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Types of Vehicle Insurance
Third Party Damage
This insurance type covers you against the damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle and/or property. It is the least expensive type of car insurance.
Third party, fire and theft
This insurance type covers damage caused by fire and theft to your vehicle as well as Third Party Property Damage.
Comprehensive
Covers you against accidental loss of or damage to your motor vehicle, as well as any damage to other people’s vehicles or property caused by your vehicle (whether it was your fault or someone else’s). It also covers you for other costs such as salvaging your vehicle from an accident scene and towing it to a repairer.
Young Drivers Insurance
The term “young drivers” usually applies to anyone under the age of 25. Young drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents and therefore tend to be subject to higher premiums.
What’s the cheapest type of policy in New Zealand?
This isn’t a straightforward answer as the cost – your premium – is based on how much of a risk insurers perceive you to be. It’s about how likely the insurer thinks you’ll be to make a claim – so, for example, new, young drivers will pay more than someone who can prove they’ve been accident-free for years.
This also extends to the type of policy. You’d naturally assume third-party cover would be cheapest because it’s lesser cover, but car insurance isn’t always logical.
Some insurers may see you as more responsible if you opt for comprehensive, so price you as a lower risk, giving you a wider level of cover for a smaller cost. There are no hard and fast rules here though – it’s a matter of trial and error when getting quotes. But never just check third party if you’re looking for the cheapest policy.
Why kiwi car insurance for new drivers might be expensive
Age and experience are two big factors in how much you pay for your car insurance. New drivers tend to be younger, and lack much experience behind the wheel. To an insurer, this makes them a bigger risk, which is reflected in the price.
With time comes experience, and for every year you don’t make a car insurance claim, you add a year to your no-claims bonus. This could see your price come down as your driving profile looks less risky.
Another way to show your insurer that you’re not a risky driver is to agree to have a telematics (black box) device installed.
Does lower mileage mean cheaper kiwi car insurance?
You need to be accurate and honest when you declare your annual mileage to get car insurance quotes.
Put in a mileage that’s too low and you risk invalidating your cover, which could cause problems if you need to make a claim.
But if you put a higher mileage than you actually drive, you risk paying too much.
According to our research, car insurance is 13% cheaper if your mileage is 9,000 a year compared to 10,000.
How does my job affect my car insurance?
The impact of your job title on how much your car insurance costs relates to risk factors. So if your job is seen as higher risk by insurers, this is reflected in your premiums. Don’t change your job title to try to reduce the price of your quotes, unless the alternative title genuinely describes your job accurately. Always be honest – if you lie you could invalidate your cover.
How do I work out my car’s value?
When you get a quote, we’ll help you by estimating what your car’s worth based on its age and mileage – but you can change it if it doesn’t seem right. There are tools online that can help you work out your car’s value. Always give an honest valuation. A ballpark estimate’s okay because insurer’s usually pay out based on average market value.
How to get cheaper car insurance in New Zealand?
Here’s 10 things you can do that could help you pay less for your car insurance:
1. Adding a named New Zealand driver can lower prices. But remember, you should always list the person who drives the car most often as the main driver, and any occasional drivers as additional.
2. Increasing your voluntary excess will change prices as you’re willing to a pay more towards any claims. Be sure to consider any compulsory excess listed on a policy as you’ll need to pay the total amount if you make a claim.
3. Build up your no-claims bonus!Â
4. Pay annually if you can. Most New Zealand insurers will charge interest or an admin fee if you choose to pay monthly and could end up costing you over 16% extra.Â
5. Watch out for unnecessary add-ons, such as New Zealand breakdown cover or legal assistance, as this will increase the cost of your quote. Only choose the add-ons you need.
6. Picking the correct job title will lower prices as insurers use your occupation as a rating factor when calculating the price of your insurance.
7. Buy your policy early to get the cheapest price. Our data shows the later you leave it, the more you pay for your insurance. At comparity.co.nz we think the best time to buy your car insurance is around 3 weeks before your renewal.
8. Use comparity.co.nz to compare different levels of cover, the most basic cover doesn’t necessarily make it the cheapest. In fact, comprehensive policies can often be cheaper even though you get a higher level of cover.
9. Think about how you use your car and pick the cover that matches your needs. Social use, social & commuting and business use offer different levels of cover depending on how you use your car.
10. Be accurate with your mileage so you’re only paying for KM’s you’re driving. The average yearly mileage is around 6,5002, but think about the types of trips you do and how often you do them. You can even check the mileage between your last MOTs to see how many KM’s you drove in the last 12 months.
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