Direct Auto Car Insurance Review for 2026 [Find What They Charge Here]

Our Direct Auto insurance review shows that it insures higher-risk drivers who may have trouble finding car insurance elsewhere, but car insurance rates are pricier, starting at $41/mo. Direct Auto is likely not the best choice for good drivers looking for affordable car insurance coverage.

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Tonya Sisler

Content Team Lead

Tonya Sisler has been a technical insurance writer for over five years. She uses her extensive insurance and finance knowledge to write informative articles that answer readers' top questions. Her mission is to provide readers with timely, accurate information that allows them to determine their insurance needs and choose the best coverage.  Tonya currently leads a team of 10 insurance copywri...

Written by
Tonya Sisler
Chris Abrams

Licensed Insurance Agent

Chris is the founder of Abrams Insurance Solutions and Marcan Insurance, which provide personal financial analysis and planning services for families and small businesses across the U.S. His companies represent nearly 100 of the top-rated insurance companies. Chris has been a licensed insurance agent since 2009 and has active insurance licenses in all 50 U.S. states and D.C. Chris works tireles...

Reviewed by
Chris Abrams

Updated March 2025

Our Direct Auto car insurance review discusses why Direct Auto may be a good choice for high-risk drivers buying car insurance but may be expensive for other drivers.

Direct Auto Car Insurance Review

Our rating of Direct Auto is calculated based on several factors, such as Direct Auto’s reputation, business ratings, costs, and more.

Direct Auto Car Insurance Rating

Rating Criteria
Overall Score3.4
Business Reviews3.5
Claim Processing2.0
Company Reputation3.0
Coverage Availability2.4
Coverage Value3.2
Customer Satisfaction4.3
Digital Experience3.0
Discounts Available4.0
Insurance Cost4.1
Plan Personalization3.0
Policy Options3.4
Savings Potential4.0

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Continue reading to find out if Direct Auto is the right auto insurance company for you by learning about its rates, coverages, and more. Our free quote tool will also help you narrow down car insurance companies to find the best car insurance company for you.

Just the Basics

  • Direct Auto insures higher-risk drivers with poor driving records
  • Rates are expensive for drivers with clean driving records
  • A.M. Best gave Direct Auto an A rating for financial stability

Direct Auto Car Insurance Rates

How much customers pay for Direct Auto insurance depends on several factors, such as age, gender, and driving record. Young drivers pay the most at car insurance companies; statistically, they are more likely to file claims.

Direct Auto Car Insurance Monthly Rates by Coverage Level, Age, & Gender

Age & GenderMinimum CoverageFull Coverage
Age: 16 Female$209$539
Age: 16 Male$229$564
Age: 18 Female$170$398
Age: 18 Male$196$459
Age: 25 Female$52$139
Age: 25 Male$54$144
Age: 30 Female$49$129
Age: 30 Male$50$134
Age: 45 Female$44$117
Age: 45 Male$44$115
Age: 60 Female$41$104
Age: 60 Male$42$107
Age: 65 Female$44$115
Age: 65 Male$43$113

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The Direct Auto rates shown above are for drivers purchasing their own individual policies, so younger drivers’ rates will be more economical if they join an existing policy (Read More: The Perks of Staying on Your Parents’ Car Insurance Policy).

Direct Auto rates will also be different depending on your driving record, with higher rates for DUIs, accidents, and tickets.

Direct Auto Car Insurance Monthly Rates by Driving Record

Driving RecordMinimum CoverageFull Coverage
1 Accident$65$172
1 DUI$76$197
1 Ticket$54$141
Clean Record$44$115

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If you have a poor driving record with multiple infractions, rates may be even higher than the ones displayed above.

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Direct Auto vs. the Competition: Car Insurance Rates

While not the cheapest auto insurance company on the market, Direct Auto is one of the more affordable companies for teen drivers compared to its competition.

