There's a reason why Budget Direct is constantly winning awards for its car insurance.
Through a smarter questionnaire, Budget Direct is able to identify safer drivers and offer them cheaper premiums. You can also get access to its hail alert service, Hail Hero. Read on to learn more about its policies and to find one that suits your needs.
Finder’s 3 favourite features
It's won multiple Money Magazine awards for Insurer of the Year and Cheapest Car Insurance
Save 15% when you buy online.
Access to its hail alert service, Hail Hero, so your car is never stuck in a storm.
Budget Direct has a range of options that let you tailor your car insurance policy so that it gives you all the cover you need at a price you can afford. To find out exactly what’s covered in each policy, check out the Product Disclosure Statement. Following are the policies that Budget Direct provide:
Cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle following an accident, regardless of who's at fault
Accidental damage you cause to other people's property, including their car and home (legal liability cover)
Damage to your car as a result of storms, floods, hail, attempted theft or a malicious act
Loss of or damage to your vehicle due to fire or theft
Optional new for old replacement if your car is written off in the first two years or under 40,000 kms
Hire car following theft to a maximum of $1,000 over 14 days
Damage to your trailer (but not its contents)
Replacement of your keys if they are stolen
Emergency transport home or temporary accommodation
Damage to personal effects in the car at the time of collision
Damage to child seats or capsules in the car at the time of collision
Reasonable cost of recovery, towing, and storage if your car's unsafe to drive
Optional no claim discount protection
Optional windscreen excess reduction
Optional roadside assistance
Gold Third Party Fire and Theft
Budget Direct also have a Third Party Property cover which includes:
Legal liability cover to $20 million
Damage to your car as a result of theft or fire
Loss of or damage to your vehicle due to fire or theft
Uninsured motorist damage up to $5,000
Hire car following theft to a maximum of $1,000 over 14 days
21-day money back guarantee (as long as you haven't made a claim)
Flexible payment options
After-hours claims helpline
Lifetime guarantee on authorised repairs
Gold Third Party
Third Party Cover will provide protection for:
Uninsured motorist damage up to $5,000
Legal liability cover up to $20 million
21 day cooling off period (as long as you haven't made a claim)
Flexible payment options
After-hours claims helpline
How do policy features compare?
Benefit
Comprehensive
Third Party Fire & Theft
Third Party
Loss of or damage to your vehicle
Yes
Yes
No
New car replacement
Yes
No
No
Damage to someone else’s vehicle
Yes
Yes
Yes
Legal liability
$20 million
$20 million
$20 million
Damage by an uninsured driver
Yes
$3,000
$3,000
Damage to your caravan or trailer in a collision
$1,000
No
No
Hire car following theft
$1,000
$1,000
No
Replacement keys/remote
$1,000
No
No
Emergency transport and overnight accommodation
$100/day
No
No
Theft of or damage to personal effects in car
$500
No
No
Damage to or theft of child seats/baby capsule in your car
$500
No
No
Accident clean-up
$500
$500
$500
Death benefit
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
No excess payable when third party is identified and at fault
Yes
Yes
Yes
No claim discount preserved when third party is identified and at fault
Yes
No
No
Repairs guaranteed for as long as you own the car
Yes
Yes
Yes
Security device discount
Yes
Yes
No
Fortnightly, monthly or yearly premium payments
Yes
Yes
Yes
24/7 claims service
Yes
Yes
Yes
Online discount
Yes
No
No
Hire car following a no fault accident
Yes
No
No
Reduced window glass excess
Optional
No
No
No claim discount protection
Optional
No
No
Higher excess to reduce premium
Optional
No
No
Restricted driver discount
Optional
Optional
Optional
Why go with Budget Direct?
15% discount for existing Budget direct customers that add a new comprehensive car policy only using the Budget Direct policy manager
15% discount if you purchase a comprehensive, third party property or third party fire and theft car insurance policy online
24-hour helpline to assist with your claim
21-day money back guarantee
Lifetime guarantee on repairs
Access to 'Hail Hero', the award winning hail alert service
Choose fortnightly, monthly or annual payments
Direct Debit, Credit Card and PayPal payment options available
New-for-Old replacement policy available
What are the benefits of Budget Direct?
This section will discuss the different benefits available on Budget Direct Car Insurance policies.
Cover for your car
The following cover will be provided under the comprehensive policy
Damage to the car. If your car is accidentally damaged, Budget Direct will pay up to the maximum amount stated on the insurance certificate. Budget Direct will also pay the reasonable cost of recovery, towing and storage of the car if it was unsafe to drive as a result of the damage.
Personal effects. In the event of a collision involving the car, Budget Direct will pay for damage to personal effects which were in the car at the time of the collision.
Replacement Keys. If the remote locking device or keys to the car are stolen and not covered, Budget Direct will pay up to a maximum of the amount shown in Part B to replace them and recode the locks. Budget Direct will only pay if you have reported the theft to the police.
Trailer. In the event of a collision where the car is towing a trailer that belongs to you, Budget Direct will pay for damage to the trailer but will not cover the contents within the trailer.
