Budgetdirect Reviews 

Easy to navigate the site.

Done by my daughter... No complaints

$2500 I paid for the year, accidental breakage included. One of my windows got smashed and the guy told me unless I pay them $1000 they won't cover it. Make sure you can include the the excess in the claim alliance do.

Easy process and the price was right.

My experience with Budget Direct throughout these claims has been extremely disappointing and unnecessarily stressful.

I have repeatedly been told to “call back later” because the team operates as an inbound call centre, rather than having anyone take ownership of my claim and follow matters through to resolution. There has been a significant lack of communication, with no proactive updates regarding approvals, claim progress, repair arrangements, or hire car entitlements.

My vehicle was initially directed to one repairer, only for that repairer to organise for the car to be towed to a completely different repairer because they could not complete the work. Despite this, I was then made to feel as though it was somehow my responsibility that the vehicle had not been driven, while at the same time being advised my hire car entitlement was about to expire, and that Budget Direct had only just approved the repairs, after my car sitting with the repairer for 2+ weeks.

I have also been attempting for over a week to have my vehicle booked with my existing repairer. Despite multiple phone calls and being told manager approval was pending, nothing has been actioned and no one has provided any meaningful follow-up or timeframe.

To make matters worse, I previously had claims that reportedly were never properly lodged due to “system glitches,” requiring me to go through the entire process again. As a customer, this has left me feeling completely unsupported and exhausted by what should have been a straightforward claims process.

Overall, the handling of my claims has lacked communication, accountability, efficiency, and customer care. I have spent an unreasonable amount of time chasing updates, repeating information to different departments, and trying to resolve issues that should have been managed internally by Budget Direct.

I genuinely cannot express how frustrating and disappointing my dealings with Budget Direct have been throughout this process.

Person on your end very professional and helpful.

Good price, friendly team.

Easy process. Knowledgable staff. Great communication. Thanks

Good communication and customer service from staff
Made all my options clear to me and listened to all my questions

DO NOT BUY INSURANCE WITH THEM IF YOU ARE A GOOD DRIVER AS THEY ARE OVERCHARGING AND PENALISING RATING 1 DRIVERS. I have been with Budget Car Insurance for over a year. A month ago I realised that I was listed as a 'Rating 5' driver and had been charged accordingly. I rang to advise that I was in fact a 'Rating 1' driver. They assured me it was my fault and I must have completed the paperwork incorrectly (which was not true). They amended my payable amount. I have just had my car insurance renew and there was no mention of my driver rating. I called and they advised that as of 2024 they were slowly moving away from Driver Ratings and that as my insurance renewed this had been implemented. Coincidence that my car insurance is now back to what i was paying as a 'Rating 5' driver, with no recognition of good driving and no claims. I am disgusted, and they should have to be upfront about the fact they are going to charge you as a lower rating no matter what.

After been with budget direct for a number of years , without a claim , they randomly inform you, that your postcode cannot be insured for property due to high risk. No such issues with other insurers. Puts you in a very bad situation. So whatever weird formulae they use puts you in a difficult situation, since it puts at risk getting a insurance from another provider as well.
So unless u want to be told, cannot be insured randomly, dont go with them.

Terrible service. Had to use one of their nominated repairers and was quoted six months before the repair could be completed. When I went to collect the car, the bonnet was clearly off centre, comically so. At the end of the policy Budget refused to reinsure making it nearly impossible to get insurance from another company. I have been informed that this is a common activity from Budget as they do not want anyone on their books that makes a claim. Went through their complaints procedure and got an answer 6 hours before the expiration of the time a complaint can be considered. They refused to escalate the complaint. Budget by name, budget by nature. They need to spend less money advertising, and more on their customers.

I recently had a claim denied by Budget Direct, and my experience has been extremely disappointing. It felt as though their first instinct when a claim is lodged is to look for reasons to deny it, rather than genuinely assess and support customers through the claims process.

The company appears to invest heavily in marketing, advertising, and paid endorsements, including recognition from organisations such as Canstar, which can create an impression of customer value and reliability that does not align with my claims experience.

Insurance is ultimately tested when you need to make a claim, and unfortunately this is where my experience with Budget Direct fell well short of expectations.

I liked the idea of doing it all online
Price was good

I'm an EV owner, and I watch the popular YouTube channel "The Electric Viking".

Mr. Viking was insured with Budget Direct. They took his money and told him he was covered. When he made a claim, they took his excess, then cancelled the policy saying they wouldn't fix the car or pay him out. (They've since changed their tune, but this is probably because of the clout of his channel. Like this would happen for ordinary customers)

The value of insurance comes from the belief that the insurer will come through when misfortune strikes. On the basis of Mr. Viking's experience, I have NO CONFIDENCE that Budget Direct would pay out, if I insured my EV with them.

My EV insurance custom will NEVER be going anywhere near Budget Direct.

Budget direct was very easy to talk to over the phone my insurance was cheaper so I transferred over and everything is covered ...

I was buying a new car (a hybrid) and needed comprehensive insurance with no fuss, no bother, no backwards and forwards with endless e-mails.
I got a good on-line quote from Budget Direct and now, all my car worries are behind me. 😄

So quick and easy!
The most affordable I could find for my situation, I'll definitely upgrade insurance with them in the future!

Look up "Electric Viking EV insurance claim cancelled" video on YouTube.
I'm an EV owner and you don't deserve my business for any cars that I own. Cancelling a paid policy AFTER a legitimate claim is made and then denied on an active policy is so wrong. I hope Fair Trading get involved.

After refilling all the forms online, double-checking everything in the contracts, and sitting through a never-ending phone call with a clearly annoyed agent, we were finally told that they cannot confirm our insurance due to our driving licences. I don’t understand why this cannot be mentioned already in the online process. What a complete waste of time. If I could, I would give them 0 stars.