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 with great customer service: Youi
Our verdict
Youi comprehensive car insurance is a competitively priced policy that gives you a lot for your money. It's a good option if you value good customer service and want to avoid big out-of-pocket expenses. If they don't quote you a price you're happy with, give them a call. This strategy has been tried and tested by several of the Finder team.
Youi is typically happy to negotiate on price if you just give them a call.
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 in our awards. It scored particularly well for customer service. 93% of those surveyed said they'd recommend Youi to a friend.
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 price is your sole consideration, there are cheaper insurers on the market.
All comprehensive car insurance policies include cover for accidental damage, legal liability, theft and weather events. This table shows where policies often differ.
We got 1,800+ quotes and analysed over 814 policy features. Youi's comprehensive car insurance covers more than most insurers yet remains cheaper than average.
Customer service
Finder surveyed 5,700 car insurance policy holders in Australia for the 2023 Finder Car Insurance Customer Satisfaction Awards. Youi was the national winner. It was highly rated by its customers, scoring 4.38/5. 93% of surveyed customers saying they'd recommend Youi to a friend.
Cheap car insurance with great value: Budget Direct
Our verdict
Budget Direct is a great all-rounder. It's good if you want a cheap policy that's good value for money.
A budget-friendly comprehensive policy option that doesn't compromise on cover. You get very similar cover to other more expensive insurers but without the price tag. For these reasons, it won the Value award in Finder's 2024 Car Insurance Awards.
You can lower your costs by restricting drivers over a certain age. Budget Direct has the biggest range of any major car insurer: 21+, 25+, 30+, 40+ or 50+.
High customer ratings compared to other major insurers (4.32/5 on Finder) and a low proportion of complaints to the AFCA.
There are cheaper insurers but they cover less. If price is the biggest factor for you, Bingle is typically cheaper.
The product disclosure statement (PDS) spans over 2 different documents: part A details what's covered and part B includes the limits of that coverage in dollars. It's not a deal-breaker, just extra admin for you to read through.
The 15% online discount is only available to new customers, not those renewing their policy.
All comprehensive policies include cover for accidental damage to your own car, legal liability for damage to other people's property, theft and weather events. The below table shows where policies can vary, but this list is not exhaustive and you should read each PDS.
Our research of 30 providers shows Budget Direct is consistently cheaper than the average cost of car insurance in Australia. Based on the 1,800+ quotes we collected, the average cost of a comprehensive policy is $1,362. Budget Direct's comprehensive policy costs an average of $992, over $300 less than the average.
It's an award winner
Budget Direct has earned its place as one of Finder's picks for the best car insurance. It won the 2024 Finder Car Insurance Award for Best Value because it offers similar coverage to other more expensive insurers, yet remains cheaper than average. This is particularly valuable during the current cost of living crisis.
Customers love it
Budget Direct's customers rated it 4.32/5, according to Finder's 2023 Customer Satisfaction Awards. This places Budget Direct in the top 5 best rated car insurers out of the 15 that were assessed.
ROLLiN' is cheap for young drivers. It's good if you're in your 20s and you can cancel any time.
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.
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.
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.
All comprehensive policies include cover for accidental damage to your own car, legal liability for damage to other people's property, theft and weather events. The below table shows where policies can vary, but this list is not exhaustive and you should read each PDS.
Provider
Average cost
Roadside assistance
Personal items
Locks and keys replacement
New car replacement
Customer satisfaction rating
ROLLiN'
$886
Not available
$0
Up to $1,000
Yes see PDS for limits
N/A
Budget Direct
$992
Optional extra
Up to $500
Up to $1,00-
Yes see PDS for limits
4.32/5
AAMI
$1,218
Optional extra
Up to $1,000
Optional extra
Yes see PDS for limits
4.32/5
Youi
$1,359
Included
Up to $750
Up to $1,000
Yes see PDS for limits
4.38/5
To get the annual price for ROLLiN', we multiplied the monthly premium provided at the time of quoting by 12. When purchasing a policy for a real driver, ROLLiN's price can increase or decrease each month when the quote to insure is recalculated and your cover is renewed. The above is a guide only.
Due to Finder's eligibility criteria, ROLLiN’ was not able to be rated for the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards.
We based our young drivers pick on the latest Finder Awards research for 2024.
We analysed costs for 30 brands across 5 age groups. ROLLiN' was the best for price on average for 20-year-olds with an annual average cost of $1,226. That's significantly cheaper than other popular insurers including NRMA ($1,758), AAMI ($2,240) and QBE ($4,734).
Bingle comprehensive car insurance is a very cheap option — that's why it won the 2024 Finder car insurance award for low cost. The catch? It only covers the essentials and it has an all-online customer service and claims team.
Bingle offers the cheapest comprehensive car insurance policy, according to Finder research. The average comprehensive policy in Australia costs $1,362. Bingle's average policy costs $862.
Bingle is great for those who need a comprehensive policy but don't want all the bells and whistles. It covers only the basics and the price reflects this.
Bingle's comprehensive car insurance policy can be paid in monthly instalments rather than annually in a lump sum.
Due to its lower cost, Bingle covers less than other car insurers. For example, there is no option to add on roadside assistance or personal effects cover.
To be covered for a new car replacement, you'll have to pay extra with Bingle. This feature comes included in most other car insurance policies, albeit at a higher price.
Bingle will only cover your car for its market value. Depending on your vehicle, this might not be adequate enough.
All comprehensive policies include cover for accidental damage to your own car, legal liability for damage to other people's property, theft and weather events. The below table shows where policies can vary, but this list is not exhaustive and you should read each PDS.
