Finder Award Winner: Budget Direct Car Insurance
Budget Direct won the 2019 Finder Award for Best Value Car Insurance because it was one of the more affordable policies on the market, whilst still providing strong coverage for your car.
Their policy boasts flood and storm cover, 24/7 phone assistance, adjustable excess, optional roadside assistance, a hire car, towing costs, and even a hail warning SMS system.
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In this guide...
What is the best car insurance?
That's a tricky one.
We hate to be those people, but there is no single best car insurance policy. It all depends on your wants and needs.
If you're driving a flashy new Mercedes, it'd be a smart idea to take out comprehensive cover as you've got a lot more to lose. Imagine writing your car off and being $100k out of pocket. Doesn't sound ideal, does it?
But if you're driving a really cheap car, third party property damage could have the cover you need as you're not paying to replace a car you (probably) wouldn't miss.
The most important thing when shopping for car insurance is to not be fooled simply by price. Sure, price is definitely a factor as you don't want to pay an arm and a leg for cover. But if you're opting for a cheaper policy, ensure it's actually got the cover you need. It'll save you more dosh in the long run, trust us.
Finder Awards 2019: Best Car Insurance
Each year we hand out an award for the Best Value Car Insurance policy in Australia. In addition to our awards, our Finder experts have scored and highlighted a range of car insurance policies they believe to be the best car insurance in various situations, including value, comprehensiveness, and service.
Keep in mind that these results are based off our methodology only, and that you should compare for yourself as your circumstances may differ.
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Best Value Car Insurance 2019: Budget Direct
The Best Value Car Insurance award recognises car insurers that offer coverage well above their price point and provide exceptional value for money. In 2019, Finder gave the award for Best Value Car Insurance to Budget Direct for its comprehensive policy.
Budget Direct took out the award for Best Value Car Insurance policy because it outperformed or equalled the cover offered by other car insurance policies in 19 of 28 key areas identified by our experts that make up our feature score.
The highlights
While the comprehensive car insurance policy from Budget Direct stood out in many ways, these are six features where it provided cover well above average:
- Access to online discounts on cover
- Adjustable excess
- Roadside assistance
- Flood and storm cover
- Being able to chat with a consultant live on its website
- 24/7 phone assistance
Along with a feature score, the Finder Awards also give a price score, which when combined give us our Finder Awards winners. The Budget Direct Comprehensive Car Insurance policy was one of the best-priced car insurance policies, meaning it provides great value for money.
Things to look out for
While this is our highest-rated car insurance policy, it does fall short in a couple of areas that might be important to you. If you're worried about cover for personal effects or your windscreen, this product provides a little less dollarwise than the average policy. You may also be more out of pocket if you want to choose your own repairer.
Runners-up
Not all policies can be winners but these two were the runners-up for the Finder Award for Best Value Car Insurance:
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Best car insurance for coverage: CGU and Bupa
If all you care about is the nuts and bolts of what's covered by your policy then this is the part of the guide for you. When rating products for the Finder Awards, 18 key areas of cover were considered, including choice of repairer, storm and flood cover, fire and theft and accidental damage. We had two policies that offered equally the best overall coverage. These were the comprehensive products from CGU and Bupa (which is a white label of the CGU policy).
For both brands, their comprehensive policies provide above-average cover in all but one area of cover (neither cover roadside assistance). Specifically, this policy provided stand-out cover for:
- Lifetime repairs guarantee
- Emergency accommodation, transport and repairs
- Windscreen cover
- Storm and flood cover
- Choice of repairer
- New car replacement
- Personal effects
- Legal liability
The downsides
As stated above, the only area where the cover provided by these two brands provides below-average coverage was for roadside assistance, as it is not covered as standard. Additionally, while it does provide a great amount of cover, both policies were on the more expensive end of the scale.
Runner-up
Best car insurance for service: Huddle
It was a tight race for which car insurer offered the best service experience. We rated policies on seven main metrics in relation to how they serviced their customers, including whether you could lodge a claim or get a quote online, if they offered an app or even if they offered instant claims approval.
While four insurers offered at least six out of the seven options, there was one crucial difference. Only one provider offered instant claims as an option, which really stood out most to us and is why we rated Huddle as the best car insurance for service.
