Everybody makes mistakes. If your driving record or credit report happens to contain a few, you might be struggling to find affordable auto insurance. That’s where Direct Auto Insurance can help.
Headquartered in Nashville, Direct (not to be confused with Direct Auto Insurance out of Chicago) offers low auto insurance rates to its customers, regardless of their driving history.
That means if you’ve been in an accident or collected a few tickets, Direct will work with you to find a policy that meets your driving needs and budget. A few key highlights include:
- Flexible payment options
- Multiple discounts available
- 24/7 roadside insurance
- Mobile proof of insurance
- Insurance for driving in Mexico
- Additional insurance products including commercial car insurance, motorcycle insurance, and even health, life, and renters insurance.
Want to know more? Check out our Direct Auto Insurance review to find out what they offer and if they’re the right fit for you.
Direct auto insurance coverage options
Everybody’s insurance needs are different. Whether you’re looking for basic liability, full comprehensive and collision or even something a little more, Direct Auto Insurance has you covered (get it?).
Here’s a look at the types of coverage Direct provides:
Liability coverage: At the very least, it’s important to have liability coverage, which usually includes bodily injury insurance and property damage insurance. However, this type of coverage only protects the other individual(s) involved in an accident you caused, not yourself.
Almost every state requires you to at least carry bodily injury liability insurance. If your state requires you to show an SR-22 insurance form, which is a document that proves you meet your state’s minimum liability coverage, Direct can file one for you.
Comprehensive and collision: These two types of coverage, which are usually purchased together, cover repairs or replacement of your car if it’s stolen, involved in a hit-and-run, damaged in an event other than a collision (hail, for instance), or damaged by running into another object (like a fence or curb).
Often, comprehensive and collision coverage is required if you lease or finance a car.
Uninsured motorist: If you’re hurt in an accident caused by an unidentified driver or driver without enough (or any) liability coverage, this type of insurance will cover the costs. Some states sell “underinsured motorist” coverage separately, while some cover property damage in addition to bodily injury.
Medical payments: This type of optional, additional coverage helps pay for expenses related to medical, hospital, and funeral expenses in the event of an auto accident, regardless of who is at fault.
Personal injury protection: This is another type of insurance that covers some medical, hospital, and funeral expenses in the event of an auto accident, regardless of who is at fault. PIP coverage isn’t available in every state, but some states do require it.
Rental reimbursement: If your car isn’t drivable following an accident, this type of coverage will help pay for a rental car.
Towing: This coverage will pay for emergency towing costs (up to a certain limit) if your car breaks down or can’t be driven after an accident.
Accidental Death: If you died from an auto collision, this insurance would pay out $5,000 to your beneficiaries.
Direct car insurance discounts
Direct actually offers a ton of discounts, which can help you offset the cost of your auto insurance policy. In fact, there’s probably at least one discount you qualify for.
Take a look at the full list of discounts and potential savings:
- Affinity Discount (up to 5%)
- Good Student Discount (up to 10%)
- Homeowner Discount (up to 15%)
- Mileage Discount (up to 5%)
- Military Discount (up to 25%)
- Multi-Car Discount (up to 25%)
- Multi-Product Discount (up to 5%)
- Prior Coverage Discount (up to 25%)
- Renewal Discount (up to 20%)
- Safe Driver Discount (up to 10%)
- Senior Citizen Discount (up to 5%)
- Welcome Back Discount (up to 6%)
Where is Direct car insurance available?
Currently, Direct Auto Insurance offers coverage in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Direct financial stability ratings
Of course, cheap auto insurance is great. But you also want to know that the company you work with is financially stable for the long-term and capable of paying out its claims.
Unfortunately, Direct Auto Insurance isn’t listed by any of the major credit rating firms such as A.M. Best or Moody’s. That makes it a bit tough to evaluate its current and future financial outlook.
Direct customer reviews and complaints
Though there isn’t much information about Direct’s financial ratings, there is some data around its customer service.
Direct is listed on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website as a BBB-accredited business with an A+ rating. However, out of 262 reviews by BBB users, its customer service rating averages just 2.42 out of 5 stars.
There have also been 238 customer complaints closed in the past year. Many complaints are related to slow response times from phone representatives.
Other major rating firms, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and J.D Powers, do not currently provide information about Direct Auto Insurance.
Direct car insurance claims
If you’re in the unfortunate situation of having to file a claim, the good news is that Direct offers a few convenient options for doing so:
- Start a claim online by logging into your account.
- Call Direct at 1-800-403-1077 and speak with a claims specialist
- You can also call 1-800-403-1077 to speak with a specialist about a non-auto claim.
Direct Auto Insurance accepts new claims 24/7.
And if you want to check on an existing claim, call 1-800-403-1077 and choose the appropriate option (it helps to have your claim number and the name and extension of your claims representative on hand).
Direct Auto Insurance website and apps
Prefer to handle your insurance needs via the web?
Direct offers a user-friendly website with an online user portal that allows you to start a claim, make a payment, print insurance cards, renew your policy, e-sign documents and more. If you have any questions about using this platform, you can check out the FAQ section.
The downside is that Direct Auto Insurance doesn’t have an app option, so you’re stuck using the browser version for now.
Who is Direct car insurance a good option for?
Whether you have a few blemishes on your driving record or more serious negative marks like a DUI, Direct specializes in providing coverage to high-risk drivers.
Drivers on a budget who are only seeking liability coverage should also consider working with Direct Auto Insurance. And if you’re looking for multiple insurance products, such as auto, life, and renters, Direct can serve as a one-stop-shop and even provide a discount for bundling policies.
Keep in mind that Direct only operates in some states. So if you live outside these areas, Direct Auto Insurance isn’t an option.
The verdict: Is Direct Auto Insurance worth it?
As a high-risk driver, your car insurance options may be limited. Direct Auto Insurance is a good choice if you have issues with your driving record or credit history, or you simply need low-cost liability coverage to satisfy your state’s requirement.
However, if you’re an average driver looking for the most affordable comprehensive coverage, Direct may not be the best option. The same is true if you’re looking for speedy customer service.
Even so, it’s always a good idea to shop around for auto insurance and compare quotes from several companies to be sure you’re getting the best deal.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Executive Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
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Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.