Due to Finder's eligibility criteria, Bingle was not able to be rated for the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards. However, it is relatively poorly rated online, with many of its complaints about slow claim times and difficulty contacting it.
It's cheap
We researched 30 different providers and got over 1,800 quotes. On average, Bingle offers the cheapest comprehensive car insurance policy. It's $501 cheaper than the average Australian car insurance policy. For this reason, we selected it as our 2024 Finder car insurance award winner for low cost. For those who simply want the cheapest, it fits the bill.
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 October 2024.
Baby boomers: $121
Gen X: $146
Gen Y: $221
Gen Z: $192
Price based on 280+ responses about their monthly premium in October 2024.
Cheap car insurance
Comprehensive car insurance is the only level of cover that protects your car as well as others. On average, prices start from around $862 per year, according to Finder research. Below is a list of the top 5 cheapest car insurance policies, per that research.
To determine these average costs, we sourced over 1,800 quotes from 30+ policies. To get a fair estimation of prices, we used 60 different driver profiles across different ages, genders and states.
Your premiums may differ depending on your gender, the type of car you drive, the colour of the car, how long you have been driving, your driving history and the amount of cover you need.
Third party property damage car insurance is a cheaper alternative to comprehensive car insurance. Keep in mind though, third party policies are cheaper because they don't cover damage to your own car.
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Finder Score for car insurance
We analyse over 100 car insurance products and rate each one on price and features. What we get out the other end is a nice round number between 1 and 10 to help you start comparing.
To make sure we're comparing apples with apples, we collect quotes for 8 different personas, then work out the value of 19 different car insurance features. Our team then does some fancy maths to get the Finder Score, taking both price and features into account.
Finder sourced over 1,800 car insurance quotes based on multiple driver profiles from 30+ comprehensive policies. We've broken our research down by state — these are the cheapest policies. Keep in mind, costs differ based on your own circumstances.
We didn't include quotes for NT and ACT because the sample size was too small.
To determine these average costs for NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC and WA, we sourced over 1,800 quotes from 30+ policies using 60 driver profiles across different ages, genders and locations. The pricing above reflects the average of these per state. We have displayed the top 5 cheapest providers for the state, as per the research.
Please note, while we've tried to include as many providers as possible, this is not a full market comparison. Read more about Finder's car insurance methodology.
Your cost will differ depending on your circumstances. Some things that can affect the cost of your quote include your gender, the type of car you drive, the colour of the car, how long you have been driving and the amount of cover you need.
Be sure to read the product disclosure statement (PDS) to find cover that suits you.
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.
Keep your car in a garage. Your car is safer if it's kept in a garage or in an off-street parking spot, so your premium should be less.
Pay-as-you-go. If you don't use your car much, consider a pay-as-you-drive insurance policy. It can be a cheaper alternative if you drive fewer than 15,000km per year.
"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."
I like a bargain, but I also like to know I'm actually getting some decent cover in return. That's why, for me, comprehensive car insurance is worth getting over third party cover, solely because it covers damage to your own car – plus, there are still a few cheap options.
With the cost of living skyrocketing, looking at your car insurance could be a huge opportunity to save. We reviewed over 1,000 comprehensive car insurance quotes and found a massive difference of $1,456 between the cheapest and most expensive policy. Bottom line – if you haven't shopped around recently, this is a huge chance to save money.
PocketSmith's Global Spending Map shows monthly spending on general insurance in July 2024 was 8% higher than July 2023, equating to a dollar value of $35. In a landscape where every cent counts, comparing your options is crucial.
Why you can trust Finder's car insurance experts
You pay nothing. Finder is free to use. And you pay the same as going direct. No markups, no hidden fees.
You save time. We spend 100s of hours researching car insurance so you can sort the gold from the junk faster.
You can trust us. We say it like it is. We aren't owned by an insurer and our opinions are our own.
Frequently asked questions about cheap car insurance
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.
According to Finder's 2024 Finder Awards, Bingle 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.
According to Finder research, Hume Bank offers the cheapest comprehensive car insurance in NSW at an average of $900. You can view our price comparison and methodology for gathering quotes here.
According to Finder research, Bingle is the cheapest car insurance in Melbourne, at an average cost of $1,156. You can read the methodology for how we got these quotes here.
Based on Finder's 2024 Awards research, Bingle, RoLLiN' and Hume Bank offer some of the cheapest car insurance policies on average in Australia.
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.
Compulsory third party (CTP) car insurance generally costs between $430 and $750 per year but this will depend on the model and usage of your car.
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.
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.
According to our research, the cheapest car insurance in QLD is RoLLiN' car insurance. A policy in Queensland from RoLLiN' costs an average of $834 which is substantially less than the overall Queensland average of $1,274. To see how we got these costs, read our car insurance methodology.
Yes, there are often online discounts available for new customers. You can view a range of car insurance discounts here.
Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 648 Finder guides across topics including:
James Martin was the insurance editor at Finder. He has written on a range of insurance and finance topics for over 7 years. James often shares his insurance expertise as a media spokesperson and has appeared on Prime 7 News, WIN News, Insurance News, 7NEWS and The Guardian. He holds a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, both of which meet the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
James's expertise
James has written 212 Finder guides across topics including:
Car insurance cover notes are no longer available in Australia. Read on to learn why and what your alternatives are.
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You pay nothing. Finder is free to use. And you pay the same as going direct. No markups, no hidden fees.
You save time. We spend 100s of hours researching car insurance so you can sort the gold from the junk faster.
You can trust us. We say it like it is. We aren't owned by an insurer and our opinions are our own.
