Driverless car features are designed to make driving a safer experience for everyone on the roads. As driverless car features start to become more common in newer car models, one of the main questions people are asking is whether these features will impact their car insurance.
Current Australian law requires a human driver to be in control of the vehicle regardless of the level of autonomy. This means that drivers of vehicles with autonomous/driverless technology are still responsible for actions of the vehicle including breaches of traffic laws and potentially for damage resulting from crashes.
Driverless Car Features
While fully driverless cars aren’t available yet, Budget Direct insures a number of cars with some level of autonomy.
We currently insure cars with many driverless features such as:
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
Autonomous Emergency Braking is a vehicle safety technology designed to help drivers avoid or reduce the severity of crashes. AEB can alert drivers to imminent crashes and can apply the brakes independent of the driver.
| Manufacturer | AEB Technology | Insured by Budget Direct? |
|---|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo | Autonomous Emergency Braking | |
| Audi | Pre Sense Plus | |
| BMW | Driving Assistant Plus | |
| Ford | Active City Stop | |
| Holden | Automatic Emergency Braking City Stop | |
| Honda | Collision Mitigation Braking System | |
| Hyundai | Autonomous Emergency Braking | |
| Kia | Autonomous Emergency Braking | |
| Land Rover | Autonomous Emergency Braking | |
| Lexus | Pre-collision Safety System with Brake Assist | |
| Mazda | Smart City Brake Support | |
| Mercedes-Benz | PRE-SAFE Brake | |
| Mini | City Collision Mitigation | |
| Mitsubishi | Forward Collision Mitigation | |
| Nissan | Intelligent Emergency Braking with Forward- Collision Warning | |
| Peugeot | Active City Brake | |
| Skoda | Multi-Collision Braking | |
| Subaru | Pre-Collision Braking System (Eyesight) | |
| Toyota | Pre-Crash Safety System | |
| Volkswagen | City Emergency Braking | |
| Volvo | City Safety |
Insurance Council of Australia
The Insurance Council of Australia states that it is imperative for all organisations and individuals using autonomous technology to have appropriate levels of insurance to cover any potential liabilities for damage or injury that may occur.
What’s covered?
Terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply.
For full details, please read the Product Disclosure Statement.
Upgrade your 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
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; or call us on 1800 700 027.
Find out more
The information on this page is a summary only. For more details about Budget Direct 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 over 54,000 quotes, comparing 51 Comprehensive Policies offered by 42 insurance providers, across 42 Consumer profiles, Canstar proclaimed Budget Direct winners of the National Outstanding Value Car Insurance Award for 2024. In the process, Budget Direct became the only brand in any category to win a Canstar National Outstanding Value Award 18 years in a row.
We also won Money magazine's Best of the Best 2024 winner for Best-Value Car Insurance 6 years in a row (2019-24); Mozo’s Experts Choice 2024 award for Australia's Best Value Car Insurer; and Finder's 2024 Best Car Insurance - Value award.
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 calling us on 1300 306 560 or logging into your online account and editing your policy.
More reasons to choose us
Roadside Assistance
For just $89.95 a year – less than $1.75 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
Does Budget Direct insure Driverless cars?
There are no fully driverless cars available for purchase at this stage, but Budget Direct does insure several models of cars that have driverless/safety features.
Is car insurance compulsory in Australia?
There is one type of car insurance required by law in Australia: compulsory third party (CTP) insurance.
All vehicles in Australia must have CTP insurance before they can be registered and legally driven on the road.
What does compulsory third party (CTP) insurance cover?
CTP insurance protects you against compensation claims made against you (or the driver of your car) if you are wholly or partly at fault for injuring or killing other drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and/or cyclists in an accident.
Instead of you paying the compensation – including treatment, rehabilitation and care costs and, if necessary, income support payments and funeral expenses – your CTP insurer pays it.
Similarly, if you’re injured or killed in an accident caused by someone else, you or your dependents can claim compensation from that person’s CTP insurer.
CTP insurance does not cover damage to your car or other people’s property (e.g. their car and home).
For more information, contact the CTP insurance regulator/administrator in your state/territory.
What are the different types of car insurance?
Budget Direct offers three types of car insurance cover:
- Comprehensive Car Insurance covers loss or damage to your car due to an accident (regardless of who’s at fault), severe weather, fire, vandalism, and theft; and your liability for accidental damage your car causes to other people’s property (e.g. their car and home).
- Third Party Property Only Car Insurance covers your liability for accidental damage your car causes to other people’s property (e.g. their car and home). It does not cover damage to your car (unless it’s damaged in a no-fault accident with an uninsured driver, in which case your car has limited cover).
- Third Party Property, Fire and Theft Car Insurance provides the same protection as Third Party Property Only, plus cover for loss or damage to your car if it’s stolen or catches fire.
The type of cover you have is shown on your car insurance certificate and in your online account.
Which insurance covers loss or damage to my car?
Our comprehensive car insurance policy covers loss or damage to your car due to an accident (regardless of who’s at fault), severe weather, fire, vandalism, and theft.
Which insurance covers damage to someone else's car?
Our comprehensive and third party property policies all cover your liability for accidental damage your car causes to other people’s property (e.g. their car and home).
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*Based on customers who have made a claim on Budget Direct Comprehensive Car Insurance, and who were surveyed between 10 February 2015 and 31 May 2018. 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.
