The Finder star rating is based on 1,100+ quotes from the 2023 Finder Awards and has been calculated by our insurance experts using 2 major factors: price and features. Keep in mind, everyone's needs differ so it's always best to compare many policies and read the PDS.
Why you can trust our research
22
car insurers rated
1,182
quotes gathered
250+
hours of research
5,700
customers surveyed
Compare our car insurance award winners
Finder's insurance team gathered 1,100+ car insurance quotes from 37 of Australia's most popular car insurers. From there, we compared over 640 features and scored them to find our winners.
Want a good deal?
Budget Direct's comprehensive car insurance policy won this year's Finder Award for best value. Its coverage is similar to the 30+ competitors we analysed but Budget Direct is typically cheaper than all of them. According to our recent 2023 research, the average policy costs $1,004 per year. That's cheaper than 27 other insurers including QBE, Allianz and NRMA.
Then Youi could be the car insurer for you. It won this year's Finder Award for features because it covers more than other insurers but is still comparatively cheap. For example, it's the only car insurance provider out of 32 to automatically include roadside assistance with its comprehensive policy.
We asked over 5,700 Australians across major states to rate their current car insurance provider. Youi car insurance came in first place nationally, scoring highly for customer service, features and benefits, ease of application and value for money. An average of 92% of customers across all surveyed states said they would recommend to a friend.
With the right info to hand, comparing car insurance can be quick and easy. To get an online quote, you’ll need to know:
1. Personal details. Your name, address, gender, age. 2. Driver history. This includes how many claims you’ve made; how many demerit points you have; how long you’ve held comprehensive insurance (if at all). 3. Car details. Your vehicle’s number plate, make, model and colour; any modifications or damages (if any); how the car is used (for personal or business); the estimated kilometres you’ll drive in a year; finance details, such as a car loan or lease. 4. Insurance details. What level of cover you want; what you’re willing to pay as the excess; if you’re willing to pay for optional extras, such as roadside assistance or choice of repairer.
Why compare car insurance?
In a cost of living crisis, it pays to compare car insurance to make sure you're not paying more than you need to. Prices can differ a lot – in fact, here's a real-life example of 2 comprehensive car insurance policies that share similar features, yet are priced $245 apart.
Policy A
Policy B
Excess
$850
$800/$850
Market or Agreed value
Market value (insurer decides payout figure on date of claim)
Market value (insurer decides payout figure on date of claim)
Hire car after theft
Yes - Up to $75/day (max 14 days)
Yes - Up to $75/day (max 14 days)
New car replacement
Yes - if written off in first 2 years
Yes - if written off in first 2 years
Personal Effects
$500
$500
Roadside assistance
Optional extra (not included in this premium)
Optional extra (not included in this premium)
Average annual cost
$1,216
$971.72 ($244.28 less)
Case study: Comparing car insurance to save money
How Sarah saved $250 on her car insurance
I recently went to renew my comprehensive car insurance policy when I noticed the cost had drastically increased from $598 to $800. I decided to compare some other options and now, we've found the same level of cover with a reputable and well-known insurer for just $550. That's $250 in savings!
Need help getting your head around any car insurance terms? Find quick answers in our glossary of terms.
Don't pay the loyalty tax
A Finder survey of 933 drivers found that 55% of people have noticed an increase in their car insurance premium over the last 12 months. Compare car insurance to find a better deal.
Why you can trust Finder's car insurance experts
We're free
You pay the same as buying directly from the car insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site – plus, our tables make it easy to compare policies.
We're experts
Our team of car insurance experts have researched and rated dozens of policies as part of our Finder Awards and published 330+ guides to make it easier for you to compare.
We're independent
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of car insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2014, we've helped 300,000+ people find car insurance by explaining your cover options, simply and clearly. We'll never ask for your number or email. We're here to help you make a decision.
What is car insurance?
Car insurance is designed to protect you financially if your car is involved in an accident, is stolen, is damaged or causes damage to another person, vehicle or property.
