Cheap car insurance Australia September 2026

Price

Finder Award

Budget Direct Comprehensive

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2026 Finder Award winner

Customer satisfaction

Finder Award

Youi Comprehensive

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2026 Finder Customer Satisfaction Award

Young drivers

ROLLiN' Comprehensive

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No added excess for under-25s

Treat your car to the cover it deserves, without the massive price tag.

Finding the cheapest car insurance for you will depend on your personal circumstances and the level of cover you're after. Our experts have chosen a bunch of picks that will be great for a range of people, but these should only be used as a guide. You should always read the product disclosure statement (PDS) to know which car insurance is a good fit for you and your budget.

Cheap car insurance in September 2026

• Cheapest car insurance: Budget Direct Comprehensive
• Cheap car insurance with great customer service: Youi Comprehensive
• Cheap car insurance for young drivers: ROLLiN' Comprehensive

Finder Score	Roadside Assistance	Accidental damage	Agreed or market value
Cheapest car insurance
9.5 Excellent Budget Direct Comprehensive Finder Award	9.5 Excellent	Standalone		Agreed or Market	Discount: Receive 15% off your first year's premium when you purchase cover online. T&Cs apply.	Get Quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it For the 2026 Finder Awards, our judges believed Budget Direct offered one of the cheapest comprehensive policies in the market. Because of this, it won the 2026 Finder Car Insurance Award for Low Cost car insurance. Pros & cons Pros Customers receive a similar level of cover to other insurers but at a lower price point. 15% off your first year premium just by signing up online. Cons Limited cover for personal effects. Lower liability limit than other insurers.
Cheap car insurance with great customer service
9.2 Excellent Youi Comprehensive Finder Award	9.2 Excellent			Agreed or Market	Get Quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it We picked Youi Comprehensive car insurance as our top pick for cheap insurance with good customer service because that's exactly what it offers. While it's not the cheapest on the market, it's a great option for those who are budget conscious, want decent coverage and care about customer service. Our own team has had plenty of luck getting a cheaper quote simply just by asking, so don't always accept the first quote you get from them! Pros & cons Pros Back to back Finder Customer Satisfaction Award winner. It offers more than most – for example, it automatically includes roadside assistance. Other major insurers do not. Youi customers rated the insurer 4.38/5 . It scored particularly well for customer service. 93% of those surveyed said they'd recommend Youi to a friend. Cons You can start your quote online but need to finish it with a phone call, which isn't ideal if you want an all-online experience. Pro tip: avoid the phone call by getting your quote on a Sunday. Youi roadside assistance only covers the first 2 call-outs in a year. If you don't press them for a cheaper quote, your initial quote can come out quite expensive.
Cheap car insurance for young drivers
8.7 Great ROLLiN' Comprehensive	8.7 Great			Agreed	Get Quote View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it ROLLiN' car insurance is a great option for those who want flexible and affordable car insurance that still includes a good level of coverage. It was the second cheapest provider on average according to our research. ROLLiN' won't hit you with an additional excess based on your age – you'll just pay $800 per named driver. This isn't standard. For example, Bingle charges an extra age excess of $600 if the driver is under 25 years old. Pros & cons Pros ROLLiN' offers agreed value cover, giving you more control when it comes to your payout if your car's written off. There is no exit fee if you choose to cancel your policy. Other providers charge a fee of around $40. Cons Every month, your premium is recalculated and renewed. This means it can increase or decrease from month to month with no indication of what your next bill will look like. With ROLLiN', there's no cover for personal items (such as your phone or laptop) if they're damaged or stolen. Most other insurers offer personal effects cover of up to $500, $700 or $1,000. Unlisted drivers need to pay a $3,000 excess.

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While traditional insurers like NRMA and Suncorp maintain large repair networks, low cost challengers such as Bingle, ROLLiN' and ALDI Insurance often provide lower premiums by operating primarily online and offering fewer automatic inclusions. Bingle, for instance, focuses on "no frills" cover for safe drivers, whereas ALDI Insurance leverages its retail brand to offer competitive pricing for standard vehicles. Youi distinguishes itself by providing tailored premiums based on specific driving habits, which can lead to lower costs for low mileage drivers compared to traditional flat rate providers.

Cheap car insurance

Comprehensive car insurance is the only level of cover that protects your car as well as others. Prices start from around $947 per year, according to Finder research. For a state-by-state breakdown of the cheapest comprehensive policies we found, see the table further below.

Cheap car insurance in your state

In this table we've listed the 5 cheapest comprehensive plans we received quotes for across three states. Remember your own cost will vary depending on your personal circumstances and it's always best to compare a range of providers.

• How we got these costs

  We sourced comprehensive car insurance quotes for a 30-year-old male driver living in postcode 2011 (NSW), 3006 (VIC) and 4005 (QLD). 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.

Tips for finding cheap car insurance

• Compare online. Loyalty doesn't pay with car insurance – the best value policy today might be more expensive when it renews next year. Shop around and you could save hundreds of dollars.
• Restrict drivers. Choosing not to let drivers under 25 drive your car can lead to a premium saving.
• Choose a higher excess. You'll have to pay more upfront to make a claim, but taking a higher excess will lower your regular premiums.
• Pay annually. Some car insurers offer discounts if you're able to pay your annual premium upfront rather than in monthly instalments.

