Direct Auto Review Summary
Direct Auto is a good insurance company overall, earning a rating of 2.9/5 from WalletHub editors and great scores from organizations such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and AM Best. Direct Auto also happens to be one of the best auto insurance providers for drivers with a history of traffic violations and at-fault accidents. However, the company has received a much higher volume of customer complaints than many of its competitors.
In the sections below, you can learn more about Direct Auto’s coverage options and discounts, as well as how the company measures up against top competitors.
Summary: Direct Auto Scores by Review Category
Now that you’re familiar with Direct Auto’s scores in each of our review categories, let’s see how the company compares to top competitors in a handful of key areas. Hopefully, this will help you find the best insurance company for your needs.
Direct Auto Car Insurance Pricing
Category Rating: 0% (0 out of 30)
| Driver Profile | Average Quote |
|---|---|
| 18-Year-Old | $263 per month |
| 21-Year-Old | $165 per month |
| 45-Year-Old | $111 per month |
| 45-Year-Old with a Speeding Ticket | $139 per month |
| 45-Year-Old with DUI | $118 per month |
| 55-Year-Old | $108 per month |
| 65-Year-Old | $110 per month |
Direct Auto received a score of 0/30 in the cost portion of this review, as its premiums are some of the expensive available from the major car insurance providers that WalletHub evaluated. Learn more about WalletHub’s Methodology.
Direct Auto Customer Service & Reviews
Category Rating: 50% (15 out of 30)
- Reviews on WalletHub: 3.9/5
- NAIC: 0.86
- BBB: N/R
Direct Auto is rated highly by WalletHub users and the Better Business Bureau, which rates insurance companies’ business practices. However, the company has received below-average ratings in the customer service department, so it lost points in this category. Additionally, Direct Auto’s NAIC score is 10.92, meaning it receives a much higher volume of complaints than the average insurance company its size.
Direct Auto’s Financial Stability
Category Rating: 100% (4 out of 4)
- AM Best: A+
Direct Auto is on great financial footing according to AM Best, one of the nation’s leading credit rating agencies for the insurance industry, which gave Direct Auto a score of A+.
Direct Auto Claims
Category Rating: 100% (15 out of 15)
With Direct Auto, you can file a claim at any time by logging in to your Direct Auto account online. You can also reach Direct Auto 24/7 at 1 (800) 403-1077 to file a claim.
Direct Auto’s ease of accessibility has earned the insurance company full marks in this category, per WalletHub’s grading criteria.
Direct Auto’s Types of Insurance
Category Rating: 100% (5 out of 5)
- Auto insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
- Roadside assistance
- SR-22 insurance
- DUI insurance
- Emergency protection plans
- Commercial auto insurance
- Renters insurance
- Term life insurance
- Health insurance marketplace
- Medicare
- Telemedicine
Direct Auto’s varied list of insurance options earned the company full marks in this category. As an auto insurance provider in particular, Direct Auto offers all the major coverage options that are commonly required by states and lenders, including bodily injury liability, property damage liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist, collision, and comprehensive.
Direct Auto also offers extra coverage options that you can add to your auto policy for enhanced protection.
Supplemental Direct Auto Car Insurance Coverage Options:
- Emergency Road Service: Pays for certain emergency roadside services, including towing, mechanical repair, fuel delivery, jump-starts, tire repairs, and locksmith services.
Specialty Types of Direct Auto Car Insurance:
- Emergency Protection Plan for individuals looking to supplement their health insurance coverage. Direct Auto’s emergency protection plan can include a hospital stay benefit, accident medical expense reimbursement, accidental death and dismemberment coverage, ambulance assistance, mechanical first aid, auto rental reimbursement / lost personal effects coverage, and trip planning services.
- Mexico Tourist Auto Insurance for individuals who need to purchase liability and other coverage options for driving in Mexico. Direct Auto offers this policy through a third-party provider, MXGA.
If you’re thinking about adding a supplemental coverage option to your policy or signing up for a specialty insurance policy, get in touch with a Direct Auto agent to make sure the extra coverage makes sense for your personal situation and your wallet.
Direct Auto Discounts
Category Rating: 100% (5 out of 5)
- Military Discount
- Safe Driver Discount
- Good Student Discount
- Senior Citizen Discount
- DynamicDrive℠ Discount
- Driver Education Discounts
- Multi-Car Discount
- Vehicle Equipment Discounts
- Multi-Product Discount
- Prior Coverage Savings
- Homeowner Discount
- Welcome Back Discount
- Affinity Discount
- Payment Discounts
- Multi-Policy Discount
While Direct Auto offers more than a dozen discount options, it’s not the most extensive list among auto insurance providers. Also, keep in mind that the availability and eligibility criteria for these discounts vary by state.
Direct Auto’s Transparency
Category Rating: 100% (5 out of 5)
You can find key information on the Direct Auto website quickly and easily, so it got the highest score possible in the transparency department. You can also call a live agent at 1-877-463-4732 to get answers to your questions.
Bottom Line
Direct Auto is a pretty good insurance company, scoring well in terms of pricing, coverage options and claims processing. Direct Auto also offers generous discounts for auto insurance policies, as well as discounts for bundling multiple insurance plans.
Direct Auto Car Insurance vs. Competitors
| Insurer | Direct Auto | GEICO | State Farm | Progressive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Annual Premium* | $2,260 per year | $1,009 per year | $1,410 per year | $1,296 per year |
| Number of Car Insurance Discounts | 15 | 23 | 16 | 18 |
| Offers Home Insurance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Complaints Score (lower is best) | 10.92 | 0.81 | 1.35 | 1.52 |
| Editor’s Rating | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.1 |
*Complaints Score represents the company's overall NAIC rating. Car insurance-specific rating may differ.
*Average annual premiums are based on a variety of driver profiles. Individuals’ premiums may differ, but these rates illustrate how costs from these insurers typically compare. Learn more about how these rates were calculated in the methodology section below.
For more car insurance research, check out WalletHub’s analysis of the cheapest car insurance companies. And if you have experience with Direct Auto that you think might help other consumers, you can write a Direct Auto insurance review.
Methodology
In order to provide fair, helpful reviews of insurance companies such as Direct Auto that can lead consumers to the best insurance coverage for their needs, WalletHub rates each insurance company in seven major categories: Cost, Insurance Types, Customer Service & Reviews, Discounts, Claims, Financial Stability and Transparency. Below, you can find an overview of what each section in our scoring rubric entails.
- The “Cost” section includes information about how expensive the insurance policies are. Direct Auto’s average premiums and quartile rankings are based on data from California, the largest state Direct Auto operates in. Rate information is provided by Quadrant Information Services. Individual rates will be different.
- The “Insurance Types” section examines what types of insurance policies the company offers.
- The “Customer Service & Reviews” section measures the insurance company’s reputation as well as user reviews and information from watchdog organizations.
- The “Discounts” section examines how many and what types of discounts the company offers. It also takes into consideration whether or not there are discounts for bundling policies.
- The “Claims” section examines the ways in which customers can make claims with the policy. It considers whether or not customers can make claims by phone or online, as well as whether or not the company has a 24/7 support line.
- The “Financial Stability” section considers the company’s status with credit rating agencies AM Best, S&P and Moody’s.
- The “Transparency” section measures how clearly the insurer discloses key information on its website.
The final score takes these seven categories into account and reflects how close an insurance company is to WalletHub’s definition of a 5-star insurer. For more information, please read WalletHub’s full insurance company methodology.
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