The downsides
Huddle doesn't have an instant chat feature on its website, which is where it lost its one point in the service department. Huddle was also middle of the road for both the features covered and its price.
Runners-up
What kind of car insurance do I need?
The first step to finding the optimal car insurance policy is to work out what type of cover you need.
Compulsory third party cover: Compulsory Third Party cover, which in some states is referred to as a Green Slip, is mandatory for every driver in Australia. In some states it's built into your car registration. CTP gives other drivers on the road protection for injury or death after an accident. If you need cover for things like damage to your car, theft, or even a breakdown on the side of the road, you’ll need to look at some of the more comprehensive cover options mentioned on this page.
Best car insurance for: Everyone - it's mandatory!
Third party property damage cover: This is the most basic cover for yourself. It gives you cover for any damages you might cause to someone else's vehicle or property. It doesn't cover the expense of repairing damages to your own vehicle, but it will prevent you having to dig into your hip-pocket if you run into a neighbours fence.
Best car insurance for: Those with a cheap car that's seen better days.
Third party fire and theft cover: This type of cover protects you if your car is stolen or has fire damage. It also gives you a bunch of other benefits, such as protection against earthquakes, damage to other people's property, and a hire car, amongst others.
Best car insurance for: Those who need some cover for their vehicle, without the price tag.
Comprehensive cover: If you want the best and highest cover available, you're generally looking at a comprehensive policy. It covers you for theft, vandalism, storms, floods, hail damage, fire, key replacement, emergency accommodation and accidental damage (to name a few) - plus everything that's covered by the cheaper policies above.
Best car insurance for: Those who want the ultimate peace of mind, knowing they have the highest cover available.
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How much cover do I need?
Every driver needs third party insurance to cover their liability for damaging other people’s property. To work out whether third party insurance alone is enough, or if you need a comprehensive car insurance policy, try asking yourself the following questions:
- How old is your car? If you have an old car that's only worth a couple of thousand dollars, it may not be worth paying for comprehensive insurance.
- How often do you drive? The more you drive, the greater your risk of having an accident, so the more important comprehensive insurance becomes.
- Where do you park? If you live in a high-crime area and you park your car on the street, you may want third party fire and theft insurance, and you might want to install car security for lower premiums.
- Are you a younger driver? If you are under 25, you will pay more for your insurance, so you may want to consider getting insured through your parents or someone else.
- Has your car been modified? If you own a vintage car or you drive a modified car, you may want to look for a specialty insurer to avoid paying much higher premiums.
- Do you use your car for business or private use only? If you’re a taxi driver, you’re going to pay more because you are at greater risk due to being on the road so much. Business drivers may want to look for a specialty insurer.
- How much excess can you afford to pay? Increasing your excess will lower your premiums, but you need to be careful that you don’t increase it too much, as you’ll need to come up with the excess amount if you make a claim.
Can I cut costs without compromising on cover?
Price is important, but it isn't everything. The key is to find the cover that you want first, and then try to reduce your premiums. Here are some of the ways you can do this:
- Does the size of my car affect the cost of my insurance? Yes. Smaller and cheaper cars cost less to insure.
- Does nominating a driver affect my premium? Yes. Nominating drivers can both raise and lower your premiums depending on their age, driving record and car insurance claims history. Nominating safer drivers over the age of 25 will lower premiums, while nominating more drivers of any kind tends to lead to higher premiums.
- I don't let my kids drive the car; does that mean I can pay less for cover? Just like restricting the number of people driving your car can result in a decreased premiums, so too can restricting the age of the drivers. If your kids are under 25 it will cost a lot more to include them in your policy.
- I seldom use my car during the week, does that make a difference? If you don’t drive much, you may want to select a “Pay As You Drive” option.
- Is your car self-braking? If it is, you're in luck. Self-braking cars can reduce your annual premiums by as much as 10-15%.
- How does the excess affect how much I pay? Increasing your excess reduces your premiums because you are agreeing to pay more in the event that you make a claim.
- I've got an alarm, does that help? Yes, adding security to your vehicle such as an alarm will reduce your premiums, as does keeping it in a locked garage overnight rather than on the street.
- If I have multiple policies with one provider, shouldn't I be entitled to a discount? Yes. Packaging your insurance with one provider may result in you getting a multi-policy discount.
