Jessica is a freelance writer, professional researcher, and mother of two rambunctious little boys. She specializes in personal finance, women and money, and financial literacy. Jessica is fascinated by the psychology of money and what drives people to make important financial decisions. She holds a Masters of Science degree in Cognitive Research Psychology.
Jessica has been a contributor at Insurify since July 2023.
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
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If you’re a high-risk driver, you might consider Direct Auto. The company provides car insurance to all drivers, including those with a less-than-perfect driving record. It also offers flexible payment plans, allowing you to schedule payments according to your budget.
Direct Auto is only available in 15 U.S. states and has a higher-than-average number of customer complaints, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index.[1]
When looking for insurance, you should always compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best rates and coverage options. Here’s what you need to know about car insurance coverage from Direct Auto.
Quick Facts
Direct Auto is a subsidiary of Allstate Insurance.
The company also offers SR-22, medical payments, and personal injury protection coverage.
While Direct Auto rates are generally on par with competitors, customers commonly complain about the cost of premiums.
How Direct Auto compares to other insurance companies
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
7.3 /10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$97/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$185/mo
How drivers feel about Direct Auto
Drivers appreciate the initial low rates and the roadside assistance but dislike the significant rate increases and poor customer service.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
High-risk drivers
Ample discounts
24/7 claims support
How drivers feel about Direct Auto
Drivers appreciate the initial low rates and the roadside assistance but dislike the significant rate increases and poor customer service.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
High-risk drivers
Ample discounts
24/7 claims support
Reviews (281)
April
December 16, 2024
Verified Review
Terrible
The cost is too high for the state minimum. Plus, there's no coverage for replacement with liability only.
George
December 16, 2024
Verified Review
Basic Coverage
The coverage is fair, but I was very disappointed when I needed to use roadside assistance and couldn't.
Douglas
December 16, 2024
Verified Review
Wildlife Ride
If you choose Direct, you might end up in a potentially bad financial situation. They will hold you responsible if wildlife damages your vehicle.
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
NR
NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
2.02
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A
Why we picked this company
For a little more than 20 years, Direct Auto has specialized in providing insurance for non-standard drivers who may struggle to find affordable coverage elsewhere, and to drivers who need SR-22 certification. Today, the company sells car, motorcycle, and term life insurance, car insurance in Mexico, roadside assistance, and vehicle protection plans. Direct operates in just 16 states. The company has an A+ rating from A.M. Best for financial and credit strength, but nearly 35 times the number of expected complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Customer Complaint Index.
Pros
Customers can bundle car insurance with other auto-related products
Cons
Not available in all states
Direct Auto has average rates but lower customer service ratings when compared to similar car insurance companies like Amica, Bristol West, Midvale Home & Auto, and Safeco. Direct Auto also offers fewer discounts and more limited availability than similar insurance companies. But its financial strength rating is comparable to its competitors.
The following table outlines how Direct Auto compares to similar auto insurers.
Factor
▲▼
How Direct Auto Compares
▲▼
Rates
Average
Customer service
Worse than competitors
Discounts
Less than competitors
Availability
Less than competitors
Financial strength
Similar to competitors
How Direct Auto rates compare to competitors
Direct Auto customers pay an average of $185 per month for full coverage. This is comparable with many of Direct Auto’s competitors. You can see how Direct Auto’s rates for full-coverage car insurance compare in the table below.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Average cost of Direct Auto insurance
The average rate for full-coverage insurance from Direct Auto is $185, and the average rate for a liability policy is $97. These rates are comparable with many of Direct Auto’s direct competitors.
The table below shows you how average monthly liability rates from Direct Auto compare to the national average for different driver groups.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Find Your Next Auto Insurance Policy
Compare rates from the nation’s leading insurance companies
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Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Direct Auto car insurance cost by state
Car insurance requirements and prices vary from one state to the next. Factors like the cost of medical care and car repairs, the frequency of auto insurance fraud, and the weather trends in your state can all affect your insurance premiums.[2]
The following table provides monthly averages for Direct Auto insurance in the 15 states it operates in. All rates are for liability coverage.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Direct Auto car insurance discounts
If you’re trying to find the cheapest car insurance, you’ll want to compare insurer discounts as well. Auto insurance discounts can help lower the cost of your monthly insurance premium.[3] Direct Auto offers a variety of discounts that can reduce your rate by as much as 25%.
Discount
▲▼
% Discount
▲▼
Multi-policy
Up to 10%
Multi-car
Up to 25%
Auto payments
Up to 9%
Driver education
Up to 10%
Senior citizen
Up to 5%
Good student
Up to 10%
Safe driver
Up to 10%
Military
Up to 25%
Vehicle equipment
Up to 10%
How customers feel about Direct Auto
Direct Auto has a mix of reviews from customers, but overall, ratings are low. One of the most common complaints is around cost. Several customers express that Direct Auto charges double the price of other insurance companies. The company scores 2/5 with Trustpilot and 1/5 on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website.
Direct Auto customer reviews
To give you an honest look at what Direct Auto customers are saying, read verified reviews from Direct Auto customers here.
