Cheapest Comprehensive Car Insurance in 2025: What the Numbers Show and How to Compare Value

Why “cheapest” comprehensive cover is rarely just one number

Finding the cheapest comprehensive car insurance can feel chaotic because premiums move with a long list of variables: your postcode, age, annual kilometres, claims history, where the car is kept overnight, and the excess you choose. In a 2025 quote sweep covering 128 real premiums across six states, several brands consistently appeared near the bottom of the price table—most notably National Cover, Bingle and Budget Direct, which recorded the lowest national medians and came in roughly 15–20% under the market average in that sample.

However, price is only half the equation. Comprehensive insurance is designed to cover damage to your own car after incidents such as crashes, theft, storm, or fire, while also covering damage you cause to other people’s property. A low premium can be appealing, but if it comes with fewer inclusions—such as limited repair options, no hire-car benefit, or add-on costs for glass and roadside assistance—the “cheapest” policy can become expensive when you actually need it.

To help balance cost and coverage, insurers in the dataset were ranked using both average premium and a feature score. The feature score rewarded practical inclusions such as excess-free glass, roadside assistance options, hire-car cover, and claim turnaround support. The quotes referenced were based on standard assumptions (including garaging overnight and clean driving histories), and the figures shift depending on personal circumstances.

How the quotes were framed (and why your price will differ)

The quotes in the 2025 sweep were generated using consistent baselines such as a standard excess (commonly around $750–$850 depending on the insurer), overnight garaging, and no accident history. Even with those controls, premiums still varied significantly between brands and between driver profiles.

It’s important to treat any “median premium” as a guide rather than a promise. Your own quote can move based on:

• Postcode and state-based costs (including local risk factors and pricing differences)
• Annual kilometres and whether you can select a lower-kilometre band
• Optional extras such as hire-car, roadside assistance, and excess-free glass
• Voluntary excess choices (raising it can reduce premium, but increases out-of-pocket costs in a claim)
• Payment method (some insurers apply an instalment loading for monthly payments)

With that in mind, the results still offer a useful map of where value tends to sit in 2025—especially when you combine premium levels with how each insurer structures service, claims support, and discounts.

National Cover: low median pricing with a “price-beat” approach and claims support

In the 2025 sweep, National Cover stood out as a specialist broker delivering strong value. The brand’s pricing approach was described as being supported by ASIC-licensed pricing analysts, and it was positioned as undercutting headline premiums while retaining inclusions that matter at claim time.

Under the standard test settings (including an $850 excess, overnight garaging and no accident history), the brand’s premiums were described as running roughly 17% under the 2025 market mean across the six-state sample. National Cover also promoted flexibility around switching and refunds for unused portions of an old policy, alongside a price-beat promise intended to address outlier quotes.

Based on the description, National Cover appears aimed at drivers who want to keep costs down without fully sacrificing support—particularly those who value hands-on help through the claims process, including gig-economy drivers balancing mixed personal and business use.

Bingle: a stripped-back digital model built for price-focused drivers

Bingle’s pitch is straightforward: reduce overheads by running a self-service model and pass the savings into lower premiums. In the 2025 dataset, Bingle recorded a median premium of $695 across test scenarios (with a standard $850 excess, overnight garaging and a clean record), placing it among the most consistently cheap options in the sample.

The trade-off is that the policy experience is deliberately lean. Bingle’s model removes traditional service channels and keeps default benefits minimal. Extras such as hire-car cover, excess-free glass and roadside assistance were described as user-pays add-ons rather than bundled inclusions. Claims are handled through an app-based process designed to reduce administrative costs.

For drivers who are comfortable managing their policy and claims online and who prioritise the lowest possible premium, this structure can make sense. But for anyone who expects broader inclusions as standard, the “cheap” starting point may rise once add-ons are selected.

Budget Direct: competitive pricing with discounts and broader inclusions

Budget Direct’s “Gold Comprehensive” policy was described as landing close to Bingle on price in the 2025 sweep while keeping a stronger list of benefits. The median premium across the dataset was cited as $718, including a 15% online discount and a standard $750 excess.

Several levers were highlighted as ways Budget Direct customers can influence price:

• Lower kilometre selections (such as “Less than 12,000 km” or “Less than 8,000 km”), which were described as trimming premiums by up to 9% in the testing
• Multi-policy discounts when bundling home or contents cover
• No-Claim Discounts that can build at renewal for safe drivers

In the context provided, Budget Direct was positioned for drivers who want a recognisable, phone-supported insurer experience while still targeting a lower premium.

Rollin’: monthly flexibility without annual lock-in

Rollin’ takes a different approach by offering a flat monthly price with the ability to cancel at any time without penalties. In the 2025 survey, its premiums sat mid-pack but still beat several traditional brands that require annual contracts. For comparison purposes, an “equivalent annual” figure was used, but the key feature is that customers are not locked in for a full year.