"When I got my renewal notice, my car insurance premium was due to increase by 21%. I got quotes from 5 other providers and then called my existing provider to let them know I was thinking of switching. They immediately knocked about $200 off the renewal cost and became the cheapest provider of those I'd researched. Not only did I get a cheaper deal, I got to stay with the insurer of my preference and didn't have to compromise on any features."

Peta Taylor

Associate publisher

Guide to insurance types

Choosing the right level of cover is essential for balancing cost and protection. The following hierarchy outlines the three main types of voluntary car insurance available in Australia:

• Comprehensive Insurance: This is the highest level of cover. It protects your car against accidental damage, theft, fire, and weather events, while also covering your legal liability for damage you cause to other people's property (usually up to $20 million).
• Third Party Fire and Theft: This mid level option provides the same legal liability protection as the basic tier but adds cover for your own vehicle if it is stolen or damaged by fire.
• Third Party Property Damage: This is generally the most affordable option. It only covers the damage you cause to other people's cars or property. It does not cover repairs to your own car if you are at fault in an accident.

Technical terminology guide

Understanding industry terms can help you avoid unexpected costs at claim time:

• Market Value vs Agreed Value: Market value is what your car is worth on the open market at the time of the claim, whereas agreed value is a fixed sum you and the insurer set when the policy starts. Agreed value offers more certainty but usually requires a higher premium.
• Voluntary Excess: This is an additional amount you agree to pay on top of your basic excess in exchange for a lower monthly or annual premium. It is a useful tool for safe drivers to reduce their ongoing costs.
• No Claim Bonus Protection: Some insurers allow you to pay an extra fee to protect your rating. This ensures that one at fault accident does not automatically reduce your hard earned discount.

Frequently asked questions

• What's the cheapest type of car insurance?

  Third party property damage car insurance is generally the cheapest type of car insurance.

• Can I adjust my cover later if I buy cheap car insurance now?

  Generally, yes. If you buy a cheaper, more simple car insurance policy for your needs now, you can typically adjust it to include more thorough coverage later. Many comprehensive policies will allow you to add further coverage later as needed.

• What's the cheapest comprehensive car insurance?

  According to the 2026 Finder Awards, Budget Direct offers the cheapest comprehensive car insurance. Keep in mind, the cost of your policy will differ depending on your own circumstances and this should be used as a guide only.

• Who has the cheapest car insurance?

  Based on Finder's 2026 Awards research, Budget Direct, ING, Coles, Bingle, Ozicare and Qantas offer some of the best value car insurance policies in Australia.

• How does age impact the cost of car insurance?

  Younger drivers will generally pay more for car insurance than older drivers. That's because insurers see young drivers as being more likely to have an accident due to having less driving experience. This means, in an insurer's eyes, there's a higher likelihood of those under 25 having to make a claim on their policy.

• What is the cheapest car insurance for a young driver?

  Young drivers who are on their p-plates and those under 25 can choose from a range of third party or comprehensive policies. Our research suggests that RoLLiN' car insurance is particularly good for younger drivers as it does not have an age excess as many other insurers do.

• How much does CTP insurance cost?

  Compulsory third party (CTP) car insurance is priced differently by each state and territory scheme, and depends on your vehicle's class and your driving record, rather than your car's make or model.

  CTP insurance, which is legally required to register a car in Australia, protects you from legal costs that result from injuries and deaths suffered on the road. It doesn't cover any kind of vehicle damage or damage to any other type of property.

• Is there cheap car insurance for Uber and other rideshare drivers?

  A really good option for finding cheap cover is to compare a range of policies that offer rideshare insurance. Keep in mind that not all car insurance providers offer rideshare cover while some will only offer a rideshare extension on their comprehensive plans.

  As with any car insurance, your ability to find the cheapest cover differs depending on things like your age, occupation, the vehicle you drive and the area you live in.

• Are there any discounts available for car insurance

  Yes, there are often online discounts available for new customers. You can view a range of car insurance discounts here.

• Why is Bingle so cheap?

  Bingle keeps premiums low by operating online-only rather than having expensive bricks and mortar premises to interact with customers. They also offer limited extras, focusing on essential coverage to cut down costs.

• Who normally has the cheapest car insurance?

  Budget Direct and Bingle are known as being affordable insurers, and are often among the cheapest providers, particularly for younger drivers. They offer affordable third-party and comprehensive policies, but the range of coverage is generally more restrictive, which reduces their claim payouts. This allows them to charge lower premiums, while still turning a profit.

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

Ceyda Erem

Senior writer

Ceyda Erem is Finder’s senior writer for insurance and has almost 10 years of experience writing about personal finance. Formerly a copywriter for several business and finance clients, Ceyda has written hundreds of articles, guides, blogs and more to ensure Australians stay in the loop about how to best manage their money. She has a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Writing from Macquarie University. See full bio

Ceyda's expertise

Ceyda has written 209 Finder guides across topics including:

• Insurance

Co-written by

Peta Taylor

Publisher of Insurance

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