Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
ARAG vs Budget Direct
Where ARAG and Budget Direct differ
| Compare |  ARAG |  Budget Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | €14.73 | A$76.45 |
| Insurance types | Home, Health, Dental, Pet, Travel, Gadget | Auto, Home, Renters, Life, Travel, Pet, Motorcycle, Breakdown, Landlord, Income protection |
| Excess from | €0 | A$100 |
| Cover limit | Unlimited legal expenses sum insured in Europe (Kompakt: EUR 350,000 worldwide) | AUD 12,000-25,000 per year (pet insurance annual benefit limit; Plus up to $25,000, Essential $12,000) |
| Age range | Not confirmed | Pet insurance: over 8 weeks old and under 9 years old at first policy |
Same on both: Provider type (Insurer), Monthly payments (Yes), Claims channels (Online, Phone).
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Key differences
- ARAG scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at ARAG: 1935 vs 2000.
- ARAG is available in 17 more countries.
- Insurance types: only ARAG offers Health, Dental, Gadget.
- Insurance types: only Budget Direct offers Auto, Renters, Life.
Our verdict on each
ARAG
ARAG is a German insurer founded in 1935 that writes home, health, dental, pet, travel and gadget cover on a monthly basis. It suits readers who want several household risks placed with the insurer itself, and who can live with a legal expenses limit that is fixed outside Europe.
Budget Direct
Budget Direct suits Australian households wanting one insurer across car, home, pet, travel and other cover, but its price is among the highest here. Premiums start at AUD 76.45 against a site median of €8.37, and the pet excess of AUD 100 adds to the bill.
Score breakdown
| Area | ARAG | Budget Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherEntry premium of €14.73 sits above the lower-quartile price of €2.92 and the typical price of €8.37. | 8.8Premium starts at AUD 76.45, well above the €8.37 site median, so the cost case is weak. |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 9.3 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | ARAG | Budget Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| Germany | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for ARAG: 18. Additional countries for Budget Direct: 1.
Sources behind this comparison
ARAG
- arag.de: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- arag.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Budget Direct
- budgetdirect.com.au: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | ARAG | Budget Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Home insurance | 50 of 273 | 86 of 273 |
| Travel insurance | 81 of 295 | 116 of 295 |
| Pet insurance | 38 of 167 | 58 of 167 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ARAG | Budget Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Legal entity | ARAG SE | Auto & General Services Pty Ltd |
| Headquarters | Germany | Australia |
| Founded | 1935Lower | 2000 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centre |
Pros and cons
ARAG
Pros
- Premium starts at €14.73 with an excess of €0, so nothing is deducted from a legal expenses claim before payment.
- ARAG is the insurer itself, insurer, so the contract sits with the company that pays the claim rather than a broker.
- Home, health, dental, pet, travel and gadget cover all sit with the same provider under home, health and dental, so a household need not shop each line separately.
Cons
- The starting premium of €14.73 is above the typical price of €8.37 across the comparison, so cheaper entry points exist.
- Auto and life are missing from home, health and dental, while Good Sam Insurance Agency lists both in auto, home and renters.
- Claims are handled on online and phone, a narrower set of routes than the email, chat and phone offered for general service.
Budget Direct
Pros
- One insurer covers auto, home and renters
- Monthly payments are available, so cash flow is easier to manage
- Support runs on phone, email and chat
Cons
- Premium of AUD 76.45 sits far above the €8.37 site median
- Claims run on phone and online, a narrower route than the phone, email and chat listed for general support
- Pet cover is capped at AUD 12,000-25,000 per year (pet insurance annual benefit limit; Plus up to $25,000, Essential $12,000) per year
Who each suits
ARAG
Who it suits
- Households wanting home, health, dental, pet, travel and gadget cover written by the insurer itself under home, health and dental.
- Readers who pay monthly, since monthly payments are available and monthly is the only pricing model listed.
- Anyone weighing a claim with no money deducted first, because the excess on the legal expenses policy is €0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Drivers or life savers, since Good Sam Insurance Agency covers auto and life in auto, home and renters while ARAG's home, health and dental does not list them.
- Buyers who need landlord or renters policies, because Hiscox UK sells both under home, renters and landlord and ARAG's list stops at home, health, dental, pet, travel and gadget.
- Readers shopping purely on the lowest entry price, as €14.73 sits above the typical price of €8.37 and Euroasia Insurance quotes from UZS 60,000.
Budget Direct
Who it suits
- Australian households bundling car, home and pet policies
- Pet owners whose pet is within a minimum age and under a maximum age at first policy
- People who want monthly payments to spread the cost
Who should look elsewhere
- Cheap-first shoppers, since AUD 76.45 is well above the €8.37 site median
- People who want to claim by email or chat, as claims run on phone and online only
- Owners of older pets, outside the age range for a first policy
Current offers
ARAG
Current offer
Discount code
ARAG Recht und Heim package: 20% discount
Legal expenses, home contents and liability insurance bundle; claimed directly on the ARAG German site
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Budget Direct
Current offer
Discount code
15% Online Discount on first year's premium (car, home, motorcycle, pet, travel): 15%
New policy purchased or quoted online, first year only, no renewal, for policies quoted on or after 20 August 2026
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Combined Discount on new combined Home and Contents policy: up to 15%
Home Building and Contents bought in a single transaction, first year only
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Standalone Roadside Assistance online discount: 15%
First year's membership on a new Standalone Roadside Assistance membership purchased or quoted online; not when added to a car insurance policy
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Life Insurance $100 eGift card: AUD 100
Eligible life policies with total annualised premium of at least $400 at issue, held 90 days with three months' premiums paid; promotion 8 July 2026 to 31 December 2026; one per customer
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | ARAG | Budget Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| Denmark | Yes | No |
| Finland | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Greece | Yes | No |
8 of 19 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
ARAG
What does ARAG cost to start with?+
The listed entry premium is €14.73, set on monthly terms for the legal expenses policy. That sits above the typical price of €8.37 and above the lower-quartile price of €2.92 across the comparison, so ARAG is priced in the middle of the field rather than at the budget end. The excess on that policy is €0.
Can I pay monthly instead of one annual sum?+
Yes. Monthly payments are available and monthly is the only pricing model listed, so the policy is not sold as a single annual payment. The same pattern runs across the comparison, with 88.9% of the listed brands offering monthly payments. Readers who set money aside each month are paying on the terms most of this market uses.
Budget Direct
What does Budget Direct cost as a starting premium?+
Premiums start at AUD 76.45. That is a high starting point, sitting well above the €8.37 median across the site. The pet policy also carries an excess starting at AUD 100, which adds to what a claim costs you.
Who is behind Budget Direct and is it regulated?+
The insurer is Auto & General Services Pty Ltd, an insurer based in Australia and trading since 2000. In Australia it is licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission under licence 360138.
Other options to compare
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Related by the facts
- KS Auxilia, also regulated by Bundesanstalt fuer Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin)
- Insurance providers with Home
- Insurance providers available in Canada
- Travel Protect, also regulated by Australian Securities and Investments Commission
- Insurance providers with Travel
- Insurance providers available in Germany