Direct Auto vs. Competitors: Full Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Age & Gender

Insurance CompanyAge: 18 FemaleAge: 18 MaleAge: 30 FemaleAge: 30 MaleAge: 45 FemaleAge: 45 MaleAge: 60 FemaleAge: 60 Male
Allstate: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$448$519$168$176$162$160$150$154
$398$459$129$134$117$115$104$107
Geico: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$220$254$90$87$80$80$73$74
Liberty Mutual: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$626$626$174$200$171$174$148$159
Nationwide: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$522$626$174$200$171$174$148$159
Progressive: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$591$662$131$136$105$112$92$95
State Farm: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$229$284$94$103$86$86$76$76
Travelers: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$530$740$99$108$98$99$89$90

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When it comes to comparing Direct Auto to other companies based on driving records, however, Direct Auto isn’t as economical.

Direct Auto vs. Competitors: Full Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Driving Record

Insurance CompanyClean RecordOne TicketOne AccidentOne DUI
Allstate: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$86$108$133$148
$160$188$225$270
Geico: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$117$136$176$194
Liberty Mutual: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$139$173$198$193
Nationwide: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$80$106$132$216
Progressive: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$174$212$234$313
State Farm: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$115$137$161$237
Travelers: Nationwide Car Insurance Review$105$140$186$140

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Direct Auto is one of the more expensive choices for drivers with clean driving records, and it is also more expensive for high-risk drivers (Learn More: Things You Do That Can Raise Your Premiums). Drivers can get Direct Auto quotes, however, to see what their exact rate would be.

Direct Auto Car Insurance Review: Direct Auto Homepage

Why is Direct Auto pricier? Because Direct Auto specializes in higher-risk drivers, it means it will ensure drivers who have trouble finding coverage elsewhere, which drives up rates.

Direct Auto Car Insurance Coverage

So, what types of car insurance coverage can you buy from Direct Auto? The company sells all of the following coverages to its customers:

Direct Auto Car Insurance Coverage Options

Coverage TypeWhat it Covers
Liability CoverageCovers others' injury and property damage
Collision CoveragePays for your vehicle damage from a collision
Comprehensive CoverageCovers non-collision damage (theft, vandalism, etc.)
Uninsured/Underinsured MotoristProtects if the other driver has little or no insurance
Medical Payments (MedPay)Pays medical expenses for you and passengers
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)Covers medical expenses, lost wages, and related costs
Roadside AssistanceHelp with breakdowns, including towing and jump-starts
Rental ReimbursementCovers rental car costs during repairs after an accident
Towing & Labor CoverageReimburses towing and labor costs if vehicle is disabled
Accidental Death CoveragePays a benefit if you die in a car accident
Gap InsuranceCovers the gap between loan balance and car’s value if totaled

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Direct Auto does have fewer options than its competition, as it offers few add-ons besides the basic coverages needed to drive legally.

Direct Auto Car Insurance Discounts

Direct Auto is pricey for most drivers, but this doesn’t mean rates can be lowered on a Direct Auto policy. The best way to save at Direct Auto is to apply for car insurance discounts.

Direct Auto Car Insurance Discounts by Savings Potential

Discount Name
Multi-Car 25%
Prior Coverage 25%
Safe Driver 10%
Good Student 10%
Military 25%
Homeowner 15%
Renewal 20%
Welcome Back 6%
Affinity 5%
Mileage 5%
Senior Citizen 5%

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Insuring more than one car at Direct Auto will earn you the largest discount on your Direct Auto insurance policy. You can also save with smaller discounts like a good student discount or an affinity discount.

Direct Auto Car Insurance Review: Good Student Car Insurance Discount Definition Card

You can apply for multiple Direct Auto discounts on your policy to lower your car insurance cost at Direct Auto.

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Direct Auto Customer Reviews

Direct Auto has mixed customer reviews and ratings, with negatives focused on price increases and cancellations, such as in the Reddit review shown below.

