Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Budget Direct vs King Price
Where Budget Direct and King Price differ
| Compare |  Budget Direct |  King Price |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | A$76.45 | ZAR 1 |
| Insurance types | Auto, Home, Renters, Life, Travel, Pet, Motorcycle, Breakdown, Landlord, Income protection | Auto, Home, Renters, Life, Motorcycle, Gadget, Breakdown |
| Excess from | A$100 | ZAR 5,000 |
| Claims channels | Phone, Online | Online, App, Phone, WhatsappCovers more |
| Cover limit | AUD 12,000-25,000 per year (pet insurance annual benefit limit; Plus up to $25,000, Essential $12,000) | Not confirmed |
| Age range | Pet insurance: over 8 weeks old and under 9 years old at first policy | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Provider type (Insurer), Monthly payments (Yes).
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Key differences
- Budget Direct scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at Budget Direct: 2000 vs 2012.
- King Price is available in 1 more country.
- Insurance types: only Budget Direct offers Travel, Pet, Landlord.
- Insurance types: only King Price offers Gadget.
- Claims channels: only King Price offers App, Whatsapp.
- Support channels: only Budget Direct offers Email.
Our verdict on each
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.
King Price
King Price suits South African households and drivers who want a low starting premium and monthly payments in one place. It carries 5.1 overall, held back by an excess that starts at ZAR 5,000 on its one-rand tier.
Score breakdown
| Area | Budget Direct | King Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Premium starts at AUD 76.45, well above the €8.37 site median, so the cost case is weak. | 9.1HigherCover starts at ZAR 1 on a monthly model, but the excess starts at ZAR 5,000, so small claims carry real cost. |
| Offer | 9.4 | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 9.0 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Budget Direct | King Price |
|---|---|---|
| Car insurance | 100 of 375 | 149 of 375 |
| Home insurance | 86 of 273 | 135 of 273 |
| Renters and contents insurance | 30 of 78 | 43 of 78 |
| Life insurance | 87 of 263 | 135 of 263 |
| Motorbike insurance | 44 of 120 | 63 of 120 |
| Breakdown cover | 20 of 53 | 32 of 53 |
Pick Budget Direct if, pick King Price if
Pick Budget Direct if trust matter most.
Pick King Price if cost and claims channels matter most.
Licences and countries
| Country | Budget Direct | King Price |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| South Africa | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Budget Direct: 1. Additional countries for King Price: 2.
Side by side, item by item
| Insurance types | Budget Direct | King Price |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Yes | Yes |
| Home | Yes | Yes |
| Renters | Yes | Yes |
| Life | Yes | Yes |
| Travel | Yes | No |
| Pet | Yes | No |
| Motorcycle | Yes | Yes |
| Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Landlord | Yes | No |
| Income protection | Yes | No |
| Gadget | No | Yes |
Where these facts come from
Budget Direct
- budgetdirect.com.au: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
King Price
- kingprice.co.za: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Budget Direct | King Price |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Legal entity | Auto & General Services Pty Ltd | King Price Insurance Company Ltd |
| Headquarters | Australia | South Africa |
| Founded | 2000Lower | 2012 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Chat, Help centre |
Pros and cons
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
King Price
Pros
- Cover starts at ZAR 1 on a monthly model, one of the lowest entry points among the brands on these pages
- An insurer rather than a broker or comparison site, so the contract sits with King Price Insurance Company Ltd
- Covers auto, home and renters, so car, home, renters, life, motorcycle, gadget and breakdown sit with one provider
Cons
- The excess starts at ZAR 5,000, so smaller claims are left with the household
- Support runs on phone, chat and help centre only, with no email route listed for policy questions
- Life cover sits with the long-term registration only, so it is a separate product from the short-term lines
Who each suits
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
King Price
Who it suits
- South African households bundling car, home, renters, gadget and breakdown cover on a monthly model
- Drivers who want to start at a very low premium and add cover later
- Renters and gadget owners who want contents and device cover from the same insurer
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a low excess, since the excess starts at ZAR 5,000
- Buyers who want health, travel or pet cover, which Good Sam Insurance Agency lists in auto, home and renters
- Anyone needing a provider with an email support channel, since phone, chat and help centre covers phone, chat and a help centre
Current offers
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
King Price
Current offer
First period offer
Get up to 20% off when you insure multiple cars: 20% off
T's & C's apply. Premiums are risk profile-dependent and reviewed annually.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
R1 insurance on golf clubs, bicycles or hearing aids: R1 per month
Requires comprehensive car insurance; T's & C's apply. Premiums are risk profile-dependent and reviewed annually.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Budget Direct | King Price |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Namibia | No | Yes |
| South Africa | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
King Price
What does cover cost at King Price?+
Cover starts at ZAR 1 on the monthly tier, which is the entry price rather than a typical quote for a household with several assets. Read it alongside the excess, which starts at ZAR 5,000, because that is the amount you would pay toward a claim before the insurer contributes. A low premium with a high excess can cost more overall than a higher premium with a low excess.
Is King Price regulated?+
Yes. It is registered with the Financial Services Conduct Authority in South Africa as a registered financial services provider for short-term insurance under FSP 43862. It holds a second registration for long-term insurance under FSP 47235, which is what covers the life product.