My Honest Experience with Bingle Car Insurance — Too Many Issues

Lshivi293 on 23/09/2026 - 15:58

Based on my experience, my recommendation is do not buy insurance with Bingle.

The biggest issue is the lack of proper customer support. There are no physical centres, no proper online support, and although there is a 1300 number, getting through can take a very long time.

When I actually needed help with a claim, I was repeatedly transferred between departments, had to explain the same situation multiple times, and different teams seemed to have different information. There was no clear ownership of the issue.

Even getting a straightforward answer about my claim and replacement car became extremely difficult and took hours of phone calls.

If you are considering Bingle, think carefully. Insurance is something you need when things go wrong, and in my experience, getting help when things went wrong was the biggest problem.

My personal recommendation is to avoid Bingle and consider an insurer with accessible customer support and a clear claims process.

Automotive Car Insurance Insurance

Related Stores

Bingle
Bingle

Comments

Best
Search through all the comments in this post.
  • DoctorCalculon on 23/09/2026 - 20:27

    All the Suncorp backed insurance companies — Bingle, AAMI, GIO, etc. are all the same. There may be one or two brands that are good (and you pay through the nose).

    • 5
    • sonic2011 on 24/09/2026 - 20:12

      I'm with AAMI, and they're easy to contact based on my experience. The only bad thing is that even when it's a no-fault accident, they still charge you the excess by default. You need to call them to have the excess waived or removed.

      • -1
    • Boioioioi on 25/09/2026 - 16:13

      Ive had a good experience with AAMI

      • -2
  • Ugly on 23/09/2026 - 20:37

    Maybe things have changed but I’ve had 2 previous claims with Bingle, one ~4 years ago and the other ~6 years ago and had no problems whatsoever.

    You mention problems with getting a replacement car, but do you pay the extra? It’s not included in the base premium.

    • 5
    • Brianqpr on 23/09/2026 - 23:13

      Same. Another driver reversed into my parked car and admitted fault. Bingle handled it all and the repair was arranged quickly.

      My son also had a claim with them where someone rear ended his 2007 Corolla. It was a write off and they paid out around $7.5k which was sweet as we bought the car for $3.5k a few months before. Again was dealt with pretty quickly even though the other driver this time denied fault.

      • 2
  • shivi293 on 23/09/2026 - 15:58

    Very disappointed with Bingle and the way my car insurance claim has been handled.

    It has been almost two months since the accident, and I am still being passed between Bingle and the other insurer with no clear answer about who is responsible or what is happening with my car.

    I have spent hours on the phone being transferred between departments, with nobody able to give me a clear update.

    My replacement car is now also at risk of being taken back, and Bingle cannot even clearly tell me whether it will be extended.

    I do not expect to manage the communication between two insurance companies. I pay my insurance premiums and expect my insurer to take ownership of my claim and provide clear answers.

    At this point, I do not even have proper access to my car or my belongings.

    Really frustrating and disappointing experience. I just want someone at Bingle to take ownership and resolve this.

    • 3
    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 23/09/2026 - 16:03

      Well, if it helps, RACQ insurance have also stooged me many times on car and home/contents insurance. So it’s not like paying for a ‘bigger’ name insurer guarantees less stuffing around.

      • 17
      • Gunnar on 23/09/2026 - 21:55

        I thought you didn’t believe in insurance because you consider it a form of gambling?

        • 8
        • jv on 24/09/2026 - 10:13

          Depends what odds you are getting.

          • 0
    • morebunnings on 24/09/2026 - 14:04

      Honestly, threaten to go to the AFTCA Ombudsmen.

      Write a formal letter saying you've been dicked around. Its costs them about $11k in AFTCA fees if you make a complaint. They take it really seriously.

      AI gave me this. Send it and see what happens:

      RE: Formal Complaint and Intent to Escalate to AFCA
      Policy Number: [Your Policy Number]
      Claim Number: [Your Claim Number]
      Date of Incident: [Date of Accident] 

      To the Internal Dispute Resolution Team, 

      I am writing to lodge a formal complaint regarding the unreasonable delay in processing my car insurance claim. 

      It has now been two months since the accident occurred on [Date of Accident]. Despite providing all necessary information, I have experienced persistent delays and a lack of clear communication from your team. This ongoing delay has caused me significant inconvenience and financial strain. 

      Under the General Insurance Code of Practice, insurers are required to handle claims efficiently, fairly, and transparently. The current timeframe and lack of progress on my file do not reflect these standards. 

      Please consider this letter my final attempt to resolve this matter directly with you. If this claim is not fully processed, and a satisfactory resolution or settlement offer is not provided within seven (7) business days of this letter, I will immediately escalate this dispute to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). 

      As you are aware, escalating this matter to AFCA will involve independent review and may result in substantial case management fees for your firm. I would prefer to avoid this outcome, but I will not hesitate to proceed if my claim remains unresolved. 

      I expect a prompt response acknowledging this complaint and confirming the steps being taken to finalise my claim. 