The model is app-first: changes to details such as address, kilometres, or accessories can be made in real time. The description suggests that reduced administration—such as avoiding refund calculations and break fees—helps keep costs down.

This structure may appeal to students, expats, renters, digital nomads, and drivers who change cars often or dislike long commitments.

AAMI: built-in extras and a rewards pathway for safe drivers

AAMI was described as sitting in the “big-brand, big-benefit” category while still ranking in the cheaper half of the 2025 premium table. The policy bundles some benefits that low-cost rivals may charge extra for, and it uses a Safe Driver Rewards program to reduce premiums over time.

Under the quoted assumptions (standard $800 excess, overnight garaging, no prior claims), Safe Driver Rewards were not yet applied. The program was described as reducing premiums by roughly 5% per level, up to a cap of 15%, for each renewal without an at-fault claim. Windscreen repairs were noted as carrying no excess, and small glass-related incidents were described as not resetting reward status.

This makes AAMI a potential fit for drivers who expect phone support and value excess-free glass as a built-in benefit, especially if they plan to stay claim-free over multiple renewals.

QBE: a middle-ground option with online and multi-policy discounts

QBE was positioned as a balance between price and built-in benefits, with a 24-hour claims helpline and a large national repair network. The pricing levers described include a $50 buy-online discount and a multi-policy rebate of up to 10% when bundling eligible cover.

In the testing notes, selecting a lower kilometre bracket (under 10,000 km a year) was described as shaving roughly 7% off sample premiums. Raising the voluntary excess to $1,100 delivered an additional saving of around $70 in the example provided.

QBE may suit households that want to consolidate multiple policies and still retain access to phone support, while using online discounts and kilometre settings to manage premium.

Woolworths Insurance: kilometre bands and Everyday Rewards value

Woolworths Insurance was described as landing just outside the top five on raw price in the 2025 sweep, but the value proposition can improve for customers who already use Everyday Rewards. The policy includes a “Drive Less, Pay Less” approach, where selecting a lower annual kilometre band can reduce the base premium.

In testing, switching to a low-kilometre option trimmed between $68 and $95 per year. The kilometre bands referenced were 7,000, 10,000, or 15,000 kilometres, with odometer photos at renewal used to confirm usage. The description also noted that drivers can move up a tier mid-term for a fee if they exceed the limit.

This model was framed as particularly relevant for city commuters and families who already collect Everyday Rewards points and regularly fill up at participating fuel outlets.

Youi: granular pricing based on detailed driver information

Youi’s quoting process was described as asking many questions about driving habits and circumstances—such as where the car is parked and how it’s used—to price risk more precisely. In the 2025 sweep, this approach placed Youi in the top 10 for cheapest comprehensive cover in certain scenarios, particularly for older drivers and low-kilometre commuters.

The quotes referenced were based on an 8,000 km band, a standard $850 excess, and secure off-street parking. In the testing notes, lower-risk answers (for example, garaged parking and off-peak driving) trimmed 10–18% off baseline rates.

Youi may suit drivers who can demonstrate secure parking and low-risk usage patterns, and who are willing to spend time on a detailed quote process in exchange for potential savings.

Coles Insurance: mid-table pricing with loyalty points value

Coles Insurance was described as sitting mid-table on raw price in the 2025 sweep, but with Flybuys points and web-only discounts potentially improving net value for regular Coles shoppers. The policy was noted as being underwritten by Insurance Australia Limited (IAG).

The content provided included an illustrative points valuation: using a conservative estimate of 1 Flybuys point at approximately 0.5 cents, an average 40-year-old CX-5 driver could receive about $16 in grocery credit from the base premium alone. That example effectively reduced a quoted $820 premium to around $804 before other discounts.

This kind of value calculation depends on whether you actually use the loyalty program, but it can be relevant when comparing policies with similar premiums.

Huddle: monthly renewals, variable kilometres, and an eco positioning

Huddle was described as a lower-overheads insurer using AI triage to support faster claims handling, with an environmental positioning that includes offsetting 100% of the average car’s annual CO₂ for every comprehensive policy. In the 2025 quotes, this approach kept premiums in the lower third of the pack while maintaining features.

Policies renew monthly by default, and the structure allows drivers to switch to a lower kilometre tier or pause cover if the car is not being used, aiming to avoid paying for risk that isn’t present. In the example provided, raising the voluntary excess to $1,100 cut about $70 off a CX-5 quote.

Huddle may suit app-friendly drivers with variable mileage who value flexibility and the policy’s eco framing.

Allianz and Suncorp: discounts, bundling, and renewal pathways

Allianz was described as not always appearing as the cheapest at first glance, but still landing in the affordable half of the 2025 list due to online discounts and multi-policy rebates. The policy also offers the option to keep a hire car for up to 30 days after most incidents, which can matter for drivers who cannot afford downtime.

