Comparing Insurance Costs for the Most Popular Cars in NZ 2026

Which cars are most popular in New Zealand in 2026?

Toyota, Ford, and Mitsubishi dominate the new-car market. According to the Q4 2025 RedBook Market Update, 37,123 new cars were registered in the final quarter of 2025, taking the full-year total to 137,939, up 7% on 2024 and the first year-on-year rise after three years of decline. At a model level, the six most-registered new vehicles for Q4 2025 were:

Source: RedBook NZ Q4 2025 Market Update. The Toyota RAV4 also led the full year with 11,295 registrations.

How much does it cost to insure NZ’s most popular cars?

In the 12 months to April 2026, the Ford Everest had the highest average comprehensive premium of any popular new vehicle in our data, while the Mitsubishi Outlander was the cheapest to insure across Wellington and Canterbury. Auckland was the most expensive region for every model. The table below shows the average, highest, and lowest yearly comprehensive premium captured on the Quashed Market Scan in each region

Source: Quashed Market Scan, 12 months to April 2026. Highest and lowest figures show the range of monthly averages observed over the period. 

A few patterns stand out from the data:

• Auckland is the most expensive region for every model. For example, the Ford Ranger averages $1,898 a year in Auckland compared with $1,404 in Wellington, a $494 gap for the same vehicle. This aligns with our latest Quashed Index data, which shows Auckland drivers pay $1,478 a year on average, well above the national average of $1,267.

• Large SUVs and utes carry the highest premiums. The Ford Everest tops the chart at $2,352 a year in Auckland, followed by the Ford Ranger ($1,898) and Toyota Hilux ($1,737). Higher sums insured, heavier vehicles, and more expensive parts all play a role.

• The Mitsubishi Outlander is the cheapest popular SUV to insure in Wellington and Canterbury. At $1,109 a year in Canterbury and $1,169 in Wellington, it sits below every other model in our list in those regions.

• Toyota RAV4, NZ’s number-one new car, is mid-pack on insurance. At $1,628 a year in Auckland and around $1,220 to $1,253 in Wellington and Canterbury, the hybrid RAV4 costs less to insure than the larger Ford Ranger, Hilux, and Everest in every region.

How does the car you drive affect your insurance premium in NZ?

Your vehicle is one of the biggest factors insurers use to set your premium. They look at how safe the car is, how expensive its parts are, how easily it can be repaired in New Zealand, and how often that model gets stolen. Cars with cheap, widely available parts usually attract lower premiums because repairs cost less. The Toyota Aqua, for example, has been the most stolen vehicle in NZ for four years running, which pushes premiums for that model above the national average even though it is a small, low-value car.

Fuel type matters too. Electric vehicles typically cost more to insure than petrol or hybrid equivalents because of higher repair costs and specialised parts. For a full comparison, see our guides on EV vs Petrol Car: Total Cost of Ownership NZ 2026 and EV vs Hybrid Car: Total Cost of Ownership NZ 2026.

How can I lower my car insurance premium in NZ?

The single biggest lever is comparing insurers, but there are several others worth using together. In Q1 2026, 81% of Kiwis who scanned their comprehensive car insurance with us found a cheaper policy, with average savings of $377 a year. Here is what to do:

1. Compare at least 5 insurers. Prices for the same driver and vehicle can differ by hundreds of dollars across providers. Run a free Quashed Market Scan to see quotes from 10+ NZ insurers side by side in about 90 seconds.

2. Factor in your location. Aucklanders pay the most for car insurance on every model in our table. If you live in (or are moving to) Auckland, comparing is even more important. Postcode-level pricing means two suburbs in the same city can quote very differently.

3. Choose your vehicle with insurance in mind. Cars with strong safety ratings, lower theft rates, and cheaper locally available parts typically cost less to insure. In Auckland, choosing a Mitsubishi Outlander or Toyota RAV4 over a Ford Everest could save you roughly $700 to $900 a year on insurance alone.

4. Set your sum insured accurately. Over-insuring inflates your premium; under-insuring leaves you exposed at claim time. Use Trade Me's free Value My Car tool or a recent like-for-like sale to set a realistic figure, then test how the premium moves on Quashed when you adjust it.

5. Raise your excess if you can afford to. Lifting your excess from $500 to $1,000 or $1,500 typically cuts your premium meaningfully. Only raise it to a level you could comfortably pay out of pocket if you needed to claim.

6. Review at every renewal. Insurers price new business more aggressively than renewals. Comparing every year is the simplest way to avoid the loyalty tax.