      Yours sincerely, 

      [Your Name]

      • 4
      • meong on 24/09/2026 - 15:51

        I really cant be bothered waiting around anymore with banks and insurances…

        many times i go through the normal process and its always like a week to 2 weeks with no updates…

        these days, i just put through a call, then get reference and go straight to AFCA to log it and usually resolved within a week…

        • 3
      • dwarves on 25/09/2026 - 05:01

        “seven (7)”

        Jesus wept

        • -2
    • ATTS on 25/09/2026 - 07:46

      You have any opinions on shannons

      • 0
  • sumyungguy on 23/09/2026 - 16:27

    Has never been highly regarded; get what you pay for

    • 3
    • TEER3X on 23/09/2026 - 17:46

      Are any insurers?

      • 9
      • Hellfire on 23/09/2026 - 17:48

        Some are much better at manipulating their Product Review rating than others.

        • 7
      • Some Random Guy on 24/09/2026 - 08:39

        Yes there are a few

        • 0
  • Wiadro on 23/09/2026 - 18:52

    ADACIHS

    @mapax seeking approval

    • 3
    • mapax on 23/09/2026 - 18:55

      Approved

      • 6
  • ihbh on 23/09/2026 - 18:52

    Bingle is Suncorp's No Frills brand. Don't expect to pay peanuts and get premium service.

    • 3
    • nedski on 24/09/2026 - 11:02

      Thats what I was thinking. When you do premium comparisons and you see one more expensive you think, rip off. But then it comes time to claim and you are surprised that the cheapest provider doesnt give a premium service.

      • 0
  • cashless on 23/09/2026 - 23:53

    Not sure if it’s just my experience but having been with Bingle for many years (10+) and having had no problems with a couple of claims etc, I suddenly notice their premiums are getting higher than some other providers.
    I’m careful in shopping around every year at renewal time. Bingle have consistently been the cheapest.
    But this year I noticed that Budget Direct have been much cheaper (~25%).
    Switching over to BD now.

    • 3
    • Brianqpr on 24/09/2026 - 11:53

      True, I sacked them off for my daughter's car as the renewal increase was ridiculous (she's never had a claim). Budget direct were a lot cheaper so insured with them for the year. That said Budget direct haven't been great value other times I've run quotes with them so fully expect to have to shop around again next year.

      • 0
  • JIMB0 on 23/09/2026 - 20:03

    You'll get better service if you go through the AFCA ombudsman. You need to make a couple of attempts directly with your insurer first. It's just like using the Telecommunications ombudsman with Telstra to escape their endless loop of unhelpful agents.

    • 2
  • TheFreaK on 23/09/2026 - 21:18

    I lodged it on the website with no issues - maybe don't bother calling the insurer that prides themselves on being super digital?

    • 2
  • altomic on 24/09/2026 - 10:11

    now tell us your dishonest experience with bingle.

    • 2
  • plmko on 24/09/2026 - 13:38

    This really a classic story of someone who needs more assistance and really should pay more for that service but they refuse to pay and get what they pay for. But instead they blaim the system instead of their decision making.

    I'll be blunt, all insurers are the same, mostly because it's the underwriter that is writing the cheques and supplying the lawyers. The front end who you pay are just these middle aged ladies paid to chat with you, if that is what you need then so be it.

    I've been with them all, self insured including self represented and each win over another party has been similar enough. The bottom line is you need to do your leg work for an insurer to the do the right thing, do not assume.

    • 2
    • MS Paint on 25/09/2026 - 05:24

      Honestly, this sounds more honest than OP's honesty.

      • 0
  • netjock on 23/09/2026 - 17:39

    The whole business model is collect premiums then provision the least possible to meet the bare minimum. You probably don't have a straight forward case either. I had a case with budget direct where it was someone else who decided to hit me from behind while I was stationary and tried to claim I was at fault.

    The other driver thinks I told the insurer it was their fault. I told the insurer the story and they told me who was at fault and who is getting the demand letter.

    • 1
  • Dack Smith on 23/09/2026 - 17:53

    Typical Lara Bingle behaviour.

    • 1
    • sharkyoz on 23/09/2026 - 22:08

      What have Peter Brock and Brendan Fevola have in common?
      Theyve both been in a Bingle.

      • -2
  • logistics on 24/09/2026 - 07:31

    What phone number?

    Bingle is an online only insurer. It's the reason why they are meant to be cheaper compared to others.

    No branches or call centre to manage policies and claims

    • 1
    • zah on 24/09/2026 - 11:21

      They have a call centre, it’s just not advertised very well probably because they don’t want people to know they have one.

      • 3
  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 24/09/2026 - 08:12

    I made a claim several years ago and it was smooth and simple.

    If you need hand holding and a phone number then pay more and go for a full service provider, be it utilities, insurance, internet etc. don't whinge when you go with a no frills budget provider.

    • 1
    • Brianqpr on 24/09/2026 - 11:56

      Its like crying about having to pay for checked bags on Jetstar.

