Paying too much for car insurance is hardly a badge of honour. To help you trim the fat without sacrificing protection, we’ve run live quotes across 30+ providers and distilled the results into a clear-cut top 15. You’ll see each insurer’s real-world price for a 35-year-old Corolla driver in Sydney, alongside the key inclusions, perks and pitfalls that matter when accidents strike.
Our definition of “cheap” goes beyond the sticker price. We factored in first-year online discounts, flexible excess options, claim-support quality and any loyalty sweeteners, then ranked the brands accordingly. Premiums will still swing with your age, suburb, driving record and car value, so treat the figures as guideposts and always grab your own quote before switching.
Up next is a numbered rundown that starts with National Cover’s price-beat offer and ends with the biggest comparison sites, giving you everything you need to lock in a better deal today.
1. National Cover
First up is the home-grown specialist that headlines most “cheap car insurance Australia” comparisons. National Cover consistently under-prices the majors while still throwing in extras you’d normally pay for elsewhere.
Quick price snapshot & cover overview
For our sample 35-year-old Corolla driver, the quote landed at $690 a year with an $850 excess
Core cover includes:
- Fire, theft and vandalism
- Storm, flood and other natural disasters
- Third-party property damage up to
$20 000 000 - Lifetime warranty on authorised repairs
- Replacement car and 24/7 towing when you’re not at fault
Why National Cover often comes out cheapest
ASIC-licensed pricing analysts track competitor rates daily; if someone undercuts them, the price-beat guarantee automatically adjusts your premium. The brand’s “Quote-to-Value Ratio” ethos means lean admin costs and no padding for bells you don’t need.
Stand-out perks for budget-conscious drivers
- 365-day phone or email support
- Claims lodged in minutes via a single email
- Excess discount when you use a preferred repairer
- Low-cost add-ons for rideshare, taxi or courier work
Potential drawbacks to weigh up
- No multi-policy bundles (home, pet, etc.)
- No walk-in branches; service is online or phone only
Best for & bottom line
Ideal for drivers who want rock-bottom premiums and hands-on claims help. Switching mid-term is painless, and any return premium is calculated for you.
2. Bingle
Bingle sits on the ultra-budget end of the market, carving out a loyal following among drivers who’d rather point-and-click than sit on hold. Its stripped-back set-up means fewer frills, but the base price is tough to beat.
Typical premium & basic cover
Our test quote came in at $672 annually with a $900 excess. The standard comprehensive policy covers accidental damage, fire, theft and up to $20 million third-party property liability—no more, no less.
Where the savings come from
Because Bingle is 100 % online, there’s no sales call centre to fund. Policies exclude rarely used extras (windscreen waiver, hire car) by default, and you decide whether to bolt them back on for a fee.
Notable features & add-ons
- Pay-as-you-drive kilometre caps—ideal if you clock up under 15 000 km
- New-for-old car replacement within the first two years
- Variable excess slider to tweak premiums instantly
Watch-outs
- Market value only (no agreed value option)
- Limited phone support; claims lodged online
Who it suits
Tech-savvy, low-kilometre city drivers who are happy to self-serve and pocket the savings.
3. Budget Direct
Budget Direct has built its reputation on sharp pricing backed by a big-name underwriter (Auto & General). In our live quote sweep it was rarely more than a coffee above the absolute cheapest option.
Cost & cover snapshot
For the sample driver, the annual premium came in at $715 after the advertised 15 % online sign-up discount, paired with a self-selected $800 excess. The comprehensive policy covers accidental loss or damage, fire, theft and up to $20 million third-party liability.
Why it’s often near the top for cheap quotes
Scale is everything: Budget Direct insures more than one million Aussie vehicles, giving it purchase power on repairs and parts. A sliding excess up to $2 000 lets thrifty motorists trim premiums even further.
Key perks for less money
- Lifetime guarantee on authorised repairs
- 24/7 Australian claims line
- Optional hire-car and windscreen cover available à la carte
Possible downsides
- Young-driver excesses can sting
- No pay-by-the-kilometre option for low-usage cars
Best fit
Drivers who want award-winning value, a recognisable brand and the freedom to customise excess without blowing the budget.
