Direct Auto Insurance Review: Rates & Coverage
Direct Auto Insurance is a good option for drivers who need basic coverage after a ticket or accident. But, most other drivers can find better coverage elsewhere.
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Editor's Rating
Direct Auto specializes in covering "high-risk" drivers. The company advertises its willingness to work with drivers with issues on their records, such as a history of accidents or driving while intoxicated. This means the company offers SR-22 coverage, which you might need to get your license back.
If you want minimum liability coverage, you can find cheaper-than-average rates with Direct Auto car insurance (formerly known as Direct General), but it gets more expensive as you add to your coverage. Direct Auto insurance operates online and through local agencies. Coverage is available in 16 states.
Pros and cons
Pros
Insures high-risk drivers
Offers SR-22 insurance
Lots of discounts
Cons
Poor customer service
Expensive full coverage car insurance
Few coverage options
Direct Auto Insurance rates
Direct Auto car insurance is a good, affordable company for policies that meet the lowest requirements to legally drive, usually called minimum coverage. However, Direct Auto becomes a more expensive option, if you buy full-coverage car insurance.
That holds true if you have an accident or a DUI. You can get cheaper-than-average rates, especially after a DUI, as long as you stick with minimum coverage.
Minimum coverage
Full coverage
Minimum coverage
Full coverage
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Although Direct Auto has cheaper-than-average rates for basic policies, you can still get cheaper rates overall with State Farm or Geico.
Direct auto monthly rates by driving record
Clean Record
Accident
DUI
Company | Minimum coverage | Full coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $38 | $127 |
| Geico | $41 | $169 |
| Travelers | $59 | $193 |
| Direct Auto | $87 | $326 |
| Farmers | $117 | $389 |
| Progressive | $125 | $292 |
| Allstate | $180 | $410 |
Clean Record
Company | Minimum coverage | Full coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
| State Farm | $38 | $127 |
|
| Geico | $41 | $169 |
|
| Travelers | $59 | $193 |
|
| Direct Auto | $87 | $326 |
|
| Farmers | $117 | $389 |
|
| Progressive | $125 | $292 |
|
| Allstate | $180 | $410 |
Accident
Company | Minimum coverage | Full coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
| State Farm | $45 | $147 |
|
| Geico | $56 | $232 |
|
| Travelers | $82 | $264 |
|
| Direct Auto | $121 | $427 |
|
| Farmers | $160 | $544 |
|
| Progressive | $167 | $435 |
|
| Allstate | $287 | $713 |
DUI
Company | Minimum coverage | Full coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
| State Farm | $41 | $136 |
|
| Geico | $72 | $298 |
|
| Direct Auto | $88 | $338 |
|
| Travelers | $89 | $284 |
|
| Farmers | $123 | $417 |
|
| Progressive | $145 | $347 |
|
| Allstate | $199 | $522 |
Direct Auto Insurance coverage
Direct Auto offers several common add-on coverages, in addition to basic coverage like liability, comprehensive, collision and personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. But the company's options to add to your policy can't match most major insurers.
In some cases, Direct Auto will not allow you to buy more than the minimum legally required amount of liability coverage, which severely limits the protection you can get from your policy.
The company also has a few other ways you can add to your policy.
Rental reimbursement
Pays for the cost of a rental car if the insured vehicle is inoperable after damage caused by a covered loss.
Towing
Reimburses the expenses for towing a broken-down car up to the limits the insured selects.
Accidental death coverage
Pays $5,000 to the insured's beneficiaries after death as a result of a covered accident.
Discounts with Direct Auto Insurance
Direct car insurance offers more than a dozen discounts to save on the cost of your policy. Several can help you save up to 25% off their policies.
- Safe driver discount: If you remain accident-free for at least three years, if you can save up to 10%.
- Good student discount: You can get up to 10% off a policy if you have at least a B average as a student in high school, college or vocational school.
- Senior citizen discount: If you complete an accident prevention course at 55 years old or older, you can save up to 5%.
- Driver education discount: Save up to 10% if you complete an accident prevention course or, if you are under 21, a state-approved drivers ed course.
- Multi-car discount: Cover more than one vehicle with Direct Auto and save up to 25%.
- Prior coverage discount: Rates can be reduced by up to 25% if you had your last insurer for nine months and have not had more than a 90-day lapse in coverage.
- Multi-product discount: You can reduce your policy by 5% if you bundle car insurance with life insurance. In some states, roadside assistance or an emergency protection plan could also qualify you for the discount.
- Multipolicy discount: You can save up to 10% if you have multiple policies with Direct Auto.
- Payment discounts: Setting up automatic payments, paperless billing or paying a policy in full can help save up to 9%.
- Homeowner discount: If you own the home where the insured vehicle is stored, you can save up to 15%.
- Welcome back discount: If you return to Direct Auto Insurance within six months of switching to another company, your bills could be reduced by up to 6%.
- Affinity discount: By being a member of an organization that's partnered with Direct Auto Insurance, you can see up to 9% in savings.
- Military discount: Save up to 25% if you are an active service member.
You can also enroll in Direct Auto's DynamicDrive program, a usage-based insurance program that monitors your driving. With good driving habits, you can save up to 10% on your insurance.
Direct Auto car insurance customer reviews and financial strength
Direct Auto Insurance has poor customer service by several metrics. According to the data from National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Direct Auto receives six times as many complaints as an average company its size. Most complaints were about delays in claims.
Direct Auto received an "excellent" rating for its financial strength from AM Best. This means that policyholders likely won't have to worry about the company defaulting on its financial obligations, like paying out claims.
Direct Auto Insurance phone number for claims: 800-403-1077.
Questions about Direct Auto Insurance
Is there a Direct Auto Insurance app?
Yes, Direct Auto Insurance has an app. You can use it to pay bills, file claims and access your insurance card or policy on your phone.
What is the number for Direct Auto roadside assistance?
The number for Direct Auto's roadside assistance service is 877-463-4732, which is the company's general customer service number as well.
Can you get an online quote with Direct Auto?
Yes, you can use Direct Auto's website to request an online quote if you don't want to connect with customer support over the phone.
Where is the Direct Auto Insurance company's corporate office?
Direct Auto's corporate office is in Nashville, Tenn., but the insurer has hundreds of offices located around the country to support drivers. The company is also part of National General Insurance, which is based in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Methodology
ValuePenguin gathered rates from across the state of Florida, where Direct Auto does the majority of its business. Quotes are for minimum and full coverage policies for drivers with a clean record, an at-fault accident and a DUI. Policies are for a 30-year-old male driver of a 2015 Honda Civic EX with good credit.
Rates were gathered using Quadrant Information Systems. Data was compiled using publicly available rate filings. Rates should be used for comparative purposes only as yours will likely be different.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.