There are 4 levels of car insurance. Compulsory third party (CTP) insurance is mandatory in Australia. This insurance only covers injuries to other people and legal costs. However, more comprehensive policies can also pay for expenses including repairs, replacement costs and third-party damage as well.
What does car insurance cover?
Your car insurance coverage will vary based on the level of cover you've purchased and who the provider is. Comprehensive car insurance is the highest level of cover and may cover you for things such as damage to your own vehicle, storm damage and theft. Third-party policies may cover you for damage to someone else's vehicle but not your own. You can use the table below to understand the different levels of cover and what may be included in each.
What's included in car insurance?
The table below outlines the differences between the 4 types of car insurance you can get in Australia.
Car insurance benefits
CTP/Green Slip
Third party property damage
Third party fire and theft
Comprehensive
Damage to your own vehicle
No
No
No
Yes
Damage to someone else's vehicle (third party property)
No
Yes (for example, up to $20 million)
Yes (for example, up to $20 million)
Yes (for example, up to $20 million)
Weather events (storm, flood, hail)
No
No
No
Yes
Theft
No
No
Yes
Yes
Hire car after theft
No
Sometimes optional
Sometimes optional
Yes (for example, $70 per day for 14 days)
Fire
No
No
Yes
Yes
Personal effects
No
No
No
Yes (for example, up to $1,000)
Emergency transport/accommodation
No
No
No
Yes (for example, $100 per day, $900 in total)
Towing
No
Sometimes optional
Sometimes optional
Yes
Key replacement
No
No
No
Yes (for example, up to $1,000)
Death benefit
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Legal liability for injuries or death to other people
I’ve used finder to compare car insurances and it saved me $30 a month! Couldn’t believe how easy it was to use and am so glad I use this app now for all my discounts!
Jacob, ACT
Finder showed me a bunch of tips that seem so simple that I never thought of, like comparing my car insurance. At the time it was the best cost but I looked again and found a better deal!
Brendan, NSW
Reviewed insurance policies for car, home & content. This helped me to save around $70 per month. Also invested money on accounts giving higher interest.
Syed, TAS
I've used the comparisons to get better car insurance and ensured my phone and NBN bills are cheaper than competitors. Even shopping for white goods, Finder has been helpful as I've recently purchased a new dryer! Thank you for all your help!
Alexis, NSW
How do the different types of car insurance compare?
This is the only level of car insurance that covers damage to your own car as well as other people's vehicles and property. Additionally, you'll be covered if your car is damaged by hail, fire or storm or if it's stolen or vandalised. It can also help pay for key replacements, a hire car if yours is stolen and more.
This covers costs if you damage someone else's vehicle or property and can pay to repair or replace your car if it's damaged by fire or stolen. However, it doesn't cover you for damage to your own car due to an accident, storm or flood.
Often called Green Slip insurance, compulsory third party is mandatory for every registered driver in Australia. In many states, it's included in your car registration. It helps cover compensation costs, such as hospital expenses, if you kill or injure someone in a car accident. It won't cover your car or someone else's car.
Good to know – if your windscreen is broken and that's the only thing that's been damaged, it's not always worth making an insurance claim. This is because your excess is usually more than the cost of the repairs. To avoid this, lots of insurers let you upgrade your cover to include no-excess windscreen cover. It'll usually cost you a couple more bucks a month which is substantially cheaper than paying for the repairs yourself.
Before you look for car insurance, think about how you'd manage financially if you were in a car accident. Could you afford the repairs to your car? If the answer is no, a comprehensive policy can give you invaluable peace of mind. Just like you can buy different brands of toothpaste and get a similar product at different price points, car insurance premiums vary widely. When I shopped around last year, I found similar coverage for $500–$800! It definitely pays to shop around.
Even during the cost of living crisis, I wouldn’t go below a comprehensive policy. I can’t stomach the idea of driving around knowing I’m not covered for damages to my own car. In any case, bare-bones policies aren’t always the cheapest. I ran a set of quotes recently and saw my insurer offered me a lower price for third party, fire & theft versus a third party only policy. Insurance can throw up quirks like this – that's why it is important to compare regularly.