- I have never had an accident, can that help? Looking for a provider with a No Claims Bonus discount can help you save more. Some insurers will even recognise no claims bonuses held with other insurers so you can take this discount with you when switching car insurance.
- Should I choose market or agreed value if I want to save money? Insuring your car for market value instead of agreed value saves you money on your premiums. However, if something does happen the benefit you receive is generally lower than if you had taken out an agreed value policy.
- My partner and I share a car; whose name should be on the insurance? There are a number of factors to consider, the biggest being driving history. If only one of you has a clean record, that person will probably pay less for cover than the other. If both of you have a clean driving history, insure it under a female name if possible, as females are statistically safer drivers and typically get lower premiums. According to the NSW Centre for Road Safety, women are consistently involved in fewer car accidents than men. In 2016, men accounted for 74.6% of fatal crashes.
- I am thinking about getting a policy online, is that a good idea? Yes. Many insurers offer a discount if you buy your insurance online.
- My car is eco-friendly, does that impact my premiums? Some insurers will offer discounts for driving eco-friendly vehicles, which can be worth looking out for.
What features should I look for in a policy?
Most third party car insurance policies come with little in the way of expensive extras, making them easy to compare by price. However, if you decide on comprehensive cover there are a lot of additional options to consider. The best* policy for you should have all the extras you want, and nothing you don’t.
- Damage to your vehicle. Some comprehensive insurance policies let you choose which hazards you want to be protected against. Select the hazards that are more likely to happen, and try to exclude the ones that definitely won’t.
- Damage to other people’s property. This is the core of non-compulsory third party car insurance and typically offers up to $20 million worth of cover. It also comes with comprehensive insurance and you may be able to choose different limits for different prices.
- Roadside assistance. A lot of people are happy to pay more for this extra, but some people prefer not to. You must decide if the convenience is worth the cost.
- Choice of repairer. If you have a modified, classic, luxury or otherwise unique vehicle then this could be vital for you. More typically, however, it’s more a matter of convenience.
- Lifetime repair guarantee. Many people prefer to have repairs done by the insurance company and be guaranteed for life.
- Hire car after theft or damage. This is a common add-on recommended for people who are absolutely dependent on being able to drive and can’t rely on public transport as they wait for their car to be repaired or replaced.
- Cover for personal property. Some comprehensive policies offer limited cover for possessions store in the car, usually up to several thousands of dollars. If you normally park on the street with trade tools, electronics, jewellery or other valuables in your car then this can be a valuable. Always check personal property cover for exclusions and limits.
- Cover for baby capsules and child seats. If you don’t have children you should probably opt out of this extra.
- Change of vehicle cover. If you plan on changing cars in the near future, this is worth looking for as a way to reduce or eliminate extra fees down the line.
- Damage to your trailer or caravan. If you have a trailer or a caravan, this is recommended. As always, check the limits and exclusions to make sure you’re adequately covered.
- New-for-old replacement vehicle. If your car is written off before a certain number of years, your insurance company will replace it with a new one. If this appeals to you, look for the insurer who offers it for the most number of years (usually between one and three), but first work out whether it’s worth the cost.
- Towing and storage. If you use towing equipment and vehicle storage frequently it’s worth finding a policy to cover it.
- Recoding of remotes and locks after theft. Late model vehicles are tempting targets for thieves and they often have remote control electronic locks. Car manufacturers take advantage of this by charging substantial prices for the recoding of remotes and locks after theft, so you could save by getting a plan that covers it.
What are the best and worst cars to insure?
Some cars are cheaper to insure than others. Here are some questions to consider when shopping around for car insurance, or if you're thinking of switching to get a better deal.
- Do you drive a sports car or a high-performance vehicle? This is a red flag for insurers, as they (accurately) assume it will typically be driven faster than a standard car.
- How big is the engine? The more powerful the engine (i.e. the higher the kilowatts) the more you'll pay for your car insurance.
- Do you drive a safe car? Find out by having a look at the ANCAP safety rating of your vehicle.
- Are the parts for your car hard to come by? The more it costs to repair your car after an accident, the more risk it represents to an insurer.