4. ROLLiN’ Insurance
If you treat insurance like a Spotify subscription—easy on, easy off—ROLLiN’ will feel familiar. The start-up offers a single, fully digital comprehensive policy that can be turned on or off month-to-month, making it one of the most flexible options in the cheap car insurance Australia market.
Price & basics
Our test quote landed at $679 per year when annualised, with a $950 excess. The same rate applies whether you use the car for personal errands or occasional business driving.
How ROLLiN’ keeps costs down
ROLLiN’ bills monthly, skips paper admin and forgoes call centres. Because there’s no lock-in term, the brand doesn’t load premiums to recoup cancellation costs.
Unique selling points
- Automatic rideshare cover
- No-claims reward paid into your account every month you stay claim-free
- Flat pricing model—no surprise renewal jumps
Limitations
- Monthly payments only (no lump-sum discount)
- Higher standard excess compared with big insurers
Recommended for
Gig-economy and rideshare drivers who need the freedom to pause or cancel without penalty while still keeping premiums razor-thin.
5. Youi
Youi is the outlier that asks a truck-load of questions up-front, but that deep dive can translate into lower premiums if your habits are genuinely low-risk.
Indicative premium & cover
- Sample quote: $698 a year with an $850 excess
- Comprehensive protection for accidental damage, theft, fire and
$20 mthird-party liability
Personalised risk-pricing advantage
A 15-minute phone interview drills into where you park, when you drive and even what you listen to on the commute. The more safety ticks you collect—secure garage, low annual kilometres, no night driving—the more Youi trims the rate.
Highlight features
- Free roadside assistance for the life of the policy
- New-car replacement for vehicles under two years old
- Option to reduce excess by supplying dash-cam footage after an incident
Possible cons
- Quote process is longer than click-and-buy rivals
- Premiums can spike if your lifestyle changes mid-term
Best for
Drivers with atypical routines—think work-from-home, short commutes or ultra-secure parking—who don’t mind a chat to squeeze every dollar out of their premium.
6. Coles Car Insurance
You’ve already got the loyalty card in your wallet, so why not let it shave a few dollars off your premium as well? Coles partners with Insurance Australia Group to offer supermarket-style savings on comprehensive cover without skimping on the must-have protections.
Price point
- Sample quote for our Sydney Corolla driver: $685 a year after the online Flybuys member discount
- Standard excess: $850
Why it’s affordable
Coles leverages its retail scale to negotiate fleet-like repair rates, then funnels those savings into lower premiums. The policy is sold almost entirely online, trimming call-centre overheads and keeping the “cheap car insurance Australia” promise intact.
Extra benefits
- 10× Flybuys points on every premium dollar
- Seasonal promos offering free Coles grocery vouchers
- $20 million third-party liability and lifetime repair guarantee baked in
Drawbacks
- Higher stand-alone windscreen excess than some rivals
- Limited business-use cover, so couriers and rideshare drivers will need specialist add-ons elsewhere
Ideal customer
Bargain-hunting Coles shoppers who want to double-dip on Flybuys points while locking in a sharp premium and solid, no-frills cover.
7. Woolworths Car Insurance
The supermarket giant’s green tick isn’t just for groceries—its motor cover regularly pops up in “cheap car insurance Australia” quote hunts thanks to shopper-centric discounts and a handy drive-less option.
Premium & coverage basics
For our benchmark driver the quote settled at $700 a year after the instant online discount, with an $850 excess. Standard comprehensive cover pays for accidental damage, fire, theft and up to $20 million third-party liability.
Cost-saving mechanisms
Woolies lets you nominate an annual kilometre cap (e.g., 10 000 km, 15 000 km). Stick under it and your premium drops; exceed it and you simply pay the difference at renewal rather than a penalty fee.
Added value
- 10 % off one Woolworths shop every month
- Everyday Rewards points on premiums
- Optional roadside assist and hire-car add-ons
Limitations
Blow past your chosen kilometre ceiling by a wide margin and next year’s renewal can jump. No business-use cover for rideshare or courier work.
Best for
City or semi-retired drivers who rack up modest kilometres and fancy shaving dollars off both insurance and the weekly grocery bill.
