Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Budget Direct vs Progressive
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Budget Direct |  Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | A$76.45 | $75 |
| Insurance types | Auto, Home, Renters, Life, Travel, Pet, Motorcycle, Breakdown, Landlord, Income protection | Auto, Home, Renters, Life, Travel, Pet, Motorcycle, Breakdown, Gadget |
| Cover limit | AUD 12,000-25,000 per year (pet insurance annual benefit limit; Plus up to $25,000, Essential $12,000) | USD 5,000, 10,000 or 20,000 annual benefit |
| Claims channels | Phone, Online | Phone, Online, App, AgentCovers more |
| Excess from | A$100 | 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
- Progressive scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at Progressive: 1937 vs 2000.
- Insurance types: only Budget Direct offers Landlord, Income protection.
- Insurance types: only Progressive offers Gadget.
- Claims channels: only Progressive offers App, Agent.
- 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.
Progressive
Progressive suits households in the US who want auto, home, renters, life, travel and pet cover from a single insurer. Premiums start at $75 and monthly payments are available, so the appeal is breadth plus a bill spread across the year.
Score breakdown
| Area | Budget Direct | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8HigherPremium starts at AUD 76.45, well above the €8.37 site median, so the cost case is weak. | 8.7 |
| Offer | 9.4 | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 9.3 | 9.6Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Budget Direct | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | California Department of Insurance (CP Pet Insurance Services, LLC) CA license #0N14138 Iowa Insurance Division (Companion Protect Agency, LLC) Iowa license #1002314428 Florida Department of Financial Services (Companion Protect Agency, LLC) FL License # L106403 |
Additional countries for Budget Direct: 1. Additional countries for Progressive: 1.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Budget Direct | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Car insurance | 100 of 375 | 95 of 375 |
| Home insurance | 86 of 273 | 80 of 273 |
| Renters and contents insurance | 30 of 78 | 28 of 78 |
| Life insurance | 87 of 263 | 79 of 263 |
| Travel insurance | 116 of 295 | 106 of 295 |
| Pet insurance | 58 of 167 | 56 of 167 |
| Motorbike insurance | 44 of 120 | 42 of 120 |
| Breakdown cover | 20 of 53 | 17 of 53 |
Feature by feature
| Insurance types | Budget Direct | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Yes | Yes |
| Home | Yes | Yes |
| Renters | Yes | Yes |
| Life | Yes | Yes |
| Travel | Yes | Yes |
| Pet | Yes | Yes |
| Motorcycle | Yes | Yes |
| Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Landlord | Yes | No |
| Income protection | Yes | No |
| Gadget | No | Yes |
Sources behind this comparison
Budget Direct
- budgetdirect.com.au: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Progressive
- progressive.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Budget Direct | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Legal entity | Auto & General Services Pty Ltd | Progressive Casualty Insurance Company |
| Headquarters | Australia | United States |
| Founded | 2000 | 1937Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Budget Direct | Progressive | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excess from | A$100above the median | Not confirmed | A$0 |
Median across 7 listed insurance providers.
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
Progressive
Pros
- Cover spans auto, home and renters, so a household can hold several lines with a single provider.
- Claims can be opened through phone, online and app, including an agent and an app.
- Monthly payments are available and monthly is the only payment model listed, so the premium is paid in instalments.
Cons
- Pet cover pays USD 5,000, 10,000 or 20,000 annual benefit, so a costly year at the vet can outrun the payout.
- Support runs on phone, chat and help centre only, so email is not among the ways to reach the insurer.
- The listed licences are held in California, Texas, Iowa and Florida, so the agencies behind pet cover answer to state regulators, with Iowa license #1002314428 one example.
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
Progressive
Who it suits
- Households in the US that want several personal lines from a single provider rather than separate ones, with auto, home and renters on the list.
- Pet owners happy with USD 5,000, 10,000 or 20,000 annual benefit who pay monthly.
- Drivers and riders who like claiming through phone, online and app and having an agent as well as digital routes.
Who should look elsewhere
- Good Sam Insurance Agency, if health cover matters: its list runs to auto, home and renters while Progressive's stops at auto, home and renters.
- bunq, if you want a personal finance app that opens at €0 rather than personal lines.
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
Progressive
Current offer
Discount code
Bundle and save an average of 5% on auto in most states: 5% average discount on auto when bundled with property
Average savings based on 6-month term and not available in all states.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Switch to Progressive and save: USD 975 average 12-month savings
National average 12-month savings (auto = $975, bundle = $1,099) by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2025 and May 2026. Potential savings will vary.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Budget Direct | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| United States | 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.
Progressive
How much does Progressive cost?+
Cover starts at $75 for the year. That opening figure sits above the median of €8.37 across the brands on the site, so expect to pay more than a typical listing at the outset. What you actually pay depends on the line, the cover chosen and where you live.
What can I cover with Progressive?+
The list runs to auto, home and renters, so auto, home, renters, life, travel, pet, motorcycle, breakdown and gadget cover all come from the same provider. Progressive is an insurer rather than a broker, which keeps the policies with the company that pays the claim.