Posts from the insurance
community on Reddit

Reading Reddit reviews and customer reviews on other sites can alert you to potential issues with a company, such as issues negotiating settlements (Read More: How to Negotiate a Settlement after a Car Accident).

Direct Auto Business Ratings

Several businesses have rated Direct Auto, from A.M. Best to BBB. See what businesses think about Direct Auto below.

Direct Auto Business Insurance Ratings

Agency
J.D. Power TablePress LogoScore: 810 / 1,000
Avg. Satisfaction
BBB LogoScore: B+
Good Business Practices
Consumer Reports TablePress LogoScore: 70/100
Mixed Customer Feedback
NAIC Canva (2)Score: 1.25
Avg. Complaints
A.M. BestScore: B+
Good Financial Strength

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J.D. Power gave Direct Auto a lower score, meaning that customers aren’t completely satisfied with services when filing a car insurance claim. Direct Auto also has a much higher complaint score from customers.

On the positive side, Direct Auto has a strong financial stability rating from A.M. Best and a strong overall rating from the BBB.

Direct Auto Pros and Cons

Picking an auto insurance company is an important decision, as you want to find an affordable and reliable company. Some of the pros of signing up with Direct Auto include:

  • High-Risk Coverage: Direct Auto ensures higher-risk drivers and files SR-22 forms if needed.
  • Financial Stability: A.M. Best gave Direct Auto an A rating.
  • Discount Options: Customers can apply for good student discounts, multi-car discounts, and more.

Cons that may deter you from picking Direct Auto as a company include:

  • Higher Rates: Direct Auto is expensive for good drivers and isn’t the cheapest for bad drivers.
  • Fewer Coverage Choices: Direct Auto doesn’t offer many add-on coverage options besides the basics (Learn More: The Perks and Pitfalls of Car Insurance Add-Ons).

For many drivers, the cons of Direct Auto will outweigh the pros. However, Direct Auto is still a good choice for higher-risk drivers who are having trouble finding auto insurance coverage.

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Deciding if Direct Auto Car Insurance is Right for You

We hope our Direct Auto car insurance review has helped you reach a decision about the company. While Direct Auto is ideal for higher-risk drivers, such as teens or drivers with poor driving records, it is probably not the best choice for good drivers who can find cheaper coverage at one of the cheapest car insurance companies.

Direct Auto ratings from businesses and customers are subpar, so it is best reserved as an option for drivers who struggle to find coverage.

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We recommend comparing several companies’ quotes to find the best deal for your coverage needs. Compare rates for free today by entering your ZIP into our comprehensive quote tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What company owns Direct Auto Insurance?

Direct Auto is owned by National General Insurance, which in turn is owned by Allstate.

Did Allstate buy Direct Auto Insurance?

Yes, Allstate bought National General Insurance, which owns Direct Auto.

Is Direct Auto Insurance a good company in the USA?

Direct Auto is a good choice for high-risk drivers, such as teen drivers or DUI drivers. Bear in mind that car insurance rates by state and driver will vary.

What is the difference between Direct Auto and Allstate?

Allstate owns Direct Auto, but they still operate separately.

How long has Direct Auto insurance been around?

Direct Auto has been established since 1991.

Are Direct Auto and SafeAuto the same?

Yes, Safe Auto was acquired by Direct Auto and is now known as Direct Auto (Learn More: What You Should Know About SafeAuto Insurance).

How do you cancel a policy at Direct Auto?

You can cancel your Direct Auto insurance policy by calling customer service or contacting your agent. To find a new auto insurance policy, compare rates now with our free comparison tool.

Does Direct Auto insurance have an app?

Yes, there is a Direct Auto insurance app.

Does Direct Auto Insurance automatically renew?

Yes, Direct Auto insurance policies will automatically renew to prevent customers from being stuck without coverage, which is illegal (Learn More: Why You Need Car Insurance).

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Does Direct Auto have home insurance?

No, Direct Auto does not sell home insurance.

 

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