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Direct Auto is a subsidiary of Allstate, the fourth-largest private passenger auto insurance company in the country. As Direct Auto specializes in non-standard coverage, I believe it's a good fit for those who have trouble getting coverage elsewhere, such as drivers who have been convicted of driving under the influence.
Drivers with histories of driving infractions can expect to pay higher rates with any insurer, but Direct Auto has several discount programs that could help make your premiums more manageable. However, drivers with clean driving records will likely find better rates elsewhere.
How we evaluate products
FinanceBuzz researches a number of factors in each auto insurance provider to create our reviews. These factors include cost and discounts, complaints and customer satisfaction, coverage, and ease of use. We also gather information from sources such as Insurify, J.D. Power, AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and the Better Business Bureau to ensure we provide the most useful information to our readers.
Direct Auto pros and cons
- SR-22 coverage available
- 24/7 support
- Multiple discount programs
- Poorly rated for customer satisfaction
- Only operates in 15 states
How much does Direct Auto cost?
To find out how Direct Auto measures up in terms of cost, we reviewed data from Insurify on quotes from 36 leading insurance companies. In general, we found that Direct Auto's rates were competitive with the industry average for both liability and full coverage policies.
On average, Direct Auto's liability-only policies were $92 per month, compared to the national average of $193. Its full coverage policies averaged $176 per month, compared to the national average of $102.
| Driver type | Direct Auto liability-only monthly premium | Direct Auto full coverage monthly premium |
| Clean driving record | $92 | $360 |
| Speeding ticket on driving record | $113 | $216 |
| At-fault accident on driving record | $123 | $235 |
| DUI on driving record | $149 | $285 |
| Teen driver | $188 | $360 |
| Senior driver (60s) | $66 | $126 |
| Senior driver (70s) | $67 | $128 |
| Data sourced from Insurify | ||
| Driver type | National average liability-only monthly premium | National average full coverage monthly premium |
| Clean driving record | $105 | $192 |
| Speeding ticket on driving record | $141 | $265 |
| At-fault accident on driving record | $146 | $274 |
| DUI on driving record | $166 | $313 |
| Teen driver | $194 | $364 |
| Senior driver | $85 | $160 |
| Data sourced from Insurify | ||
Is Direct Auto good?
Company ratings:
- AM Best: A (excellent)
- J.D. Power claims satisfaction: N/A
- BBB: A+
- NAIC complaints: 0.51 (Below average)
Although Direct Auto offers non-standard coverage, it has strong reviews and a positive reputation in the insurance industry. It has high financial stability ratings from AM Best, a credit rating agency that evaluates companies within the insurance industry, and positive ratings from the Better Business Bureau.
The company has a relatively low complaint index from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC uses the number of complaints and the size of the company to determine its complaint ratio. The standard complaint ratio is 1.0. When a company like Direct Auto has a complaint ratio below 1.0, it means the NAIC received fewer complaints than it expected for a company of its size and market share.
However, reviews aren't all positive. On TrustPilot, it has a 1.4 out of 5 rating; it has poor reviews based on approximately 77 reviews. Customers frequently complained about issues with customer service and mistakes made by representatives during the claims process.
If you've struggled to qualify for coverage elsewhere, I'd say Direct Auto could be a useful option to get the coverage you need to legally get behind the wheel. But if you have a clean driving record, shop around to see if you can get coverage at a more competitive rate from a company with a better reputation for customer service.
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Discounts
For those looking to cut corners and save money on car insurance, Direct Auto has a broad range of insurance discounts. It has industry-standard discount programs such as multi-policy discounts, safe driver discounts, and good student discounts, but it has some unusual ones too.
For example, drivers who are 55 or older and complete a safe driving course can qualify for a 5% senior citizen discount. And, you can qualify for a discount if you're a homeowner; you can save up to 15% if you or your spouse own the property where you park your car.