      • 0
  • Seraphin7 on 24/09/2026 - 08:54

    Whodathunk a mob offering something for cheap would give the cheap experience, especially when it comes to them needing do more than collect cash from you??

    • 1
  • vinni9284 on 25/09/2026 - 06:35

    Insurance companies & many other business models are pushing back the work to the customer, regularly inflating premiums

    All you can do it retain all evidence of communications & even at least get a dash cam/CCTV for car & house insurance claims, prepared and ready for the ombudsman.

    Eventually (probably now) you'll be dealing with the friendly AI insurance centre representative to help you process a claim and when it's a complex claim, get ready for the boot loop BSOD.

    But miraculously the yearly inflated premiums always without fail reach you on time.

    • 1
  • Protato on 25/09/2026 - 09:18

    I've had two claims with Bingle and they were very supportive in my experience. When my car was written off they paid what I believed was above market place (more than what I paid for the car too).

    • 1
  • QuickToThePointless on 23/09/2026 - 18:18

    They all crooks

    • 0
  • MS Paint on 23/09/2026 - 19:14

    Sounds like a bingle bungle

    • 0
  • paloverde88 on 24/09/2026 - 04:38

    Their previous names was nickels

    • 0
  • zah on 24/09/2026 - 05:56

    My claim went through just fine, but they wouldn’t budge on getting me a hire car or taxi to pick up my car so I had to keep getting transferred until they transferred me to Suncorp who approved my taxi straight away. I still didn’t get the hire car but the at fault party’s insurer (NRMA) covered my Uber receipts no questions asked so it all worked out in the end.

    My Bingle insurance contract also has a clause where if an unlisted driver is driving, there’s an extra excess of $1900. That’s a bit annoying but it is what it is. My premium last year was $550, this year is $722 but I’ve had a NAF accident 10 months ago so the effect of that will take 3-5 years to drop off.

    • 0
    • Brianqpr on 24/09/2026 - 11:55

      Bingle organised and covered Ubers to get me to and from the repairer during my claim (around 6 months ago).

      • 0
  • jv on 24/09/2026 - 10:11

    Based on my experience, my recommendation is do not buy insurance with Bingle.

    How extensive is your experience with car insurance?

    • 0
    • Satchimo on 24/09/2026 - 12:24

      Probably at least an entire year.

      • 1
  • glasswire on 25/09/2026 - 05:45

    I was with Bingle a while back and had no issues. I didn't mind that I didn't need to call them. Everything was done online, including a claim and arranging a small repairer.
    More recently I went through the claim process with NRMA and it was the same thing, I didn't speak to anyone to lodge the claim.

    • 0
  • Muddled dead on 25/09/2026 - 12:17

    I was with Bingle until they hiked their prices. Within a two-month period, I had to make two separate not-at-fault claims (one party was good enough to actually come back and provide their details). I didn’t have the car hire option on my policy, and the repairer missed some of the damage, meaning the car had to stay in the shop longer. When I raised the inconvenience caused by the delay in having my car the complaints department resolved it quickly and provided a rental car.

    • 0
  • bigbadboogieman on 25/09/2026 - 17:41

    That's what you get with Bungle Bingle.
    Jokes aside, Australia has all these laws but no enforcement. They claim nth level of protection for consumers but reality is the opposite. If I were you I would already be sitting with an AFCA complaint reference. (profanity) all corporates that dick around consumers.

    • 0
  • J0hn on 23/09/2026 - 21:51

    Who???

    • -1
  • xuqi on 24/09/2026 - 10:44

    Bingle, bungled the claim…

    • -1
    • sghetti on 23/09/2026 - 16:28

      You're paying for the not at fault hire car companies through your ever increasing insurance premiums…

      • 15
      • Austin 316 on 24/09/2026 - 13:31

        Hmm, good point this. I had never thought about this. Can you please explain more on how this effects our premium?

        • 1
      • Save 50 Cent on 24/09/2026 - 06:12

        Did you mean ‘we’ are paying?

        • 0
      • DOGGYWOWWOW on 23/09/2026 - 16:43

        Correct, but the the other party's insurer (budget direct) would only give me a hatchback hire car to replace my ozbargain approved "high yield investment" car.

        • -3
        • sghetti on 23/09/2026 - 16:46

          Did you tell them you were working in Investment Banking? Surely they would've splurged a bit more for someone in that field?

          • 2
          • altomic on 23/09/2026 - 18:01

            @sghetti: did you tell them you have ozbargain platinum membership?

            • 6
        • brendanm on 23/09/2026 - 16:49

          They can't do that, so you have to tell them how it works.

          • 0
          • DOGGYWOWWOW on 23/09/2026 - 16:51

            @brendanm: Yeah I knew my rights but wasn't bothered to get transferred to their supervisor and waste another hour. Compass personally delivered a much nicer car to my driveway in 2hrs.

            • 2
    • nige0090 on 24/09/2026 - 09:39

      Do you think that engaging the not at fault hire company increased the pressure on the at fault insurer to settle quickly?

      • 0
Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join