Cheap car insurance Australia May 2026

Powered by 250+ human hours and 1,400 cheap car insurance quotes. Yes, we're nerds — and your wallet's about to thank us.

Key takeaways

  • Budget Direct consistently offers low-cost comprehensive cover; always compare options for your best deal.
  • Age significantly impacts premiums; Gen Y often pays $201 monthly versus Baby Boomers at $105.
  • Increase your excess, restrict young drivers or pay annually to reduce your car insurance premium.

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 May 2026

Finder Score Roadside Assistance Accidental damage Agreed or market value

Cheapest car insurance

Budget Direct logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Standalone
Agreed or Market
Discount: Receive 15% off your first year's premium when you purchase cover online. T&Cs apply.
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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

  • 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

Youi logo
Finder Score
Youi Comprehensive
Finder Award
Finder Score
Agreed or Market
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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

  • 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

ROLLiN' logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Agreed
Discount: Get 10% off the base premium for the first 2 consecutive monthly policies and up to a 15% potential monthly discount from your 3rd month for being a safer driver. Minimum premiums may apply. T&Cs apply.
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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

  • 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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How much are Aussies spending on car insurance?
Every month, we ask hundreds of Australians what they're paying for car insurance. To show you how age impacts the cost of your monthly premium, we've broken these numbers down by generation. Here's what their bill looked like in March 2026.
  • Baby boomers: $134
  • Gen X: $124
  • Gen Y: $175
  • Gen Z: $183
Price based on 600+ responses about their monthly premium in March 2026.

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. (Source: Choice and Canstar 2026)

Cheap car insurance

Comprehensive car insurance is the only level of cover that protects your car as well as others. Prices start from around $1,116 per year, according to Finder research. Below is a list of the top 5 cheapest car insurance policies, per that research.

5 of 5 results
Adjustable Excess Restricted driver option Agreed or market value Annual cost
Agreed or Market
$1,411.89
Bonus points offer: Earn up to 50,000 Qantas Points with every car insurance policy. Ends 30 June 2026. Plus save 15% on your 1st year’s premium when you purchase online. T&Cs apply.
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Market
$1,074.39
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Agreed or Market
$1,212.97
Discount: Receive 15% off your first year's premium when you purchase cover online. T&Cs apply.
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ING logo
Agreed or Market
$1,305.87
Discount: Save 15% on your first year’s premium when you buy a new ING comprehensive car insurance online. T&Cs apply.
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Coles logo
Agreed or Market
$1,273.62
Discount: Save 15% off your first year’s premium when you take out a new policy online. T&Cs apply.
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Showing 5 of 5 results
Read our methodology to see how we got these costs

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.

BrandStateQuote
BingleNSW$1,074.39
QantasNSW$1,212.97
Budget DirectNSW$1,273.62
ColesNSW$1,305.87
INGNSW$1,411.89
YouiVIC$1,126.51
BingleVIC$1,487.74
Budget DirectVIC$1,562.13
ColesVIC$1,607.82
INGVIC$1,665.09
BingleQLD$947.21
INGQLD$1,041.2
Budget DirectQLD$1,093.26
ColesQLD$1,129.69
AllianzQLD$1,206.44

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.
Peta Taylor's headshot

"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:

1. 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).

2. 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.

3. 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 (Source: Moneysmart 2026).

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. (Source: iSelect and Allianz 2026).

Frequently asked questions about cheap car insurance

Sources

Jason Loewenthal's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Jason Loewenthal as part of our fact-checking process.
Gary Ross Hunter's headshot
Journalist

Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 572 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
  • Managing the cost of living
Peta Taylor's headshot
Co-written by

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

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