If you don't use your car that often, it can be much cheaper to get pay-as-you-drive car insurance. Alternatively, some insurers, including Budget Direct,Youi and Woolworths, reward you with cheaper premiums the less you drive. For example, if you drive less than 5,000km per year, you could save over $300 annually.
Take advantage of sign-up offers
Insurers including Budget Direct and Everyday will knock 15% off your car insurance costs in the first year. Don't set and forget though. You can save by doing the same again the following year.
Opt for fewer features
If you're after a cheap car insurance policy that covers the essentials, opt for a budget insurer like Bingle. Other insurers cost more because they come with additional benefits such as cover for stolen keys, cover for personal belongings and cover for a hire car if yours is stolen.
Increase your excess
You have to pay an excess when you make a claim. Choosing a higher excess when you get a quote will lower your car insurance premiums. However, it can make claiming for smaller events pointless – for example, if you have around $1,000 worth of damage but need to pay a $1,000 excess.
Pay annually
Most insurers will charge you at least $200 less if you are able to pay for the full year instead of monthly.
Compare car insurance by state
Finder sourced 1000+ quotes across over 30 different providers to help you compare car insurance in your state. The providers listed in the table below were the top 5 cheapest of the providers researched and reflect the estimated annual cost based on the profile used. Keep in mind, your own cost will vary depending on your personal circumstances and it's always best to compare a range of providers.
We didn't include quotes for NT and ACT because the sample size was too small.
To determine these average costs for NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC and WA, we sourced over 1,000 quotes from 30+ policies using 36 driver profiles across different ages, genders and locations. The pricing above reflects the average of these per state. We have displayed the top 5 cheapest providers for the state, as per the research. Please note, while we’ve tried to include as many providers as possible, this is not a full market comparison. Read more about Finder's car insurance methodology.
Your cost will differ depending on your circumstances. Some things that can affect the cost of your quote include your gender, the type of car you drive, the colour of the car, how long you have been driving and the amount of cover you need.
Be sure to read the product disclosure statement (PDS) to find cover that suits you.
Frequently asked questions
According to the 2023 Finder Awards, Budget Direct is the best car insurance for value and Youi is the best for features. To find this, our experts analysed over 30 different car insurance policies, compared 640 features and got over 1,000 quotes.
According to Finder’s research of over 30 providers, Bingle offers the cheapest car insurance on average. A comprehensive car insurance policy from Bingle can start from $767. It can be cheaper or more expensive based on what state you live in.
According to 2023 Finder research, on average, the cheapest comprehensive car insurance policy costs around $767 annually and the most expensive costs $2,223 – that’s a difference of over $1400.
For a cheaper alternative with less coverage, drivers can opt for third party fire and theft insurance or third party property damage car insurance. However, neither of these will cover damage to your own car if you’re involved in an accident.
When purchasing comprehensive car insurance, the PDS will outline which features are included in your policy and which are available as optional extras. See below for a list of features that are typically included and which will need to be purchased as an extra.
Typically included in your comprehensive policy:
Hire car after theft. Most insurers will cover costs for a hire car (for example, around $50 per day) if your vehicle is stolen. 2023 Finder research shows that Bingle is one of the only insurers to not include this as standard in their comprehensive policy.
New car replacement if written off within a certain timeframe or mileage limit. For example, if your car is written off within the first 2 years of its manufacture or has less than 15,000kms on the odometer, then your car insurer will provide you with a new replacement.
Weather events. Your car is insured for damage as a result of fires, storms or floods.
Towing. Our research of over 30 providers indicates all comprehensive policies include towing in their coverage.
Legal liability. All comprehensive policies include this but the amount can vary. For example, Youi will cover up to $20 million in legal liability and Kogan will cover up to $30 million.
Typically offered as a paid extra:
Choice of repairer. If you’d like to choose where your car is repaired after an insured event then you can pay to pick the repairer rather than have your insurer allocate you one. This is handy if you have a modified or classic car and only work with mechanics you know or trust.
