What’s covered by Comprehensive Car Insurance?
Upgrade your Comprehensive cover
For an additional premium, you can customise your comprehensive car insurance by adding one or more of these optional benefits to your policy:
How do I add an optional benefit to my policy?
You can add one or more of these benefits when you get a quote and buy a policy or — if you’ve already bought one — by contacting us or logging into your online account and editing your policy.
(Note that you can reduce your window-glass excess only within 21 days of buying your policy, renewing it, or transferring it to a replacement vehicle.)
Get a quote online and save 15%^
Because we don’t insure unsafe drivers, we can keep our premiums low for safer drivers like you.
Get a comprehensive car insurance quote and buy a policy online and you’ll receive a 15%^ discount on your first year's premium.
Find out more
The information on this page is a summary only. For more details about Budget Direct Comprehensive car insurance, including the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions that apply, please read the product disclosure statement (PDS)
How to make a claim
If you need to make a claim, we’re here to help you get back on the road as quickly and smoothly as possible. Make a claim on your Comprehensive car insurance policy.
Award-winning Australian car insurance
After comparing the cost and features of 53 comprehensive policies offered by 42 insurers, Canstar awarded us one of only two national awards for Outstanding Value Car Insurance in 2020 — a record 14th year in a row we've won the award.
We also won Money magazine's Best of the Best 2021 winner for Best-Value Car Insurance 3 years in a row (2019-21); and a Mozo Experts Choice 2020 award for Exceptional Value Car Insurance.
More ways to save
Here are some ways you can reduce your comprehensive car insurance premium even further:
How can I get these savings?
You can select your driver-age restriction, kilometres travelled and/or Basic Excess when you get a quote and buy a policy or — if you’ve already bought one – by contacting us or logging into your online account and editing your policy.
More reasons to choose us
Roadside Assistance
For just $79.95 a year – less than $1.60 a week – you can take advantage of our 24/7 nationwide Roadside Assistance service.
It can be purchased with or without a Budget Direct car insurance policy.
With our Australian network of more than 2,500 contractors, you’re never too far from help.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay an excess if the accident was not my fault?
You do not have to pay an excess if you have a no fault accident.
A no fault accident is one that meets the following criteria:
- we decide the driver of another vehicle (or another person) was entirely at fault, and
- you tell us, or we obtain, the at fault driver's full name, address, and vehicle registration number.
Is my car covered for hail and storm damage?
If you’re a comprehensive car insurance policyholder, we’ll cover the cost of repairing damage to your car due to severe weather, including storms, floods, and hail.
Can I transfer my no-claim bonus or driver rating from my current insurer to Budget Direct?
Yes – as long as you send us proof of your current no-claim bonus (or no-claim discount, as we call it) or driver rating.
This proof – which you must send us within 14 days of the start of your Budget Direct policy – can be in the form of a renewal offer or letter from your current insurer.
Please send any offer or letter – with the subject line ‘NCD [policy number]’ – to:
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 07 3377 8855
Web: smartcapture.com.au
Post: Auto and General Services
PO Box 342
Toowong QLD 4066
We’ll factor in the rating when we calculate your premium.
Does car insurance cover business use?
Yes — we’ll cover a car you use for your business or occupation, as long as:
- you select ‘business use’ when you buy your policy; and
- the car is not used for any of the following:
- carrying passengers for payment, including taxis and/or ridesharing (e.g. Uber)
- carrying or delivering other people’s goods for payment, whether you’re a contractor, employee or something else (e.g. parcel or food delivery)
- driving tuition for payment
- hiring the car to other people.
I’m selling my car — what do I need to do?
If you’re selling your car and buying another one, you can quickly and easily transfer your Budget Direct car insurance to your replacement car.
Simply call us on 1300 306 560 and tell us the year, make and model of the replacement car.
We’ll then guide you through the process of shifting your insurance from your previous car to your new one.
If you don’t intend to replace your car, we can help you cancel your existing insurance policy.
Car Insurance Knowledge Base
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Useful links
*Based on customers who have made a claim on Budget Direct Comprehensive Car Insurance, and who were surveyed between 10 February 2015 and 31 January 2021. Visit www.budgetdirectreviews.com.au for more details.
‡ Your car would not be covered while it was being driven by someone under the restricted age.
# Click here to read Canstar's award report and rating methodology.