8. Kogan Car Insurance
Online-only retail heavyweight Kogan has taken its ruthless discounting playbook and applied it to motor cover. The result is one of the most aggressively priced comprehensive policies you’ll stumble across while hunting for cheap car insurance Australia-wide, provided you’re comfortable managing everything through a screen.
Typical online price
Our test driver scored a $668 annual premium with a $900 excess after activating the free Kogan FIRST member discount.
How Kogan slashes premiums
No branches, no call centres, no paper mail. The insurer leans on Kogan’s e-commerce infrastructure and bulk-buy bargaining power to squeeze repair costs and pass the saving straight to policyholders.
Perks worth noting
- $50–$100 Kogan.com e-gift card when you sign up
- Adjustable excess slider for on-the-spot savings
- Up to
$20 mthird-party liability and lifetime repair guarantee
Watch-outs
Customer service is mainly email-based; phone help is limited. Optional extras—windscreen waiver, hire car—are pared back compared with big brands.
Perfect for
Bargain hunters who love a hot online deal and don’t need hand-holding, but still want full comprehensive protection at a rock-bottom price.
9. Real Insurance
Real Insurance regularly sneaks into the cheapest tier of comparison tables, helped along by generous intro perks. Our benchmark quote for the 35-year-old Corolla driver arrived at $720 a year with an $850 excess and full comprehensive protection (accident, fire, theft and $20 m third-party liability).
Cheap-quote drivers
Two factors push Real into “cheap car insurance Australia” territory: a free first month when you pay via direct debit, and a stackable multi-policy discount if you also cover home, pet or bike under the same roof.
Feature highlights
- Pay-as-you-drive option using odometer photos
- Open-driver cover so friends and family are automatically insured
- Lifetime guarantee on authorised repairs
Cons
- Excess spikes sharply for unlisted or young drivers
- Online quote form feels sluggish compared with rivals
Best for
Families who share one car, want the flexibility of open-driver cover, and don’t mind bundling other policies to keep premiums lean.
10. Allianz Comprehensive
Premium snapshot
For our test profile the online quote landed at $735 a year with an $850 standard excess. That figure already reflects Allianz’s 15 % web-only discount, which auto-applies at checkout. Cover includes accidental damage, fire, theft, hail and $20 million third-party property.
Why Allianz can be cost-competitive
The big-brand insurer tier-prices its products—Basic, Standard, Comprehensive—so price-hunters can ditch bells and whistles (like unlimited hire-car) and keep the premium trim. A broad repairer network also curbs parts costs.
Extras on offer
- Hire-car after accident (optional)
- Reduced windscreen excess add-on
- Loyalty discount after three consecutive years claim-free
Downsides
- Higher base excess than most budget players
- Fewer payment-frequency options (annual or monthly, no fortnightly)
Best for
Drivers who want cheap car insurance Australia quotes from a household name without surrendering core protections.
11. AAMI
Backed by Suncorp, AAMI mixes big-insurer security with a bundle of self-service discounts that keep it in the cheap car insurance Australia conversation.
Cost & cover overview
- Sample quote: $742 a year after online sign-up, $850 excess
- Comprehensive protection plus free uninsured-motorist cover up to
$5 000
Savings tactics
- Safe Driver Rewards: premiums fall each year you stay claim-free
- Flexi Premium lets you lift excess to shrink the annual bill
Distinctive features
- Discounted AAMI Skilled Drivers Course for under-25s
- Lifetime guarantee on authorised repairs
Drawbacks
- No pay-as-you-drive kilometre cap
- Premiums can jump sharply after an at-fault claim
Suited to
Households chasing a recognised brand, solid cover and the chance to earn ongoing discounts through safe driving and optional driver-training perks.
12. Suncorp Value Cover
Suncorp’s “Value Cover” sits a rung below its flagship policy yet still delivers full comprehensive protection. In our quote run it landed in the cheaper half of the pack, and the bill drops further when you stack other Suncorp products alongside it.
Indicative premium & online discount
- Sample quote: $748 a year with an $850 excess
- 5 % web-only discount auto-applied at checkout
How the savings add up
Multi-policy rebates kick in when you bundle home, CTP or life cover, while claim-free loyalty trims premiums after three years—handy levers for wresting a true “cheap car insurance Australia” rate from a big-name insurer.