Roadside assistance. Our research showed Youi is the only provider to include roadside assistance as part of its comprehensive policy. For all other providers, roadside assistance is a separate product you will need to purchase in addition to car insurance.
Windscreen damage. Windscreen repairs often cost around the same as paying your excess which can make claiming pointless, so some insurers will offer a no excess windscreen option. This is where you pay a slightly higher premium upfront but don’t need to pay an excess when you make a windscreen damage claim.
Hire car after accident. This is an optional extra but almost all policies have parameters around it. For example, the hire car must not exceed a cost of $75 per day. This limit varies by insurer.
Market value is a figure based on what your insurer estimates your car is worth, while an agreed value is a specific amount you and your insurer agree on. There's less risk you will be underinsured and out of pocket with agreed value (if you agree to a higher amount) but your premiums may cost more.
Generally, learner drivers will be included under your insurance. However, they may have to pay a larger excess if they have an accident. Remember, a fully licensed driver must be in the passenger seat as an instructor whenever a learner driver is in control of a vehicle.
P-platers can be added as an additional driver to your insurance as long as they drive less than you. Otherwise, they'll need to buy their own car insurance policy.
No. Your car insurance won't cover you if you drive another person's vehicle. It only applies to the car listed on the insurance policy.
No. Car hire companies will typically offer insurance that covers their vehicles, but your standard car insurance policy will not cover you if you damage a hire car while driving it.
Yes, it's highly likely your premium will go up if you make a claim on your car insurance policy.
If your car has been written off in an insured event, then you will receive the market value amount or the agreed value amount that’s outlined in your policy. Some comprehensive policies will replace your car with a new vehicle if your car was declared a write-off within the first 2 years of its first registration or within a certain amount of kilometres.
Car insurance: Key terms to know
Here's a summary of common definitions you'll see with car insurance. Plus what they actually mean to help you while you're comparing.
Policy term
Definition
Good to know
Agreed value
You agree with an insurer on how much your car is covered for before you buy a policy.
There's more certainty on exactly how much you're insured for. But you're likely to pay more for the privilege. If car prices are rising, agreed value may still be short of the total cost of replacing your car.
Baby capsule/child seat cover
An insurer replaces a damaged or stolen child seat or baby capsule in your car, resulting from the claimable event.
A payout limit, usually around $500, will be set by an insurer.
Choice of repairer
You can choose your own licenced repairer after an accident.
In most cases, this benefit needs to be added to a comprehensive policy for a fee.
Cover for drivers under 25 years old
Whether you want insurance for an additional driver under the age of 25.
Be sure to shop around for cheaper deals available each year as you get older and gain more driving experience.
Emergency accommodation
An insurer pays for the cost of your temporary accommodation if your car can't be driven safely and you can't be taken back to your home.
This benefit is often included in comprehensive policies. You may find it in some third party property, fire and theft policies.
Emergency repairs
Protection if you need repairs to drive your car from the scene of an accident. For example, if your headlight is broken.
Insurers tend to cover emergency repairs in comprehensive policies with a payout limit of around $500.
Emergency transport
An insurer pays for you and your passengers to be taken to the address where the car is normally kept at night if your car can't be driven safely.
This benefit is often included in comprehensive policies. You may find it in some third party property, fire and theft policies.
Flexible excess options
This policy feature lets you adjust the excess on your car insurance policy. An excess is the amount you need to pay upfront to make a claim.
Policies tend to split their excesses as follows: a basic excess and an under-25 driver excess.
Flood cover
A policy benefit that covers flood water damage.
Driving through flood water is likely to be seen as reckless behaviour by an insurer. It means they may refuse your claim.
Hire car
Your insurer sorts out a temporary replacement car for you. Or, it pays costs for you to hire one. In this case, the insurer pays up to a daily hire amount such as $70 or $90 for up to 30 days.
A comprehensive policy usually includes car hire cover if your car is stolen. But you'll often pay extra if you want cover for an accident as well, regardless of whether it is your fault.