Emergency transport and accommodation. If Budget Direct pay a claim for damage to the car, Budget Direct will also pay for the driver and occupants to be transported to the address where the car is normally kept at night or, where transport is unavailable, Budget Direct will pay for the cost of temporary accommodation.
New car replacement. If you purchased a new car and it becomes a total loss in the earlier of 2 years or 40,000 km, Budget Direct will replace it with a new car of the same make, model and specification if available locally. Budget Direct will also pay the first 12 months registration and compulsory third party insurance.
Damage to other people’s property
You are covered for the following events for all types of cover including third party property only.
Budget Direct will cover your legal liability for accidental damage caused by use of the car, substitute car, or a trailer or caravan attached to it. The maximum Budget Direct will pay for the total of all liability claims against them arising from one event is $20 million.
Budget Direct will extend this cover to other licensed drivers permitted by this policy and using the car with your consent, to any passenger in the car, and to your employer, principal or business partner if you are insured for business use.
The company will also pay for legal costs if Budget Direct agree to pay your liability claim and instruct its lawyers to act in connection with the claim.
Fire and theft cover for your car
This section applies only if the type of cover shown on your insurance certificate is ‘comprehensive’ or ‘third party fire and theft’. You are covered for the following events:
Loss or damage to the car. If the car is stolen or catches fire, Budget Direct will pay the maximum of the amount shown on the insurance certificate. Budget Direct will also pay the reasonable cost of recovery, towing and storage of the car if it was unsafe to drive as a result of the damage.
Hire car after theft. If Budget Direct pay a claim for theft of the car, it will also reimburse your reasonable cost of hiring a similar car until the car is recovered, your claim is paid, or for a maximum period of 14 days, whichever occurs first.
What additional cover options are available?
Looking to tailor your cover further? These smart options might spark your interest.
Restricted driver discounts. Receive a discount on your premium by restricting the youngest driver of your car. You can choose to restrict the youngest driver age to either 21, 25, 30 or 40
Roadside assistance. Don't want to be stranded on the side of the road with a flat battery or tyre? You might want to take out roadside assistance cover.
Hire car. Get your hire car costs reimbursed if your car is stolen or in an accident.
Windscreen excess reduction. Choose to reduce your windscreen excess by adjusting your premium.
General exclusions to be aware of
Budget Direct car insurance will not pay if your claims arises from:
Your car was being driven by any household member not listed on your certificate of insurance
Your car was being driven by anyone specifically excluded from cover
It is for loss or damage arising from the attempted theft of your vehicle
It is for loss or damage caused by storm, flood, vandalism and accidental damage (these events are covered by comprehensive car insurance)
Your car was being used for any unlawful purpose
Your car was being used in racing, trials or rallies
Your car was being used in connection with the motor trade (except for repairing or servicing)
Your car was being used to carry passengers or other people’s goods for payment
Your car was being driven by someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Your car was being driven in an unsafe, unroadworthy or overloaded condition
Your car was being used to carry explosive, flammable or toxic goods either unlawfully or for business purposes
You don’t go with the car when it is shown for sale and it is stolen
It is for tyre damage caused by punctures, bursts or cuts
The person driving your vehicle did not stay at the scene of an accident when they were required by law to do so
It is for any reduction in the value of your car following repair
It is for any consequential loss
It is caused by wear and tear, abuse, corrosion, rust or depreciation
It is caused by mechanical, structural or electrical malfunction, breakdown or failure
It arises due to an incident that occurs outside Australia
It is for loss, damage or liability that is deliberately caused by any insured person, or anyone acting on their behalf
It is caused by the lawful repossession or confiscation of your vehicle
Your car has been modified without the insurer’s agreement
Budget Direct is one of the leading general insurance brand in Australia. The company is a division of the Budget Insurance group, which was established in the 1970s. Its headquarters are in Brisbane, Australia.
Its car and home insurance are underwritten by Auto and General Insurance Company Ltd, which is an Australian insurance company and is a member of the Insurance Council of Australia. Budget Direct are part of the international Budget Insurance group, which provides insurance solutions for millions of policyholders worldwide. The group includes one of the largest direct personal lines insurers in South Africa, and one of the largest personal lines insurance intermediaries in the United Kingdom.
Budget Direct provides its customers with great deals on a number of different types of cover. Over three million policies are held globally and the company has a wide range of insurance products which comprise car, home and contents, travel, life, personal accident and pet insurance. Budget Direct also provides standalone roadside assistance.
How to cancel Budget Direct car insurance
You can cancel your Budget Direct car insurance policy by calling 1300 306 560. You won't have to pay a cancellation fee if you cancel your policy within 21 days of buying or renewing the policy, so long as you have not made any claims, if you pay your premiums in instalments or if you decline Budget Direct's annual offer to renew your policy.
Don't miss out on a better deal next time round. Compare providers to find your new car insurer.
Willam Eve is the country manager for Finder's Canada operations. He has previously held the positions of group publisher of insurance for Finder Australia and lead publisher for the Finder global team. William has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. He loves the challenge of launching Finder into new markets while helping grow Finder’s global team.
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