Car insurers commonly provide discounts and special offers to attract new customers. Whether you’re looking into car insurance for the first time or renewing your cover, it could be worth shopping around before you make a decision.
When did you last review your car insurance? You might find you could clear some space in your regular budget by comparing policies and taking a look at what’s on offer. While an upfront discount shouldn’t necessarily be the sole reason you choose one car insurance policy over another, it can be a nice cherry on top if you’ve compared policies and found the best value product for you just happens to have a sign-up offer attached.
Below are some of the discounts and incentives found on providers’ websites (at the time of writing) for buying car insurance online. The discounts are from a wide range of insurers on Canstar’s database, and are typically in comparison to the standard premium paid for a new policy. Check with your insurer to confirm the expiration date, eligibility criteria and any other details of any sign-up offer you are considering.
| Company | Online discount/incentive |
| 1300 Insurance | Get 10% off the first year’s comprehensive motor insurance premium when you take out a new policy online. |
| AAMI | Get one year free AAMI Roadside Assist and save $50 on a new comprehensive policy when you buy online before 30 June 2021. Save $20 on a new third party property damage policy by buying online. Check with AAMI for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Allianz | Save up to 15% on your first year’s premium when you buy a new comprehensive car insurance policy online. Check with Allianz for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Apia | Get a 10% discount for having two or more eligible policies with Apia. Check with Apia for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Australian Seniors Insurance Agency | Save up to 20% on your first year’s premium when you buy a new policy online (get a 10% discount for buying online, a 5% discount for excluding drivers under 25 years of age, and a 5% discount if you hold a Seniors Card). Check with Australian Seniors Insurance Agency for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Australian Unity | Save up to 25% on your first year’s premium when you buy a new comprehensive motor insurance policy online and select the named driver option as an eligible safe driver (get a 10% discount for buying online, a 10% safe driver discount, and a 5.8% discount when selecting the named driver option and listing all your drivers on the policy). Check with Australian Unity for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| BankSA | Save up to 15% on your first year’s premium when you are eligible for a safe driver discount, name your driver and buy a new comprehensive car insurance policy online. Check with BankSA for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Bankwest | Get 10% off your premium when you apply online. Check with Bankwest for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Beyond Bank | Get up to 10% discount off your first year’s comprehensive car insurance premium when you apply online. Check with Beyond Bank for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Budget Direct | 15% discount on the first year’s premium when you buy a new car insurance policy online. Check with Budget Direct for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Bupa | Receive a $50 Visa Reward Card if you take out an eligible comprehensive car insurance policy before 15 March 2021. Also, Bupa Health members may receive a 10% discount when you buy a new Bupa Car Insurance policy. Check with Bupa for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Coles | Collect double Flybuys points shopping at Coles when you take out a Coles car insurance policy, excluding third party insurance. You may also be eligible for a 10% discount if you purchase your new policy online. Check with Coles for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Commonwealth Bank | Save up to 10% on your premium when you apply online. Check with Commonwealth Bank for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| GIO | Get 10% off when you buy a new car insurance policy online. You may also be eligible to qualify for further discounts, such as a multi-policy discount and family discount. Check with GIO for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| HSBC | If eligible, a safe driver discount of up to 10% may be applied to your new policy. Check with HSBC for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Hume Bank | Save up to 10% off the first year’s premiums when you buy a new comprehensive car insurance policy online and another 10% off your new policy if you are eligible for the safe driver discount. Check with Hume Bank for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| ING | Save up to 15% of your first year’s base premium when you buy an eligible car insurance policy online. Check with ING for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Kogan | Save up to 10% off your first year’s premiums when you buy an eligible policy online (made up of a 5% online discount and a further 5% discount for excluding drivers under 25), and receive a $50 credit for Kogan.com when you buy a new pay as you drive or comprehensive car insurance policy. Check with Kogan for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
→ Read more: Multi-policy discounts for car insurance
|
Company |
Online discount/incentive |