Why do car insurance premiums vary by region and vehicle?

Premiums vary because insurers price for risk, and that risk is different for every postcode and every vehicle. Four factors do most of the work:

• Traffic density and claim frequency. Auckland’s higher vehicle volumes mean more accidents, more claims, and higher premiums. Wellington and Canterbury sit below the national average partly because fewer cars share the road.

• Theft and crime rates. Insurers price in regional theft data. Some popular models such as the Toyota Hilux are also commercial workhorses, which can lift premiums in regions where theft of utes and tools is more common.

• Vehicle value and repair costs. Larger SUVs like the Ford Everest typically have higher sums insured, advanced safety technology, and more expensive replacement parts.

• Natural-disaster exposure. Wellington and Canterbury both carry earthquake, weather, and flood considerations, which can affect reinsurance pricing flowing through to consumer premiums.

For a deeper look at why premiums have climbed and how to bring yours back down, see Cheap Car Insurance NZ 2026: Proven Ways to Lower Your Premium.

Related reading

If you want to go deeper on any of the topics in this article, these guides are a good next step. Each one is written and maintained by the Quashed team and reflects the latest 2026 data and market changes.

• Ultimate NZ Guide to Car Insurance (2026): Compare & Find the Best and Cheapest Cover. A full breakdown of how comprehensive premiums are calculated and how to compare across NZ insurers.

• Cheap Car Insurance NZ 2026: Proven Ways to Lower Your Premium. Practical, data-backed strategies to reduce your car insurance costs without cutting cover.

• Average Car, House, and Contents Insurance Cost NZ 2026. The latest Quashed Index data on what Kiwis are paying, broken down by region and age group.

• Electric vehicles compared to petrols & hybrids: do they cost more to insure?. Three case studies comparing EV insurance premiums against equivalent petrol and hybrid models.

• EV vs Hybrid Car: Total Cost of Ownership in New Zealand 2026. How EVs stack up against hybrids on purchase price, fuel, insurance, and depreciation.

• EV vs Petrol Car: Total Cost of Ownership in New Zealand 2026. A full ownership-cost comparison between electric and petrol vehicles in NZ.

• Choosing Your Next Vehicle: How Car Make and Model Impact Your Insurance in NZ 2026. What to check before you buy, including a model-by-model look at premium impact.

FAQs

Why is car insurance so expensive in New Zealand?

Comprehensive car insurance averaged $1,267 a year in Q1 2026, 33% higher than three years ago. The rise is driven by more frequent severe-weather claims, higher repair costs from advanced vehicle technology, rising vehicle values, and increased reinsurance costs flowing through to consumer premiums.

Which car is cheapest to insure in New Zealand?

Among NZ’s most popular new vehicles, the Mitsubishi Outlander is the cheapest to insure in Wellington ($1,169 a year) and Canterbury ($1,109), while the Mitsubishi ASX is cheapest in Auckland ($1,387 a year). Smaller, lower-value cars with cheap parts and low theft rates tend to be the most affordable to insure overall. Your actual quote depends on your driver profile, sum insured, and excess. Run a free Market Scan to see what you would pay.

Are utes more expensive to insure than cars in NZ?

Yes, utes typically cost more to insure than equivalent passenger cars. Utes are heavier (which means more damage in a collision), usually have higher sums insured, and are often used commercially or for towing. In our data, the Ford Ranger averages $1,898 a year in Auckland and the Toyota Hilux $1,737, both well above the national average for comprehensive cover.

How much can I save by comparing car insurance in NZ?

In Q1 2026, 81% of Kiwis who ran their comprehensive car insurance through the Quashed Market Scan found a cheaper policy, with average savings of $377 a year. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive insurer for the same driver and vehicle has widened over recent years, so the case for comparing every renewal is stronger than ever.

Why is car insurance more expensive in Auckland than other cities?

Auckland car insurance is more expensive because the city has higher traffic density, higher claim frequency, and higher rates of vehicle theft than Wellington or Canterbury. Auckland drivers pay $1,478 a year on average for comprehensive cover, compared with $1,166 in Canterbury and $1,115 in Wellington (Q1 2026 Quashed Index). Even within Auckland, premiums vary by postcode based on local theft and accident data.

How often should I shop around for car insurance?

At least once a year, ideally before your renewal. Insurers tend to offer their sharpest prices to new customers, so existing policyholders often pay more than they need to. The Quashed Index estimates the average "loyalty tax" across car, house, and contents at $1,560 a year for those who never compare. A 90-second Market Scan before each renewal is the simplest way to check you are not overpaying.