Key replacement
A policy feature that pays costs for the replacement of your keys if they are lost or stolen. It also covers the recoding of locks on your car.
Cover for lost or stolen keys is included in some comprehensive policies. It usually pays up to $1,000.
Legal liability
Cover in case you get sued as a result of injury or damage you cause to people or their property.
Most insurers pay up to $20 million in legal liability cover.
Lifetime guarantee on authorised repairs
If your vehicle is damaged following an accident, a lifetime guarantee means you don't have to sort out the repairs yourself. Your insurer will make the arrangements for you.
You will most likely find it included in a comprehensive policy. It doesn't usually come as an optional add-on.
Market value
Your insurer estimates what your car was worth right before a claim.
Premiums tend to be cheaper if your car is insured under its market value. In general, there's a higher chance you'll be underinsured.
Multi-policy discount
A discount an insurer offers you if you hold at least one other policy with them.
Savings usually range from 5–25%. But it isn't always the case you'll get cheaper cover if you hold multiple policies with the same insurer.
New car replacement
If your new car is written off within 2 years of you buying it, new car replacement can reimburse you with a new one.
Conditions and limits apply with new car replacement. For example, many insurers will only replace a new car if it has fewer than 40,000km on the clock.
No claim discount
A discount you get on your car insurance premium for each year that you don't make a claim. It's also known as a no claim bonus.
Your discount can be as high as 15% if you have no at-fault claims for 5 years.
Pay as you drive
An insurer calculates your premium based on the kilometres you actually drive.
If you're on the road a lot less than in previous years, you could access cheaper premiums with a pay-as-you-drive provider.
Pay monthly at no extra cost
You can make payments each month, rather than annually, at no extra cost.
Only a few insurers in Australia won't charge you more by paying monthly. So, you can often save by paying your whole premium in one go (if you can afford it).
Storms
Storm damage can include thunderstorms, lightning, hail, snow, rainwater runoff and storm surges.
In an insurer's eyes, rain showers on their own aren't usually classed as a storm.
Towing
An insurer pays for your car to be taken to a mechanic – or a safe place nearby – after an accident (up to a certain distance).
Reasonable towing costs are covered by most comprehensive policies. You won't always be covered on more basic types of insurance. In which case, you'll need to pay a company to tow your vehicle.
Trailer cover
A policy benefit that covers a trailer attached to or being towed by your car.
Most insurers won't pay out if a trailer is owned by someone else. Also, they don't typically cover a trailer's contents.
Weather events
Covered events can include cyclones, earthquakes, bushfires, storms, floods and hail.
Many comprehensive car insurance policies let you claim for hail damage. Be aware there's usually a waiting period of a few days before you can claim for storms, bushfires, floods or cyclones.
Windscreen cover
With windscreen cover in place, your excess gets waived so you're not out of pocket if your car window gets damaged.
You can add excess-free windscreen cover to a comprehensive car insurance policy. This could save you hundreds of dollars if you need to replace your windscreen, which can otherwise cost as much as $1,000.
Partner repairer
Your insurer will send your car to a repairer that they have an agreement with. This is sometimes called "preferred repairer".
Keep in mind a partner repairer may not be close to where you live, and they won't necessarily have expertise in repairing your specific vehicle.
Personal effects
Cover for your personal belongings if they are stolen or damaged. Personal effects are generally defined as things you can wear or carry such as clothes, laptops and headphones.
Keep an eye on the cover limit per incident. It's often about $500. Also, some insurers include baby capsules as part of their list of personal effects covers.
Roadside assistance
A type of insurance that protects you if you get stranded because of an issue with your car. It's also known as breakdown cover.
You can add roadside assistance to some car insurance policies; there are very few insurers who'll include it automatically. A roadside assistance callout won't count as a claim.
Underwriter
The company that assesses the risk of providing you with insurance.
Examples of underwriters in Australia include Youi Pty Ltd, Insurance Australia Limited, AAI Limited and The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd.
Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
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