| NAB | Save up to 10% when you buy a new comprehensive car insurance policy online (first year only). If eligible, a safe driver discount may also be applicable of up to 10%. You may also reduce your premiums by naming the drivers on your policy. Check with NAB for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| National Seniors Insurance | Purchase a new comprehensive car insurance policy online and save up to 10% on your first year’s premium. If eligible, a safe driver discount may also be applicable for new comprehensive car insurance policies of up to 10%. Check with National Seniors Insurance for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Over Fifty Insurance | Save up to 10% on your first year’s premium when you buy a new comprehensive car insurance policy online. If eligible, a safe driver discount may also be applicable for new comprehensive car insurance policies of up to 10%. Check with Over Fifty Insurance for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| PD Insurance | PD Insurance offers a number of discounts on car insurance premiums that you may be eligible for, such as a claims-free discount, a paid-in-full discount, an early shopper discount and an exclusive-driver discount. Check with PD Insurance for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Qantas Insurance | Get up to 30,000 points when you join or switch to Qantas car insurance before 2 May 2021. Earn one point per $1 spent on your membership when you purchase roadside assistance. Check with Qantas Insurance for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| QBE | Save $75 when you buy a new comprehensive car insurance policy online. Check with QBE for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| RAA | Save 10% for holding multiple insurance policies with RAA (excluding travel insurance). If you hold a seniors card, you may also receive a 10% discount. Check with RAA for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| RAC | Get up to $100 off your first year’s premium when you switch to RAC comprehensive car insurance online or $30 when you switch online to RAC’s third party or third party fire and theft car insurance policies. Plus, get up to 25% off comprehensive car insurance for a low emissions car. Check with RAC for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| RACQ | Get a $50 discount when you buy comprehensive car insurance online. Other discounts, such as a multi policy discount, are available. Check with RACQ for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Real Insurance | Save up to 10% off the first year’s premium when you buy online (consists of 5% for applying online and 5% for excluding drivers under 25). Check with Real Insurance for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| SGIC | Save up to $100 when you buy a comprehensive or comprehensive plus car insurance policy online, or up to $20 when you buy a third party property damage or third party fire and theft car insurance policy online. Check with SGIC for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| SGIO | Save up to $100 when you buy a comprehensive or comprehensive plus car insurance policy online, or up to $20 when you buy a third party property damage or third party fire and theft car insurance policy online. Check with SGIO for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Shannons | Multi vehicle discounts and multi policy discounts can apply with car insurance. Check with Shannons for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| St.George | Save up to 15% on a new comprehensive car insurance policy on your first year’s premium for buying online with a safe driver discount. Check with St.George for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Suncorp | Get $50 off when you buy comprehensive car insurance online. Get $20 off when you buy third party property damage or third party fire and theft insurance online. Check with Suncorp for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Virgin Money | Receive a $100 e-Gift card when you purchase a new eligible comprehensive car insurance policy by 30 April, 2021. Save 15% on your first year’s premium when you purchase a new eligible car insurance policy online. Discount does not apply to renewals. Check with Virgin Money for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Westpac | Save up to 15% on a new comprehensive car insurance policy on your first year’s premium for buying online with a safe driver discount. The 15% calculation is based on data suggesting the majority of customers receive 5% for safe driving. Check with Westpac for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
| Woolworths | Price beat on comparable comprehensive car insurance renewal offers for drivers aged 25 and over, plus save up to 15% when you buy online (5% promotional discount, 5% online application discount and 5% discount for excluding drivers under 25). You can also receive 10% off your Woolworths grocery shop once a month, up to a value of $500 in a single transaction (excludes Tasmania) if you are a Woolworths insurance policyholder. Check with Woolworths for eligibility requirements and other T&Cs. |
Source: Providers’ websites. Information gathered correct as of 2 March, 2021.
NOTE: Some of these discounts might not apply to extra premiums for optional covers (such as windscreen cover). Also, the discount or saving usually only applies to the first year of premiums. Be sure to read the full terms and conditions of the offers before you apply.
→ Read more: 10 tips to save money on your car insurance
Keep in mind…
While discounts and bonuses can sound great, keep in mind that a policy offering an online discount isn’t always better value than one that doesn’t offer one. It’s important to take into account the quality of the coverage you’re getting for your money.
If you’re considering car insurance policies, the comparison table below displays some of the policies currently available on Canstar’s database for a 30-39 year old male seeking cover in NSW without cover for an extra driver under 25. Please note the table is sorted by Star Rating (highest to lowest) followed by provider name (alphabetical) and features links direct to the providers’ websites. Use Canstar’s car insurance comparison selector to view a wider range of policies.
Cover image source: Shuang Li/Shutterstock.com
This article was reviewed by our Sub Editor Jacqueline Belesky before it was updated, as part of our fact-checking process.
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