April - December 16, 2024
Verified
Terrible
The cost is too high for the state minimum. Plus, there's no coverage for replacement with liability only.
George - December 16, 2024
Verified
Basic Coverage
The coverage is fair, but I was very disappointed when I needed to use roadside assistance and couldn't.
Douglas - December 16, 2024
Verified
Wildlife Ride
If you choose Direct, you might end up in a potentially bad financial situation. They will hold you responsible if wildlife damages your vehicle.
Earl - December 9, 2024
Verified
Good
The quote prices were really good.
…
Direct Auto ratings
To understand the financial stability and customer satisfaction of Direct Auto, you can review different ratings.
AM Best is a global credit-rating agency that provides financial stability measures for the insurance industry. J.D. Power is a global analytics company that provides customer insights on the performance of insurance companies. The NAIC rating reveals customer complaint data for insurance companies.
See how Direct Auto measures up on the following ratings.
Rating
▲▼
Score
▲▼
What This Means
▲▼
AM Best
A++
The company can afford to pay customers’ claims
J.D. Power
Not scored
The company has no rating on J.D. Powers’ Auto Claims Satisfaction Survey
NAIC Complaint Index
7.11
Higher-than-average number of customer complaints for a company its size
Direct Auto car insurance coverage options
Every state except New Hampshire requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of car insurance. This coverage generally includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability protection. Bodily injury liability insurance covers other drivers if you cause a car accident. Property liability coverage pays for damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle or property.
Direct Auto offers collision insurance, which pays to repair your car if it’s damaged in an accident. You can also purchase comprehensive insurance, which pays for your car repairs in non-collision events such as theft, vandalism, or storm damage.
SR-22 insuranceisa form that some high-risk drivers have to file with their state DMV to prove they meet state-minimum insurance requirements.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects you if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run or you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have enough insurance.
Personal injury protection coverage
Personal injury protection pays for certain medical and non-medical expenses, including hospital bills, work loss expenses, and funeral costs.
Rental reimbursement coverage
Rental car reimbursement helps pay for a rental car if you can’t drive your vehicle after an accident or other loss your insurance covers.
Medical payments coverage
Medical payments coverage helps pay for your and your passenger’s medical bills, hospital stays, or funeral expenses if you’re in an accident, no matter whose fault it was.
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Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Other options for Direct Auto customers
In addition to car insurance, Direct Auto customers can access other types of insurance products, including:
Motorcycle insurance: Complete motorcycle coverage protects you, your passengers, and your bike.
Commercial auto insurance: Direct Auto can help you cover your commercial vehicles, such as a work van or fleets of vehicles.
Term life insurance: Life insurance helps protect your family’s finances in the event you pass away.
How Direct Auto DynamicDrive works
Direct Auto DynamicDrive is a program that monitors your driving behavior using a smartphone app. The safer you drive, the more you can save.
You can immediately save up to 10% on insurance by enrolling in the program and downloading the app. DynamicDrive uses your location services to determine the speed and distance you drive. It also measures the time of day you drive, hard and extreme braking, speeding, and distracted driving due to phone handling. After signing up for the program, you have 30 days to opt out. If you do, you’ll lose your discount.
Direct Auto insurance FAQs
Still questioning if Direct Auto is the right insurance company for you? Here’s some additional information about the company to help you make an informed decision.
Is Direct Auto legitimate?
Yes. Direct Auto got its start in 1991 in Nashville, Tennessee. Today, it’s part of the Allstate insurance family. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has accreditation from the company since 2021, and it has an A+ rating. The purpose of the BBB is to help consumers identify which businesses they can trust.
What is the average cost of Direct Auto car insurance?
The average monthly cost of Direct Auto car insurance is $97 per month for liability coverage and $185 for full coverage.
The cost you’ll pay for coverage depends on factors like your driving record, age, ZIP code, credit history, and more. The best way to find cheap car insurance is to compare multiple car insurance quotes from different companies.
Is Direct Auto good at paying claims?
Direct Auto has an AM Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior), which means it can afford to pay customer claims. The company has a higher-than-average score on the NAIC complaint index, which indicates dissatisfaction among some customers. Unfortunately, J.D. Power hasn’t rated Direct Auto for claims satisfaction.
How do I cancel my Direct Auto insurance policy?
You can cancel your Direct Auto policy in person, through customer service, or by fax or email.
To cancel in person, go to a local Direct Auto Insurance and sign a cancellation request. You can also call customer service at 1 (877) 463-4732 or send a fax to 1 (877) 622-7338. The fax must include your policy number, name, address, date of birth, the date you want to cancel, and your signature. Finally, you can request a cancellation online by emailing customer service at [email protected].
What company owns Direct Auto Insurance?
National General Insurance Group, an Allstate company, owns Direct Auto.
Jessica is a freelance writer, professional researcher, and mother of two rambunctious little boys. She specializes in personal finance, women and money, and financial literacy. Jessica is fascinated by the psychology of money and what drives people to make important financial decisions. She holds a Masters of Science degree in Cognitive Research Psychology.
Jessica has been a contributor at Insurify since July 2023.
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
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