Budget Direct vs NRMA Car Insurance

Budget Direct and NRMA car insurance might have lots of reasons to sign up with them, but our guide is here to help you easily identify the features that matter to you.

In terms of savings, Budget Direct offers affordable comprehensive coverage that includes driver-age restrictions and low kilometres discounts to help lower your premiums. NRMA, on the other hand, are a well-known brand that includes services such as 'tools of trade' cover and hire car following an incident. They've also got a reputable roadside assistance service.

What differences are there between Budget Direct car insurance and NRMA?

Here are some of the main differences between Budget Direct car insurance and NRMA car insurance:

• NRMA's top tier policy comes with a hire car for more scenarios. If you have NRMA's comprehensive plus policy, you'll get a hire car if an incident occurs, which includes a not at fault collision or crash and after theft or attempted theft. While a hire car following theft is covered with Budget Direct's comprehensive policy, accident hire car is an optional extra.
• Personal items are covered, with caveats for both. NRMA will pay up to $500 in total to repair or replace your personal items if they're stolen from your car. Excluded items include mobiles phones and cash. Budget Direct does not specify that mobile phones are excluded. They will cover you for up to $500 and also up to Yes - $500 for child seats or capsules while in the car. Baby seat replacement is covered separately under 'baby capsules and child seats' with NRMA.
• Tradespeople might consider NRMA. 'Tools of trade' cover can be found with both NRMA comprehensive policies, with up to $1,500 for certain items.
• NRMA gives more emergency assistance. NRMA can organise accommodation and a hire car for you or make travel arrangements if you are more than 100km away. Budget Direct don't state how they'll cover you for this.

How do both brands compare?

	Budget Direct Comprehensive	NRMA Comprehensive
Underwriter	Auto & General Insurance Company Ltd	Insurance Australia Limited
Accidental Damage
Damage to other people's car
Bonuses	15% online discount	No
Roadside assistance	Optional	Optional
Agreed or market value	Agreed or Market	Agreed or Market
Choice of repairer	Optional	Optional
Legal liability	Yes - $20,000,000	Yes - $20,000,000
Fire and theft
Storm
Flood
Hire car after theft	Yes - Up to $1,000 - Up to 14 days	Yes - Up to $75 per day - Up to 21 days
Hire car after no fault accident
Hire car after at fault accident	Optional - Up to $75 per day - Up to 14 days	Optional - Up to $75 per day - Up to 14 days
Emergency repairs	Yes - $500	Yes - $800
Emergency travel and accommodation costs	Yes - $1,000	Yes - $1,000
New car replacement	2 year	2 years
Personal effects/property	$500	$500
Locks and keys replacement	Yes - $1,000	Yes - $1,000
Emergency repairs
Towing
Trailer cover	$1,000	$1,000
Important	Limits, exclusions and terms and conditions apply. Read the Product Disclosure Statement.	Limits, exclusions and terms and conditions apply. Read the Product Disclosure Statement.
	Get quote	More info

What benefits do Budget Direct and NRMA car insurance offer?

Both Budget Direct and NRMA offer several benefits with their car insurance policies. Listed below are some of the main perks:

• Driver-age restriction. To lower your premiums as much as possible, Budget Direct allow you to restrict your policy to drivers over a certain age, including drivers aged 21+, 25+, 30+, 40+ or 50+.
• Low kilometres policy. Budget Direct offers a gold low kilometre comprehensive policy to those who drive less than 10,000kms per year. Typically, driving less attracts a lower premium.
• No excess for glass damage. NRMA will allow you to add an option to avoid paying an excess when you claim for glass damage (like your windscreen) only. Budget Direct offers a reduced window glass excess as an optional extra.
• No Claim Bonus protection. With NRMA, you can add an option that allows you to make one claim per year that's your fault without reducing your No Claim Bonus.
• New car replacement. If you purchased a new car and it becomes a total loss in less than 2 years, Budget Direct and NRMA will replace it with a new car wherever possible. This also applies to Budget Direct policies if your car has been driven 40,000 km or less. They will also both pay the first 12 months of registration.
• Online Discounts. Get a 15% online discount on your first year's premium for comprehensive car insurance when you sign up online with Budget Direct.
• Hail alert service. Budget Direct provides a hail alert service called Hail Hero which is available when you sign up to any policy.

Who is the underwriter for NRMA and Budget Direct?

NRMA is underwritten by Insurance Australia Limited. IAG's businesses underwrite nearly $12 billion of premium per annum. CGU, SGIO, SGIC, Swann Insurance and WFI (Australia); and NZI, State, AMI and Lumley Insurance (New Zealand) are also part of IAG's portfolio. They also operate in Malaysia and India and were given a 'AA-' rating for Insurer Financial Strength by Standard & Poor's.

Budget Direct's car insurance policies are underwritten by Auto & General Insurance Company Ltd. They are part of the international BHL group who provide insurance for brands including ING, Virgin, Aus Post and Ozicare.

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