Budget Direct won the 2024 Finder Award for best value car insurance. It comes with the same benefits you get with the most comprehensive car insurance providers but for less money, according to our research. NRMA isn't typically as cheap but it's got stores throughout NSW and gives you a little more money for emergency repairs.
We've compared the comprehensive car insurance policies on offer from Budget Direct car insurance and NRMA car insurance. See further below for other types of car insurance offered by these providers.
 Budget Direct Comprehensive |
 NRMA Comprehensive |
|
|---|---|---|
| Underwriter | Auto & General Insurance Company Ltd | Insurance Australia Limited |
| Accidental Damage | ||
| Damage to other people's car |
|
|
| Bonuses | 15% online discount | No |
| Roadside assistance | Optional | Optional |
| Agreed or market value |
Agreed or Market |
Agreed or Market |
| Choice of repairer | Optional | Optional |
| Legal liability | Yes - $20,000,000 | Yes - $20,000,000 |
| Fire and theft | ||
| Storm | ||
| Flood | ||
| Hire car after theft |
Up to $1,000 - Up to 14 days |
Up to $75 per day - Up to 21 days |
| Hire car after no fault accident |
Optional Up to $75 per day - Up to 14 days |
Optional Up to $75 per day - Up to 14 days |
| Hire car after at fault accident |
Up to $75 per day |
Limit not disclosed |
| Emergency repairs |
Up to $500 |
Up to $800 |
| Emergency travel and accommodation costs |
Up to $1,000 - Up to $200 per day |
Up to $1,000 |
| New car replacement |
If your car is written off in the first 2 years or 40,000 km |
If your car is written off in the first 2 years |
| Personal effects/property |
Up to $500 |
Up to $500 |
| Locks and keys replacement |
Up to $1,000 |
Up to $1,000 |
| Towing | ||
| Trailer cover |
Up to $1,000 |
Up to $1,000 |
| Important | Limits, exclusions and terms and conditions apply. Read the Product Disclosure Statement. | Limits, exclusions and terms and conditions apply. Read the Product Disclosure Statement. |
| Get quote | More info |
As part of our 2024 Finder car insurance awards, we collected over 1,800 comprehensive quotes from 30 car insurance providers, using a range of driver profiles across different states, ages and genders.
On average, Budget Direct typically offers cheaper car insurance than NRMA. However, it's important to keep in mind that price may not be the only factor in your search for the best car insurance.
| Provider | NSW | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA | Aus average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Direct | $1,148 | $941 | $978 | $829 | $1,180 | $880 | $992 |
| NRMA | $2,027 | $1,154 | $1,038 | $1,004 | $0 | $1,034 | $1,252 |
These quotes are formed based on a fictional driver profile and your own quote will differ based on your personal circumstances. This should be used as a guide only.
About our car insurance methodology
Budget Direct offers 4 types of car insurance:
NRMA also offers 4 levels of car insurance:
NRMA also offers Compulsory Third Party (CTP)
car insurance.
Budget Direct has a good rating on popular review sites and scored 4.32/5 in the Finder Customer Satisfaction awards. NRMA has less positive reviews and couldn't be rated in the Customer Satisfaction awards because of eligibility – it's not available in all states.
Using data from the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), we can see how many motor insurance complaints the underwriters for Budget Direct (Auto & General) and NRMA (Insurance Australia Limited) have received and resolved.
| Underwriter | Complaints received | Complaints resolved at registration & referral | Referral resolution rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto & General Services Pty Ltd | 1431 | 723 | 50.56% |
| Insurance Australia Limited | 1413 | 760 | 53.82% |
Budget Direct and NRMA have pretty similar levels of cover but our research shows that Budget Direct is typically cheaper. NRMA has stores throughout NSW which might make it more appealing for some people though.
Gary Ross Hunter
Insurance and innovations editor
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