Discounts Worth Chasing
- Pay annually, not monthly — avoids the 10-20% instalment surcharge many insurers charge for monthly payments
- No-claims discount — a clean claims history compounds year over year with most insurers, often the single biggest lever over time
- Multi-policy / bundling discount — insuring your home and car with the same provider often earns a combined discount
- First-year online discount — several insurers, including Budget Direct, offer up to 15% off for buying and managing your policy entirely online
- Low-kilometre discount — driving under a set annual distance can qualify you for a reduced premium with some insurers
- Multi-car discount — insuring more than one household vehicle with the same insurer
Discounts That Aren't Always What They Seem
A large advertised discount percentage means little without knowing the starting premium it's applied to — always compare the final dollar amount across insurers, not just the size of the discount being offered. Some insurers set a higher base premium specifically to make the discount look larger.
Shopping Around Actually Works
Loyalty rarely pays in car insurance — many insurers price new customers more competitively than renewing ones. Comparing quotes at each renewal, rather than letting your policy auto-renew, is one of the most consistently effective ways to keep your premium down year after year.
Don't Cut the Wrong Corner
The cheapest way to lower a premium is dropping cover you actually need — avoid this. Raising your voluntary excess to an amount you can genuinely afford, or removing an add-on you'd never use, are legitimate savings; letting your sum insured fall below your car's real value to save a few dollars a month is not.
This page is for educational purposes and isn't personalised financial advice. Premiums, terms and eligibility vary by insurer, state and individual circumstances — always check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before buying.