Brandwave

How popular isBudget Direct?

In September 2026, people searched for Budget Direct by name about 393,000 times in Australia, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 40.1% of all Australia car insurance brand searches, placing Budget Direct first out of eight brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car insurance brands, Budget Direct appeared in four of the five answers and was the most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Budget Direct is the most searched of 8 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Budget DirectShare of searches 40.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. AAMIShare of searches 26.8%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. NRMA InsuranceShare of searches 9.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  4. YouiShare of searches 9.9%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  5. AllianzShare of searches 6.6%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th

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Top car insurance brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Budget Direct was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Budget Direct is the most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Budget Direct1st
  2. AAMI2nd
  3. Youi3rd
  4. NRMA Insurance4th
  5. ROLLiN'5th
  6. Bingle6th
  7. RACV7th
  8. Allianz8th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Budget Direct4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Youi4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • AAMI3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • NRMA Insurance3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bingle3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • ROLLiN'2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Allianz1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • RACV1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about car insurance brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 22, 2026.

Which car insurance brands compete with Budget Direct?

Budget Direct against car insurance brands in Australia, by month

Share of searches by month for Budget Direct, AAMI, NRMA Insurance, Youi, Allianz, Bingle. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBudget DirectAAMINRMA InsuranceYouiAllianzBingleRACVROLLiN'
Oct 202538.4%25.7%14.1%11.5%4.2%3.5%1.5%1.1%
Nov 202537.2%24.9%16.7%11.1%4.1%3.3%1.5%1.1%
Dec 202536.4%24.3%16.3%10.9%4.9%4%1.8%1.3%
Jan 202638.9%26%11.6%11.6%5.2%3.5%1.9%1.2%
Feb 202640.7%27.2%10%10%5.5%3.7%1.6%1.3%
Mar 202638.7%25.9%11.6%11.6%5.2%4.3%1.6%1.2%
Apr 202643.3%23.6%10.6%10.6%4.8%3.9%1.7%1.4%
May 202641%27.4%10.1%10.1%4.5%3.7%1.6%1.6%
Jun 202640.7%27.2%10%10%4.5%4.5%1.6%1.6%
Jul 202641.8%27.9%10.3%8.4%4.6%3.8%1.7%1.6%
Aug 202641.8%27.9%10.3%8.4%4.6%3.8%1.7%1.6%
Sep 202640.1%26.8%9.9%9.9%6.6%3.6%1.6%1.6%

  1. 1.Budget Direct

    40.1%

    Held 1st. 368K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.7 points.

  2. 2.AAMI

    26.8%

    Held 2nd. 246K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.

  3. 3.NRMA Insurance

    9.9%

    Held 3rd. 90.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  4. 4.Youi

    9.9%

    Held 4th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +1.5 points.

  5. 5.Allianz

    6.6%

    Held 5th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, +49.4% vs prior month. Share +2 points.

  6. 6.Bingle

    3.6%

    Held 6th. 33.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  7. 7.RACV

    1.6%

    Held 7th. 14.8K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  8. 8.ROLLiN'

    1.6%

    Held 8th. 14.3K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

Compare popularity between Budget Direct and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Budget Direct

22 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Budget Direct changed in Australia over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Budget Direct in Australia held steady, from 392K to 393K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Budget Direct’s share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia increased from 38.4% to 40.1%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Budget Direct’s share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia peaked at 43.3% in April 2026 and was lowest at 36.4% in December 2025.

How did search popularity change for Australia car insurance brands in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Allianz gained share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia, from 4.6% to 6.6%.

  2. In September 2026, Youi gained share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia, from 8.4% to 9.9%.

  3. In September 2026, Budget Direct lost share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia, from 41.8% to 40.1%.

  4. In September 2026, AAMI lost share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia, from 27.9% to 26.8%.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for ROLLiN' in Australia rose 30% over 12 measured months, from 11K to 14.3K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for NRMA Insurance in Australia fell 33% over 12 measured months, from 135K to 90.5K in September 2026.

How are Budget Direct’s branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Budget Direct’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • budget direct
  • budget direct home insurance
  • budget direct pet insurance
  • budget direct travel insurance

Do you work for Budget Direct? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Budget Direct compete?

Budget Direct is ranked in four competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Car insurance brands1st of 840.1%Shown above
Travel insurance providers6th of 77.1%Show ranking
Home insurance brands3rd of 713.2%Show ranking
Pet insurance providers6th of 96%Show ranking
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