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Finding the best car insurance
Our insurance experts have analysed more than 30 of Australia's most popular car insurance policies to make it easier for you to find the best cover for your needs. Our picks are based on 2023 Finder Awards, customer surveys and Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) data. We only looked at comprehensive car insurance policies since it's the only type of policy that covers damage to your own car. Remember, what's best for you will differ from person to person so it's always best to do your research.
Best for value: Budget Direct comprehensive car insurance
What we like about Budget Direct
Budget Direct won the 2023 Finder Award for best value car insurance. It won because it provides a similar level of cover to other insurers but at a lower price. According to our 2023 research, the average policy costs $1,004 per year. That's cheaper than 27 other insurers including QBE, Allianz and NRMA.
It offers very similar cover to more expensive insurers. This includes damage to your own car, other people's property, $500 for personal items if they're stolen from your car and new car replacement if yours is written off within the first 2 years.
It's cheaper than average in every state we researched. It's $460 less than average in NSW, $513 less than average in VIC, $214 less than average in QLD, $241 less than average in SA, $265 less than average in TAS and $423 less than average in WA.
Budget Direct is very similar in price to AAMI. According to our research, AAMI was $4 a year cheaper. However, AAI Insurance (which issues AAMI car insurance policies) received the largest number of motor insurance-related complaints (1,698) during the most recent financial period. Auto & General (which issues Budget Direct policies) received significantly less (706), though it does have a smaller market share.
Bingle was $237 cheaper than Budget Direct, making it the cheapest insurer available according to our research. It doesn't cover as much though. For example, Budget Direct's comprehensive policy can pay you up to $500 for personal items that are stolen from your car and up to $1,000 for a hire car if yours is stolen. Bingle doesn't cover any of this.
We picked Budget Direct because it is a 2023 Finder Car Insurance Award winner. To determine our 2023 Finder Award winners, we got 1,182 quotes for 32 eligible comprehensive car insurance policies based on 36 different customer profiles.
Our experts then researched and rated a total of 640 features. The final score for the best value winner was based on a 50:50 split of the price and features score.
Budget Direct was cheaper than average in all states where we got quotes.
NSW: $1,280 vs $1,740 (NSW average)
VIC: $1,164 vs $1,677 (VIC average)
QLD: $921 vs $1,235 (QLD average)
SA: $940 vs $1,181 (SA average)
TAS: $841 vs $1,106 (TAS average)
WA: $856 vs $1,279 (WA average)
Best for features: Youi comprehensive car insurance
What we like about Youi
Youi won the 2023 Finder Car Insurance Award for best features. It's the only car insurance provider out of 32 to automatically include roadside assistance with its comprehensive policy.
It also comes with very similar cover to other insurers, covering accidental damage, theft, towing costs, new car replacement if yours is written off within the first 2 years of it being registered and more.
It's one of the cheaper policies on the market. Youi comprehensive car insurance costs an average of $1,154 per year. Only 6 insurers were cheaper and none of them include roadside assistance.
It only pays for the first 2 call-outs in a year. Standalone roadside assistance policies like NRMA roadside assistance typically cover all call-outs.
You usually need to speak with someone over the phone before you buy a policy, so if you'd rather do it all online, Youi may not be best for you.
We selected Youi as our top pick for features because it won the 2023 Finder Award for best features. To determine the winner, we got 1,182 quotes across 37 different comprehensive car insurance policies based on 36 different customer profiles. We then created a formula that scored policies based on features and value. The final score for our best features winner was based on a 30:70 split of price and features.
Youi came in first place because it was the only insurer to automatically include roadside assistance when you take out a comprehensive car insurance policy. We could not find any other online insurer on the market that offered this benefit. You typically have to pay around $100 per year for roadside assistance cover.
Best for price: Bingle comprehensive car insurance
What we like about Bingle:
Bingle has the cheapest comprehensive car insurance premiums out of the 37 providers we researched. Out of the 36 different driver profiles we used to get quotes, it had an average cost of $767. That's over $230 less per year than other budget insurers like Budget Direct and AAMI.
You pay for what you get. It's cheap because its comprehensive policy covers you for the essentials without a bunch of extras. That means damage to your car including fires, theft, floods and accidents, plus accidental damage to other people's cars and property.
It's only slightly more expensive than some third party car insurance policies. Unlike them though, it will also cover damage to your own car.
If you're looking for a bunch of extra benefits with your car insurance, Bingle isn't for you. For example, it only gives you the option to insure your car for its market value. If you want agreed valued where you select the price the car is insured for, you'll need to look elsewhere.
It's online-only so if you prefer to deal with someone over the phone, you should consider another insurer.
We based our top pick for price on over 1,000 quotes we collected in January and February 2023 for 36 different driver profiles (e.g. a 20-year-old female in NSW, a 20-year-old male in NSW, a 20-year-old female in WA, a 20-year-old male in WA and so on). The car model we used for all quotes was a 2018 Toyota Corolla Ascent 4 Door Sedan.
Bingle was the cheapest policy by $53. ROLLiN' came second ($821) and KOBA third ($906). We didn't consider any other features since the focus of this top pick is price.
Finder's top pick for young drivers: ROLLiN'
What we like about ROLLiN'
On average, ROLLiN' has the most cost-effective comprehensive car insurance premiums for 20-year-olds.
ROLLiN' won't hit you with an additional excess based on your age – you'll just pay $800 per named driver. Many other insurers will charge an additional younger driver excess on top of your standard excess. In some cases, younger driver excesses are around $600 so you can see how this cost starts to add up. ROLLiN's flat excess of $800 avoids this altogether, so long as the driver is listed. Unlisted drivers will need to pay an excess of $3,000.
