Budget Direct vs NRMA Insurance:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Budget Direct had more branded searches than NRMA Insurance among car insurance brands in Australia. Budget Direct had about 368,000 branded searches, while NRMA Insurance had 90,500. Budget Direct made up 40.1% of all car insurance brand searches we track, and NRMA Insurance accounted for 9.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car insurance brands, Budget Direct appeared in four of the five answers and NRMA Insurance in three. Budget Direct was mentioned before NRMA Insurance in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Budget Direct, about 4 searches for every 1 for NRMA Insurance
Who does AI mention more?
Budget Direct, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, NRMA Insurance in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
Budget Direct, named ahead of NRMA Insurance in every answer
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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. NRMA Insurance was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Budget Direct was listed before NRMA Insurance in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Budget Direct1st
AAMI2nd
Youi3rd
NRMA Insurance4th
ROLLiN'5th
Bingle6th
RACV7th
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which car insurance company should I use in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best car insurance brands in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best comprehensive car insurance in Australia for a young driver?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“car insurance”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“compare car insurance”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 22, 2026.
Is Budget Direct or NRMA Insurance more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Budget Direct and NRMA Insurance by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight car insurance brands we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.
Share of searches by month for Budget Direct, NRMA Insurance. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Budget Direct | AAMI | NRMA Insurance | Youi | Allianz | Bingle | RACV | ROLLiN' |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 38.4% | 25.7% | 14.1% | 11.5% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 37.2% | 24.9% | 16.7% | 11.1% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 36.4% | 24.3% | 16.3% | 10.9% | 4.9% | 4% | 1.8% | 1.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 38.9% | 26% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 1.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 40.7% | 27.2% | 10% | 10% | 5.5% | 3.7% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 38.7% | 25.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 1.6% | 1.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 43.3% | 23.6% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| May 2026 | 41% | 27.4% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| Jun 2026 | 40.7% | 27.2% | 10% | 10% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| Jul 2026 | 41.8% | 27.9% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 1.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 41.8% | 27.9% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 1.6% |
| Sep 2026 | 40.1% | 26.8% | 9.9% | 9.9% | 6.6% | 3.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
How has the Budget Direct and NRMA Insurance comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Budget Direct was ahead of NRMA Insurance in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Budget Direct’s share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia moved from 38.4% to 40.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 368K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NRMA Insurance’s share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia moved from 14.1% to 9.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 135K to 90.5K.
How did search popularity change for Australia car insurance brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Budget Direct lost share of searches among car insurance brands in Australia, from 41.8% to 40.1%.
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 branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Budget Direct’s and NRMA Insurance’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Budget Direct
1 branded search term
- budget direct
NRMA Insurance
1 branded search term
- nrma insurance
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