To get cheaper car insurance, drivers can also take advantage of Direct Auto's DynamicDrive program. This program is a usage-based insurance (UBI) policy that tracks your driving and bases your premiums on your driving habits. You can qualify for a 10% discount for enrolling, and, if you drive safely, save even more over time.
| Discount | Does Direct Auto Insurance have it? | GEICO | Progressive |
| Loyalty | No | No | No |
| Multi-policy/bundling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple vehicle | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Airbag | Yes | Yes | No |
| Anti-lock brakes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Anti-theft | Yes | Yes | Yes (select states) |
| Safe driver | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Good student | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Away-from-home student | No | Yes | Yes |
| New car | Yes | Yes | No |
| Pay in full | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic payments | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GAP insurance | No | No | No |
| Senior | Yes | No | No |
| Military | Yes | Yes | No |
| Defensive driving course | Yes | Yes | Yes (select states) |
Coverage
Direct Auto offers basic auto insurance policies that are typical for the industry. You can opt for a liability-only policy that meets your state-miniumum requirements, or you can choose a full coverage policy that includes collision, comprehensive, and liability insurance. And, it also works with drivers who need a SR-22, a certificate that some states require drivers convicted of some driving offenses to provide to prove they meet the state financial responsibility requirements.
Direct Auto allows you to add some perks or additional coverages to your policy, such as roadside assistance or uninsured motorist protection. However, its list of add-ons is limited, and it doesn't offer coverages such as guaranteed asset protection (GAP) insurance or insurance for aftermarket parts.
Direct Auto provides the following forms of car insurance.
- Bodily injury liability
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Medical payments
- Non-owner insurance
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
- Property damage liability
- Rental reimbursement
- Roadside assistance
- Uninsured motorist
Average rate:
Direct Auto vs. competitors
When it comes to cost, Direct Auto's policies are close to the industry average for both liability-only and full coverage policies. For example, its average monthly premium for full coverage insurance policies is $176 while its liability average monthly premium is $92. You can see how it stacks up to other companies and the national average rates below.
| Company name | Average monthly full coverage | Average monthly liability-only coverage |
| USAA | $99 | $46 |
| GEICO | $118 | $55 |
| State Farm | $119 | $55 |
| Allstate | $132 | $62 |
| Progressive | $148 | $101 |
| American Family | $157 | $72 |
| Nationwide | $181 | $85 |
| Travelers | $191 | $90 |
| National average | $199 | $105 |
| Farmers | $236 | $110 |
| Liberty Mutual | $250 | $169 |
| Data sourced from Insurify | ||
It's always a good idea to get quotes from several insurers at least once a year; I've found that rates can vary significantly by insurer, so switching providers can help you save a substantial amount of money.
However, cost is just one factor to keep in mind. You also need to take into consideration what coverages are available and how responsive the company's customer support team is. To help you compare companies, here is how Direct Auto measures up to two major competitors.
Direct Auto vs. GEICO
Geico typically has lower-than-average rates for both liability-only and full coverage policies. Geico's average premium for full coverage policies was just $114 per month, less than Direct Auto's premium.
Unlike Direct Auto, which is only available in some states, Geico issues policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. To me, Geico's availability and lower rates make it a better choice than Direct Auto.
Learn more in our GEICO review.
Direct Auto vs. Progressive
Progressive tends to be cheaper than Direct Auto for full coverage policies but is slightly more expensive for its liability-only coverage. But, Progressive stands out from Direct Auto in several ways.
It offers additional coverages that Direct Auto lacks, such as aftermarket parts protection and loan/lease payoff coverage. Similar to GAP insurance, this optional add-on helps pay for the difference between your car's current value and what you owe on a loan or lease.
If I had a loan or lease, the ability to add that form of protection to my policy would make me choose Progressive over Direct Auto.
Learn more in our Progressive review.
FAQs
How do I contact Direct Auto?
You can contact Direct Auto via phone. Customer support is available at 1-877-463-4732 during the following hours:
- Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. CST
- Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CST
- Sunday: Closed
Is Direct Auto owned by Allstate?
Yes. Initially launched in Tennessee in 1991, Direct Auto became part of National General, which was acquired by Allstate in 2021. Today, Direct Auto is a subsidiary of Allstate.
Bottom line
Direct Auto could be an option for you if you have a driving record with accidents, tickets, or driving under the influence convictions. You can purchase coverage at a lower rate than other non-standard insurers provide, and the company has a solid reputation.
However, its coverage options are limited, and it's not available everywhere. If you want more personalized or niche forms of coverage — or live in a state where Direct Auto isn't available — you may be able to find better rates and coverage from another insurer, such as one of the companies on our list of the best car insurance providers.
Average rate:
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