Stand-out features
- 24-month new-car replacement
- Personal items in the car covered up to
$1 000 - Optional choice-of-repairer add-on
Cons to consider
Optional roadside assist is costly, and the fattest loyalty discounts require holding multiple Suncorp products.
Best for
Existing Suncorp customers—or anyone happy to bundle—to keep premiums down without sacrificing brand clout.
13. NRMA Value Plus
If you live in NSW or the ACT, there’s a fair chance you already know NRMA for roadside assist. Its Value Plus comprehensive policy isn’t always the rock-bottom quote up-front, but smart use of membership perks can bring the cost back into “cheap car insurance Australia” territory.
Price example
- $760 a year with an $850 excess once the standard MyNRMA member discount is applied.
Cheap-rate levers
- Loyalty tiers knock 5–20 % off after 1, 3, 5 and 25 years insured.
- Safe-driver bonus for staying claim-free.
Extra benefits
- Unlimited windscreen repairs with the optional Glass cover add-on.
- Free roadside assistance for the first 12 months.
- Hire car after theft as standard.
Downsides
- Higher base premium before discounts.
- Limited savings if you’re a brand-new customer planning to switch after a year.
Best fit
Drivers who’ll stick with NRMA long term and milk the escalating loyalty discounts while enjoying baked-in roadside back-up.
14. Compare the Market (Aggregator)
Hunting down a bargain is quicker when a robot does the leg-work. Compare the Market lets you eyeball a dozen live quotes side-by-side, giving instant context on where each brand sits on the cheap car insurance Australia ladder.
How the platform works & what it costs
- Complete one five-minute form with your car, postcode and driving history.
- The service is free; insurers pay a referral fee if you buy.
- Results show annual premium, excess and first-year discounts in a tidy table you can sort by price or brand.
Potential savings
Internal data claims users shave about $200 a year by switching through the site. Our test run surfaced a $668 Kogan quote at the top, versus $760 for NRMA—a $92 spread for the same driver.
Advantages
- Change excess or kilometre cap on the fly and see prices refresh instantly.
- Email yourself the results for later.
- Helpful explainer bubbles beside each policy feature.
Limitations
Not every insurer plays ball—National Cover and ROLLiN’ currently sit outside the panel, so you’ll still need to grab separate quotes for a full market view.
Ideal for
Time-poor shoppers who want a fast price pulse before drilling into the finer print with their shortlisted brands.
15. iSelect (Aggregator)
Melbourne-born iSelect is the veteran comparison site that still answers the phones, pairing a slick online form with real advisers who’ll talk you through the fine print if you prefer a yarn to a chatbot.
Platform overview & pricing insight
Pop in your rego details and within three minutes iSelect returns live premiums from a panel of eight-plus insurers. Our Corolla driver’s cheapest hit was $685 with Coles, an $80 swing from the dearest result on the board. The service is free; iSelect earns a commission if you buy.
How it helps cut costs
- Human advisers can flag promo codes or hidden low-kilometre options not obvious online.
- Niche policies—classic cars, grey-import spares cover—surface quickly, saving hours of googling.
Pros
- Phone or live-chat guidance seven days a week
- Ability to bundle home, health or life insurance for extra multi-policy savings
Cons
- Smaller insurer panel than Compare the Market
- Expect follow-up calls if you abandon a quote mid-stream
Best for
Drivers who want one-on-one advice to squeeze every last dollar without trawling every insurer’s website.
Key takeaways on saving the most
When you line the numbers up, five simple moves surface again and again. Nail them and you’ll usually land in the cheapest 10 % of quotes, regardless of which insurer you favour.
- Shop around every 12 months; introductory discounts evaporate at renewal and rivals are hungry for your business.
- Tweak the excess slider until the premium drop outweighs the extra out-of-pocket risk.
- Be honest about annual kilometres—cap them if you drive less, otherwise you’re paying to insure thin air.
- Bundle home, contents or life cover where multi-policy rebates beat stand-alone prices.
- Brandish price-beat guarantees and keep written competitor quotes handy as leverage.
Grab your rego, licence, odometer reading and parking details, then fire off fresh quotes—starting with National Cover for a fast, obligation-free check on how cheap car insurance Australia can get.