ROLLiN' offers agreed value cover, giving you more control when it comes to your pay-out if your car's written off. This is particularly helpful for those with car modifications who want to ensure the car is insured for its worth, inclusive of any mods.
We based our top pick for young drivers on the latest Finder Awards research for 2023. We analysed costs for 32 brands across 5 age groups overall. ROLLiN' was second best for price on average. Its annual cost of $821.14 was beaten only by Bingle ($767.11). For younger drivers aged 20, ROLLiN' was the most cost-effective insurer on average in Australia.
Windscreen damage
Windscreen damage is the second most common car insurance claim. However, the excess often costs around the same as the repairs – so lots of insurers come with an excess-free windscreen damage add-on. Say your window is broken by hail. With this optional extra on your policy, you won't be out of pocket for the repair costs or the excess.
Case study: Finding the best car insurance for your needs
How Dougal saved on his car insurance
I'll be honest, with the increase in general living expenses this year I wasn't sure I'd be able to wiggle my existing car insurer down on price. I took 20-30 minutes to research other providers, put together a few quotes and went back to them to see if they'd negotiate. They were more than open to compete with the rest of the market, and marked down their initial price to one that justified staying with them. It's really surprising how much you can save when you only need to put a small amount of time aside to compare your insurance options.
Comprehensive car insurance is the best type of cover if you want full protection. It's the only level of insurance to cover damage to your own car as well as others. It's good for people who:
Have a car which would be expensive to repair
Would not be able to replace their car if it was written off
This covers damage to other people's property, including their vehicles. You can also add fire and theft protection for your own car. It could be good if your car is low value – for example, if you can afford to buy a new car if yours was written off in an accident. Third party car insurance is good for people:
On a budget with a low-value car
Who don't rely on their car for essential trips
Who can afford to replace their car if it's written off in an accident
This is mandatory car insurance and it's good if you can only afford the bare minimum. It covers legal and medical costs if you injure or kill someone in a car accident.
Expert tips on finding the best car insurance for your needs
Car insurance premiums are not immune to cost of living rises. Now is a good time to get car insurance that’s covering the things you actually need. Is your car garaged 95% of the time? Maybe you could save with a third party policy. Or, if you are driving regularly and only have third party insurance, would you be able to afford paying for the repairs yourself? If not, it might be worth looking at a comprehensive policy.
With the emergence of pay-as-you-drive insurance, drivers have more choice with how they take out – and pay for – their car insurance. Finder research shows providers such as ROLLiN’ and KOBA offer low pricing compared with most providers on average. A monthly subscription policy can be great if you are certain you’re going to drive less amid the high cost of living. However, some people prefer to know what their annual premium will be upfront so that they can budget for it through fixed monthly payments.
To find the best deal, make sure you compare apples with apples, look for discounts like sign-up offers and review your policy every 12 months. The best value policy today might be more expensive when it renews next year, so review the market on your anniversary date so you're not paying a cent more than you need to.
The 3 most common car insurance claims are vehicle collisions, storm or hail damage and windscreen damage. While everyone differs, it's worth keeping this front of mind when searching for car insurance that suits your needs. All the car insurance policies we've selected cover this (though you may want to add on no-excess windscreen damage cover for the latter).
You pay the same as buying directly from the car insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site – plus, our tables make it easy to compare policies.
We're experts
Our team of car insurance experts have researched and rated dozens of policies as part of our Finder Awards and published 330+ guides to make it easier for you to compare.
We're independent
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of car insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2014, we've helped 300,000+ people find car insurance by explaining your cover options, simply and clearly. We'll never ask for your number or email. We're here to help you make a decision.
Frequently asked questions
No. Different policies will suit different people. It's more about comparing your options so you can find one which is right for you, at a price you can afford.
According to the 2023 Finder Awards, Budget Direct provides the best value policy for those located in Queensland. Keep in mind there is no universal best car insurance policy and your driver profile may differ to the one we used in our awards. To find the best car insurance policy for you, be sure to compare multiple quotes and read the PDS.
According to the 2023 Finder Awards, Hume Bank Comprehensive provides the best value car insurance for those in New South Wales. It ranked in first place for both value and features meaning pricing and comprehensivesness of the policy have been taken into account. Remember, there is no universal best car insurance as everyone's circumstances and needs are different. To find a car insurance policy that best fits your needs, be sure to compare multiple policies and read the PDS to understand what you're covered for.
According to the 2023 Finder Awards, Hume Bank Comprehensive provides the best car insurance for those in Victoria. Keep in mind, there is no universal best car insurance. Circumstances and needs differ from person to person and are based on a range of factors such as age, gender and location. To find the best deal for you, it's wise to compare multiple policies.
According to the 2023 Finder Awards, Youi is the best value comprehensive car insurance for drivers in South Australia. According to our research, it costs an average of $640 per year in SA.
According to the 2023 Finder Awards, Budget Direct is the best value comprehensive car insurance policy in WA. Our research indicates Qantas Comprehensive car insurance is the best car insurance policy for features in WA.
According to the 2023 Finder Awards, Budget Direct offers the best value comprehensive car insurance in Australia and Youi is the best for features. However, it's important to note that the criteria used to determine our award winners may be different to your own circumstances. Always read the PDS to understand if the price and features offered are best for your needs.
That'll depend on your personal details, but if you're looking for low-cost cover, try our guide on how to find the cheapest car insurance.
This article was reviewed by James Martin. James is the insurance editor at Finder and he's written on a range of insurance and finance topics for over 7 years.
37 car insurance policies analysed, awards research February 2023
250 hours+ of research, based on time taken to gather 1,000+ quotes and research each policy, February–March 2023
Gary Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 5 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, news.com.au, The Telegraph, Explore Travel and Escape. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Kaplan Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
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