Direct Auto Car Insurance Review 2024

Direct Auto Is Best for Those Who:

• Are high-risk drivers and have trouble getting coverage from other providers
• Want to pay in cash, as customers can make cash payments at Direct Auto’s store locations

Direct Auto Is Not Best for Those Who:

• Are looking for low car insurance rates
• Want reliable customer service, especially during the claims process
• Live outside of:
  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Washington

Overall, policies at Direct Auto are on the pricey side. The average annual cost for full coverage is $2,487 per year, about 29 percent above the national average. The average annual cost for minimum coverage is $1,076 per year, almost double the national average. Since the provider is known for offering insurance to high-risk drivers, it makes sense that it would charge more for policies in general.

If you have a clean driving record, good credit, and other favorable factors, you may be able to get a lower rate at Direct Auto. However, you’ll find considerably better prices at other providers for the same coverage.

Take a look at the table below to see how Direct Auto stacks up against other insurers:

Direct Auto offers many auto insurance discounts, so make sure to see which ones you qualify for. For instance, you can save nearly 10 percent if you pay your policy in full, 5 percent for setting up autopay, and 1 percent just for going paperless.

You’ll also enjoy a discount at Direct Auto for:

• Being a military member
• Being a senior citizen
• Being an unmarried, full-time student
• Owning a home
• Completing an accident prevention course
• Have more than one vehicle on your policy
• Having a clean driving record for three years
• Renewing your policy within seven to 10 days of the expiration date
• Setting up automatic billing on your account
• Paying for your policy in full upfront
• Choosing the paperless option for policy documents
• Having a car with anti-lock brakes

Highlighted Discount: Prior Insurance Coverage Discount

Direct Auto’s prior insurance coverage discount is one of the easiest to earn, which is why I’m highlighting it. This discount reduces your premium by up to 25 percent if you’ve had continuous insurance with a different provider for the past six months or so.

If you qualify, you just need proof of your prior insurance. Eligible forms of proof include:

• A renewal quote from your insurer
• A letter from your insurer or agent
• Your insurance ID card or declarations page

This discount stands out because it could lower premiums considerably and it’s not commonly offered among major providers. Plus, it takes much less effort to meet the qualifications, unlike other typical discounts that provide significant savings.

Though I’m not a high-risk driver, my premium with my current provider has been going up even though I’ve had the same policy, so I headed to Direct Auto’s website to see if I could get a lower rate.

Direct Auto makes it fairly simple to get a car insurance quote online. All I needed to do was enter my personal information and other details, including the number of vehicles and drivers on the policy.

Once I entered those details, I got an initial quote for minimum coverage in my state, along with an estimate for other coverages, like collision and comprehensive.

There was also an option to select different coverage amounts, though the site directed me to contact an agent when I tried to update my quote.

I recommend getting an online quote with Direct Auto if you want minimum coverage. The whole process is simple and easy, though you’ll need to call Direct Auto if you’re looking for higher coverage limits. You also won’t be able to see other discount options on the site other than its Good Driver discount, which will also require calling an agent.

I spoke to an agent and found out that the company doesn’t offer insurance in my area. Even so, the initial quote made it clear that I’d be paying more at Direct Auto, even with the Good Driver discount. As a driver with a clean record and low mileage on my odometer, I have more options when it comes to providers.

However, I’d say that Direct Auto is a great option if you’re considered a high-risk driver and need auto insurance. Keep in mind that it offers coverage in select states only, so you may need to search for other options depending on where you live.

Direct Auto provides the typical car insurance coverages, including liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and medical payments.

While you can opt for minimum coverage when purchasing your policy, I’d recommend raising your liability limits. Minimum liability often isn’t enough to cover all the costs of a collision, and it’s ideal to be prepared. Even if you’re on a tighter leash with your finances, you can often still get $50,000 in bodily liability injury per person, $100,000 in bodily liability injury per accident, and $50,000 in property damage for just a little extra per month.

I’d also suggest going for comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible or lower: If your car is damaged in any situation that is not a collision, it will pay for repairs. If you live in an area prone to natural disasters or a neighborhood where your vehicle is more likely to be vandalized, it’s especially useful. Plus, depending on your provider, lowering the deductible may raise your premium by only $5 to $15 per month.

When shopping with Direct Auto, you can also choose additional coverages, like rental reimbursement and roadside assistance. They may be useful to add to your policy depending on your needs. Some may add only a few bucks to your monthly premium, so they’re worth considering.

Here’s a list of add-on coverages:

When it comes to customer satisfaction, Direct Auto has mixed reviews. Since the provider is smaller than other auto insurance companies, there isn’t as much third-party data available. It isn’t reviewed by J.D. Power, though there’s still some information available.

Direct Auto has a strong financial rating, so you can expect it to follow through with claims payouts. Although it has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, the hundreds of customer reviews give the company an average rating of 1.06 stars (out of 5). The reviews commonly mention delayed claims payouts and trouble getting in touch with customer service.

Direct Auto has a slightly higher than average ratio of complaints according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), though that is often the case with high-risk providers.

Direct Auto NAIC Complaint Index

Direct Auto allows you to file a claim online or on the app. When filing a claim, make sure you have your policy number within reach. You can also call 1-800-403-1077, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, to speak to a claims specialist.

You’ll need additional details, including the date of the incident, the vehicles involved, the other party’s contact information, and an account of the incident.

Several customers have complained about Direct Auto’s claims process, mentioning difficulty contacting claims adjusters and prolonged settlement times. When deciding whether to purchase car insurance from Direct Auto, you may want to consider these details. Ultimately, claims fulfillment is an insurer’s primary job.

Direct Auto offers a straightforward website experience for customers. Its online portal is called MyAccount, and it allows users to access policy ID cards, keep track of upcoming payments, and file claims, among other features.

You can also access all of these features on the mobile app. You’ll need your policy number to use Direct Auto’s app. Since I’m not a Direct Auto customer, I can’t speak to the mobile experience. The iPhone app has 2.4 stars and 237 reviews — many of which mention trouble logging in and major glitches, including errors during payment. The Android app has a 3.8-star rating from 1,320 reviews. Users also complain about login issues and difficulties making payments. Multiple reviews mention the app taking too long to load or shutting down immediately.

At AutoInsurance.com, we evaluate auto insurance companies based on four key criteria:

• Price (40%): We analyze average premiums for both full and minimum coverage for various driver profiles, including those with DUIs, accidents, less driving experience (such as teenagers), or lower credit scores. We also consider available discounts that may apply to high-risk drivers, and availability of SR-22 filing. Full coverage premiums are calculated with the following limits:
  • Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
  • Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
• Claims Handling (25%): We look for a claims process that is efficient, transparent, and quick. Data sources include the CRASH Network Insurer Report Card, J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Study, and financial ratings from AM Best and S&P, as available for each provider. Where possible, we incorporate real customer experiences.
• Customer Experience (25%): A smooth customer experience—from getting a quote to making policy adjustments or accessing documents—is essential. We obtain quotes directly and assess both online and agent-based interactions, as well as the usability of the insurer’s website and mobile app. Our analysis includes J.D. Power studies, NAIC complaint data, BBB ratings, and user reviews from app stores.
• Coverage Options (10%): We evaluate the range of coverage options offered, placing value on those that go beyond state minimums, such as accident forgiveness, gap insurance, and rideshare coverage.

For more detail, visit our ratings and methodology page.