Discount levers mentioned include stacking eligible policies for up to 10% off and avoiding an instalment loading by paying annually (an 8% instalment loading was cited). Raising the excess to $1,100 reduced a CX-5 quote by about $80 in the example given.

Suncorp’s own-brand comprehensive policy was framed as rarely the absolute cheapest, but competitive for safe, multi-policy households due to bundling discounts and a Driver Advantage program. Each claim-free renewal was described as increasing tier status, reducing excesses by up to $200 and cutting premiums by roughly 5%. Glass-only claims were noted as not resetting progress.

Points-and-perks policies: Qantas Insurance and state motoring clubs

Some policies in the list were presented as “value” plays where the sticker price may be mid-pack, but the benefits can change the effective cost for the right customer.

Qantas Insurance was described this way: while its headline premium sits mid-table, Qantas Points earned on premiums can reduce the effective first-year cost depending on how you value points. An example used a conservative 0.6 cents per point. In that illustration, a 40-year-old CX-5 driver paying $840 earns 840 points (about $5.04) plus a 10,000-point sign-up (about $60), producing an estimated effective first-year cost of roughly $775.

State-based motoring clubs were also highlighted for local pricing and member perks:

• RAA was described as frequently ranking among South Australia’s three cheapest options in Adelaide-based quotes, with the ability to add Basic Road Service for $59 (normally $120) or get it free by adding other cover types, plus member retail discounts.
• RACV was described as ranking within Victoria’s five cheapest options in the 2025 survey, supported by bundle pricing and lifestyle perks.
• RACQ was described as regularly appearing in Queensland’s top three, with storm and flood cover built into the base policy and cyclone-zone pricing sometimes 8–12% higher in places such as Townsville.
• NRMA was noted as not always the cheapest upfront, but potentially strong on net value for long-term members, with up to 65% off base premiums over five claim-free years and top-tier member benefits such as a $100 excess reduction.

AHM: extra discount for health members

AHM, known for health cover, was described as offering a stripped-back comprehensive car policy that can undercut several mainstream motor insurers. The key hook is an additional discount for customers who hold an AHM health product, turning a basic policy into a cheaper option for dual-policy households.

The quoted assumptions included a standard $800 excess, secure garaging and 10,000 km per year, with figures including a 10% health-member discount. The content also referenced occasional promo codes (for example, ‘AHMDRIVE’) worth a further $50 off first-year premiums.

Where comparison tools fit: Compare the Market as a quoting shortcut

One entry in the list is not an insurer at all. Compare the Market was described as a free comparison engine that can return live premiums from multiple brands in one session, ranking results from lowest to highest. The key advantage is speed: you can see a spread of prices, excesses and key inclusions without re-entering your details repeatedly.

The content noted that comparison sites connect to insurers’ quote APIs, displaying real-time pricing based on your inputs. It also stated that insurers may offer exclusive online discounts or promotions through such platforms.

An example trial was provided: a 35-year-old NSW driver with a 2019 Mazda 3, clean licence and an $800 excess received 11 live quotes in under three minutes, ranging from $682 to $1,040. The driver chose the second-lowest option because it included hire-car cover and still saved $312 per year versus the median quote in that set.

Practical ways to reduce premiums without guessing

Across the insurers described, several repeatable tactics emerged for reducing premiums while keeping cover aligned to your needs:

• Check kilometre bands and select a realistic lower annual distance if you qualify (several brands showed meaningful drops when kilometres were reduced).
• Review excess settings: increasing the voluntary excess can reduce premium, but only if you could afford that excess during a claim.
• Use online discounts where available (some brands apply upfront online reductions).
• Bundle policies if you already need home, contents, landlord or other cover and the multi-policy discount is material.
• Consider whether you need add-ons such as hire-car, roadside assistance and excess-free glass; a cheaper base policy can become less competitive once extras are added.
• Factor loyalty programs carefully (Everyday Rewards, Flybuys, points programs) only if you’ll actually use the benefits.

The bottom line: cheapest depends on driver profile, not just brand

The 2025 sweep suggests that National Cover, Bingle and Budget Direct frequently delivered the lowest national medians in the sample. But the same dataset also reinforces a key reality: the cheapest comprehensive car insurance for you hinges on your personal risk profile and choices—state and postcode, age, driving record, kilometres, and where the car is parked overnight.

Given how widely prices can move, the most reliable approach is to compare multiple live quotes before renewing and to weigh the premium against the inclusions you’d actually rely on after an accident, theft, storm or fire. In a market where prices can jump quickly, a few minutes spent comparing can be the difference between a bargain premium and paying more than you need to for the same level of protection.