- What kind of car is it? Some makes and models are statistically involved in more accidents than others. So even if you haven't been involved in an accident, the fact that you're driving that type of car means you're more of a risk and will get higher premiums.
- Do you know if your car is more likely to be stolen? Some types of cars are targeted more often by thieves because they’re easier to steal or strip for parts. These cars cost more to insure.
- Like to cruise around with the top down? It may be great in the summer, but it'll cost you. Soft tops are easier to break into and tend to need repairs at some point, so they represent a substantial risk to the insurer.
- Does your car take petrol or diesel? Diesel cars cost more to repair, so insurance is more expensive.
What is the best car insurance for those who don’t drive much?
If you’re a pensioner who doesn’t drive much anymore, or anyone else who only uses their car occasionally, Pay As You Drive is an option offered by some car insurers that rewards drivers with lower premiums if they travel less than the average 15,000 kilometres a year. If you think you qualify for this cover, it can be a good way to reduce your premiums. If you aren’t sure or you think you might be on the cusp, here are some ways to cut down on your driving time:
- Carpool several times a week
- Catch the train or bus to work
- Plan your errands for one trip per day instead of taking lots of little trips
- Take the most direct route, by distance, to your destination
What is the best car insurance for younger drivers under 25?
If you’re a young driver (under 25), or a P-plater, it can be hard to find the best* value car insurance. Due to inexperience, these groups are at higher risk of having accidents. If you’re in this demographic you will be hit with higher costs, but there are still some things you can do to reduce your premiums. These include:
- Choosing a car that’s cheaper to insure. Remember that a more expensive car not only costs more straight off the bat, but will also cost more for as long as you use it.
- Taking a defensive driving course, such as the free one offered by AAMI
- Having a consistently safe driving record, which will gradually decrease your premiums over time
- Being a nominated driver on your parents’ insurance (although this will likely increase their premium)
- Increasing your excess to an amount that’s high but affordable
What is the best car insurance after an accident?
If you’ve had an accident and made a claim, your premiums have likely increased. To keep this from getting out of hand in the future, here are some things to consider.
- Do you really have to make a claim? You might want to get quotes from mechanics before calling the insurance company. If it can be fixed for less than the excess you should not make a claim. Even if making a claim saves you money in the short term, it might be worth holding off to avoid raising premiums later on.
- You might have to adjust your coverage. If you’ve had an accident and your new premiums are breaking the bank, there are a few quick ways to potentially bump the price down. Raising your excess, reducing your limits or dropping extras can lower the price while letting you keep essential cover.
- Maximise discounts. Your safe driver no claims bonus is gone, but there are still plenty of other options. Look for Pay As You Drive options if you aren’t on the road much, multi-policy discounts from your other insurers, membership discounts or defensive driving and road safety training courses, which are recognised by insurance companies.
Best car insurance companies in Australia?
Want to find the best insurance for you? One of these car insurance companies might have the car insurance cover you're looking for. Here are some options or view more here.
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Ask an Expert
Is there ANY Car Insurance Companies that have their Call Centres in Australia?
Hi Bernadette,
Thank you for reaching out with Finder.
There may be car insurance companies where their phone support is in Australia, however, I’m afraid we don’t have a list of them. If you are wanting to get a support from Australia, you can try to politely ask if they have a support based in Australia and state your reason why you are requesting for one. But regardless wherever the phone support center is, the insurers must have trained them to provide proper assistance to users in Australia.
I hope this helps and enjoy your day!
Kind Regards,
Mai
Which is the best car insurance (comprehensive) for elderly seniors 65 retired, pensioners, who does not drive much at all , less than 5000 Kms, with best driving history, driving for the last more than 40 years. NCB – for more then 20 years
WE also want best and easy service at the time of need.
Hi David,
Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.
You may refer to this page for options that may suit your needs. You may review and compare the offers available on the table. Once you have selected one, you may proceed by clicking the green “Get Quote” button.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Danielle
If you make a claim when the incident is not your fault e.g. hail damage, do you lose your no claim bonus?
Hi David,
Thank you for your question.
finder.com.au is a comparison and information service and we are not permitted to provide our users with personalised financial advice or product recommendations.
Terms and conditions vary among different providers, you would be best if you contact the insurer directly for clarification on this matter.
All the best,
Zubair