Consumer Finance Awards 2025: Insurer of the Year
Budget Direct has been named Money's Insurer of the Year as part of the 2025 Consumer Finance Awards.
- Find out how we chose the winners
- Order your copy of the July awards issue
- Check out more from the 2025 Consumer Finance Awards
Life is complicated and unpredictable - that's what makes it interesting. But it always makes sense to protect against the inevitable curveballs.
And it is insurance that lets us take key steps - such as buying a car or building a home, with the confidence of knowing we are protected financially if the unexpected happens. This doesn't mean that any insurer will do.
Budget Direct has a lengthy track record of success with Money's Consumer Finance Awards.
As Jonathan Kerr, chief growth officer at Auto and General Holdings (owner of Budget Direct), explains, "At Budget Direct, we have built a history of delivering award-winning cover at competitive prices."
The benefits to consumers go beyond competitive prices. Budget Direct also offers easy ways to score valuable discounts.
Save 15% on premiums, for example, by arranging comprehensive or third party car cover online. Budget Direct will guarantee the authorised repairs of your car for as long as you own it. Or pocket a 30% discount when arranging combined home and contents cover online.
Budget Direct also offers opportunities to customise cover in line with personal needs.
Tailor car cover with an extensive range of age restriction options and kilometre limit choices to further reduce premiums. Optional extras include a hire car following a car accident or adding flood cover to your home's policy. Alternatively, only pay for what you need to save on premiums.
Kerr sums up the benefits. "We invest in understanding our customers' needs, simplifying the insurance experience, and delivering great customer service, which is why more than 3 million Australians have chosen us for their insurance."
It begs the question, how can Budget Direct keep its premiums so affordable?
Kerr points to three key factors - "leveraging data, smart underwriting, and operational efficiencies".
Of course, crunch time can come when consumers need to make a claim. It turns out this is an area where Budget Direct is harnessing the power of technology to deliver a better service.
"We are constantly investing in new technologies to make our claims service even better for customers," Kerr says.
He points to the recent roll-out of machine vision/AI processing, so that car insurance customers can enjoy the speed and convenience of doing initial damage assessments for drivable repair claims via their own mobile phones.
"It's a great win for customers," says Kerr.
At times like the present, when living costs are high, insurance can be one of the first products we consider going without, but it can be false economy.
As Kerr notes: "For many Australians, their home and car are two of their biggest financial investments. Having the right insurance in place can provide peace of mind and financial protection when the unexpected happens."
Budget Direct also offers pet insurance, travel cover, motorcycle insurance and life cover.
As Kerr says, "Insurance plays a crucial role in protecting what matters most."
Why they won
A wide range of insurance products offering ways to save - from organising cover online to tailoring cover to personal needs.
Top product
Flexible home and contents cover plus value-packed car insurance.
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