Price
Customer satisfaction
Young drivers
Safe Drivers
Key takeaways
- Finding a cheap comprehensive policy is a balancing act between price and quality of cover.
- Budget Direct won our 2026 Finder Award for Best Value Car Insurance. ING, Coles and Bingle were among the Highly Commended winners for this category.
- There are a few ways to cut the cost of your premium, including selecting a higher excess, opting to pay your premium annually and restricting drivers on your policy.
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 October 2026
- Cheapest car insurance: Budget Direct Comprehensive
- Cheap car insurance with great customer service: Youi Comprehensive
- Cheap car insurance for young drivers: ROLLiN' Comprehensive
- Cheap car insurance for Safe Drivers: AAMI Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Baby boomers: $104
- Gen X: $130
- Gen Y: $168
- Gen Z: $188
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 against accidental damage, as well as covering damage to 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.
Read our methodology to see how we got these costsCheap 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.
| Brand | State | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Bingle | NSW | $1,074.39 |
| Qantas | NSW | $1,212.97 |
| Budget Direct | NSW | $1,273.62 |
| Coles | NSW | $1,305.87 |
| ING | NSW | $1,411.89 |
| Youi | VIC | $1,126.51 |
| Bingle | VIC | $1,487.74 |
| Budget Direct | VIC | $1,562.13 |
| Coles | VIC | $1,607.82 |
| ING | VIC | $1,665.09 |
| Bingle | QLD | $947.21 |
| ING | QLD | $1,041.2 |
| Budget Direct | QLD | $1,093.26 |
| Coles | QLD | $1,129.69 |
| Allianz | QLD | $1,206.44 |
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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."
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
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Third party property damage car insurance is generally the cheapest type of car insurance.
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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.
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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.
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Budget Direct won the 2026 Finder Award for Best Value Car Insurance. In our March 2026 quotes, Bingle was cheapest in NSW and QLD and Youi in VIC.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Yes, there are often online discounts available for new customers. You can view a range of car insurance discounts here.
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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.
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Budget Direct and Bingle are known as being affordable insurers, and are often among the cheapest providers. They offer affordable third-party and comprehensive policies, but they tend to offer fewer automatic inclusions, so check the PDS for what's optional.
Sources
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
- 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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