Direct Auto
Direct Auto Insurance specializes in high-risk drivers, but with a high number of complaints, there may be better options out there.- Can file an SR-22 form for drivers who need it.
- Offers both car insurance for high-risk drivers and life insurance, giving customers the option to bundle policies and receive a discount.
- Flexible payment options available for customers.
- High number of auto insurance complaints when compared with other companies.
- Doesn’t offer additional coverage options like gap or rideshare insurance.
Direct Auto Insurance earned 3.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer experience, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and financial strength ratings.
Direct Auto is a subsidiary of Allstate that caters primarily to high-risk drivers who can't get car insurance elsewhere. It may suit your needs if you've been denied coverage due to at-fault crashes, poor credit or other issues, or if you simply want to satisfy your state’s minimum liability insurance requirements.
Direct Auto is not affiliated with the lesser-known company of the same name based in Chicago.
» MORE: The best car insurance companies
Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage so you can choose the insurance policy that works best for you. These carrier ratings are specific to auto insurance — a company's rating for other products may be different on our site. See our criteria for evaluating auto insurance companies.
- How we review auto insurance companies
In our auto insurance reviews, our editorial team considers both the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:
Financial strength. We use A.M. Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. NerdWallet does not recommend companies with a rating lower than a B.
Complaints. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best auto insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.
Ease of use. This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes how much coverage information is offered online, whether a user can start and track a claim online and get a quote and mobile app scores based on the Apple and Google Play store ratings.
Discounts. We look at both the kind of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.
Compare to other insurers
NerdWallet rating 3.5/5 |  NerdWallet rating 2.5/5 |  NerdWallet rating 2.5/5 |
Discounts Great set of discounts | Discounts Great set of discounts | Discounts Very few discounts |
Ease of use Above average | Ease of use Above average | Ease of use Below average |
NAIC complaints Far more than expected | NAIC complaints Far more than expected | NAIC complaints More than expected |
Bottom line Direct Auto Insurance specializes in high-risk drivers, but with a high number of complaints, there may be better options out there. | Bottom line Infinity caters to high-risk drivers, although availability is unclear. | Bottom line This insurer offers coverage for high-risk drivers and can help you out with an SR-22, but it has a high volume of customer complaints. |
Direct Auto insurance coverage
When you're shopping for car insurance coverage, it's important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. For instance, most states require a minimum amount of car insurance to drive a vehicle. Alternatively, if you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Read about the most common types of car insurance coverage to see how they work.
Direct Auto has all the basic coverage choices, including roadside assistance and towing coverage. It also offers additional services to customers, including:
Customizable payments. The company lets you decide what day of the month your auto insurance bill is due and offers several ways to pay, including by phone with text-to-pay and in person.
SR-22 insurance forms. Direct Auto can provide an SR-22 form for drivers if their state requires it. An SR-22 insurance form is a document that proves you meet your state’s minimum liability coverage. You might need an SR-22 form if you’ve been convicted of a DUI or another serious traffic offense.
» MORE: Compare car insurance rates
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Auto insurance discounts
You may be able to save on your auto insurance policy by:
Being a member of the military.
Meeting Direct Auto’s standards for being a safe driver.
Meeting Direct Auto's standards for being a good student.
Successfully completing an accident prevention course if you’re 55 years or older.
Insuring more than one vehicle with Direct Auto.
Buying multiple insurance products from Direct Auto.
Being insured by a previous company for at least six months, with no more than a 90-day lapse in coverage.
Owning a home.
Previously purchasing a policy with Direct Auto. (Must not have had a Direct Auto car insurance policy in the past six months to qualify.)
Being an active member of certain organizations.
Paying in full, setting up automatic payments or going paperless.
Driving a vehicle with certain safety and anti-theft features.
First time shopping for auto insurance? Unsure of where to start? Check out our guide on how to shop for car insurance.
Pricing based on tracked driving habits
Direct Auto’s DynamicDrive program tracks your driving behavior through the Routely app. You’ll earn a discount when you sign up and can earn an additional discount upon renewal if Direct Auto determines you’re a safe driver.
Direct Auto life insurance coverage
Direct Auto offers term life insurance policies, up to $25,000, though coverage varies by state. Only six- or 12-month terms are available, but you can renew up to two years at the same premium, and the policies don’t require a life insurance medical exam. If you’re buying life insurance and have an auto insurance policy with the company,, you won’t need to make an additional down payment.
Complaints
Direct Auto had far more than the expected number of complaints about auto insurance to state regulators relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
More about Direct Auto insurance
Website: Direct Auto’s site includes detailed explanations of its discounts, coverage, payment options and claim procedures. You can log in to pay bills or view ID cards and policy information. You can also file and track a claim through the site. However, you may not be able to adjust your policy online.
Other insurance from Direct Auto
You can also purchase the following types of policies from Direct Auto:
Motorcycle insurance.
Insurance for driving in Mexico.
Commercial auto insurance.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a quote from Direct Auto?
How do I get a quote from Direct Auto?
You can get an auto insurance quote online, over the phone or in person at one of Direct Auto’s local stores.
In what states does Direct Auto sell policies?
In what states does Direct Auto sell policies?
Direct Auto offers car insurance in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
How do you file a claim with Direct Auto?
How do you file a claim with Direct Auto?
You can file a claim with Direct Auto online or over the phone. Both options are available 24/7 to drivers with a Direct Auto policy.
Methodology
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2021-2023. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.
Average rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” and “poor” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are average rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor” as reported to the insurer to see rates for drivers with poor credit. In states where credit isn’t taken into account, we only used rates for “good credit.”
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken-driving violation.
We used a 2021 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for drivers of the following ages: 20, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60 and 70.
2025 auto insurance survey methodology
The opt-in survey of 7,503 U.S. adults ages 18 and older was conducted online by Russell Research on behalf of NerdWallet in June and July 2024. Respondents were asked to rate one auto insurance brand they obtained or renewed a policy within the past 12 months, with at least some changes to the original policy. These brands were rated on overall satisfaction, overall value, online experience, trustworthiness, mobile app experience, claims experience and customer support on a scale of 1-100.
Only brands with 100 or more qualifying respondents are reported. Of those respondents: 300 were State Farm customers, 300 were Progressive customers, 300 were Allstate customers, 300 were GEICO customers, 100 were USAA customers, 157 were AAA customers, 100 were Liberty Mutual customers, 100 were American Family customers, 100 were Farmers customers, 100 were Travelers customers and 101 were Nationwide customers.
