystifying complex insurance products to help users make well educated decisions with confidence. Peta is part of Finder's insurance awards team and works alongside editorial and insights experts to bring users the best insurance products every year. See full bio

Co-written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise

Gary Ross has written 521 Finder guides across topics including:

Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
Managing the cost of living

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4 Responses

AniAugust 26, 2025

Can I pay premiums on a fortnightly basis?

Finder

AngusAugust 27, 2025Finder

Hi Ani, Yes, Budget Direct offers a fortnightly option. There’s a discount for annual payment, but you can choose fortnightly, monthly or annual.

MSeptember 7, 2024

Do you have any insurers that cover caravan insurance?

Thanks

Finder

SarahSeptember 9, 2024Finder

Hi MJ,

Yes, you can review some options here.

Hope this helps!

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Budget Direct car insurance review

Budget Direct is one of the best-value car insurers on the market but it's not always the cheapest.