MAS Car, House, & Contents Insurance NZ 2026: Review, Quotes & Claims
MAS, short for Medical Assurance Society, is one of only two mutual insurers still operating in New Zealand. That means it is owned by its Members rather than external shareholders, and profits are reinvested into Member value and community initiatives rather than paid out offshore. Founded in 1921, MAS today offers house, contents, and car insurance to Kiwis across Aotearoa.
MAS comprehensive car insurance is available live on the Quashed Market Scan, so you can get a real MAS quote in under two minutes. In this review, we break down what MAS covers, what it costs for a real Auckland profile, how claims work, and who MAS works best for.
1. What is MAS?
MAS is rated A (Strong) by S&P Global Ratings, which is a solid, investment-grade mark for a New Zealand insurer and reflects strong claims-paying ability.
The practical takeaway: if you value local ownership, no offshore shareholders, and a long-term Member relationship over shopping purely on price, MAS deserves a close look.
2. What Does MAS Insurance Cover?
MAS offers a focused suite of personal insurance for Kiwis. Here is what each of its car, house, and contents policies cover in plain English.
House Insurance
MAS house insurance protects your home against a wide range of events, including fire, storm, flooding, earthquakes, accidental damage, and theft. It covers permanent structures such as walls, roofs, garages, and built-in fixtures like kitchens and bathrooms. Where MAS stands out is that it offers three different settlement options:
Area Replacement: MAS agrees to rebuild your home to the same floor area (square metres) regardless of what construction costs are at the time of the claim. This removes the underinsurance risk that many Kiwis discovered after the Christchurch earthquakes and Cyclone Gabrielle. Accuracy of your floor area measurement is critical here.
Agreed Value (Sum Insured): You set a maximum dollar amount for the rebuild. This is the standard NZ model used by most insurers and is common for homes with unique features or where you want tighter control of your premium.
Indemnity Value: Pays the market value of the damaged part of the home at the time of loss, rather than a full rebuild. Generally suitable for specific scenarios such as older homes or second properties.
Standalone MAS house policies also include some useful sub-limits, verified in the current MAS House Policy: up to $50,000 for alternative accommodation if your home is uninhabitable, excess-free glass cover on windows and doors, up to $2,000 for keys and locks replacement (first claim excess-free), and up to $5,000 for hidden water or gradual damage in certain circumstances.
Contents Insurance
MAS contents insurance covers your belongings against events like theft, fire, natural disaster, and accidental damage, with new-for-old replacement on most items.
These extras are included automatically: up to $2,000 for fraudulent debit or credit card use, up to $5,000 for cyber-bullying expenses (No Claims Bonus protected), up to $20,000 accidental death benefit, up to $50,000 for alternative accommodation if your home is uninhabitable, up to $25,000 for business-use items at home (plus $5,000 away from home), and automatic cover for parents' or grandparents' contents while they are in a rest home.
Per-item limits apply on high-value goods. Per the MAS Contents Policy wording, any new item of jewellery, sporting equipment, or electronic equipment valued over $5,000 counts as a change in circumstances you must disclose, and these items need to be listed as specified items on your schedule to be fully covered.
Car Insurance
MAS car insurance comes in the three standard NZ tiers:
Comprehensive: Covers accidental damage to your own car, plus fire, theft, and liability to others. MAS Comprehensive includes excess-free glass cover as standard, which is a feature many insurers charge extra for.
Third Party, Fire & Theft (TPFT): Covers your legal liability to others, plus fire and theft of your own vehicle, settled at market value at the time of loss.
Third Party Only (TPO): The most basic tier. Covers only your legal liability to other people's property and vehicles, not damage to your own car.
On Comprehensive cover, you choose between agreed value (a fixed payout agreed upfront if your car is written off) and market value (paid at the vehicle's value at the time of loss). Agreed value provides more certainty, especially if you have finance on the car. Market value is usually cheaper but can leave you short if your vehicle has depreciated.
MAS Comprehensive also bundles in several benefits that are optional extras with many insurers: MAS Roadside Assistance provided by AA Roadservice (no excess for standard services), excess-free windscreen, window and sunroof glass, a no-fault excess refund (if another party is completely at fault, MAS refunds your excess and your No Claims Bonus is protected), and a $3,000 no-fault top-up that pays out on your own vehicle even under Third Party or TPFT if the other party is 100% at fault. A trailer you own or have in your care is also automatically covered up to $2,000.
Total-loss new-for-old replacement applies if your vehicle is uneconomical to repair and is either less than 1 year old, or less than 2 years old with no more than 40,000 km driven. Any replacement vehicle you purchase is automatically covered for 30 days on the same terms and conditions as your existing policy.
3. What Does MAS Insurance Cost and What Do You Get?
MAS premiums are calculated individually based on your property, vehicle, location, claims history, and cover level, so there is no universal price list. To show you what MAS actually costs and covers, we ran the Quashed Market Scan in April 2026 for an owner-occupier profile in Greenlane, Auckland. Your numbers will differ, but this is the real MAS-specific breakdown for one profile.
The profile: 50-year-old owner-occupier, Auckland, NZ Full licence held 5+ years, no accidents.
MAS car insurance: $290 per month
For Comprehensive cover on a Tesla EV with a sum insured of $73,990, MAS returned a monthly premium of $290. Here is what is included in that quote:
Excess: $600
Excess-free windscreen, window and sunroof glass cover, included free
AA Roadservice roadside assistance, built in at no extra cost
Liability cover: $10 million property damage and $1 million bodily injury
Lost, stolen or duplicated keys and locks: up to $1,000 (first claim excess-free)
Trailer cover: up to $2,000
Emergency towing, storage and transport: up to $1,000
Child car seats: up to $1,000
Accommodation costs after a claim: up to $500
Young driver cover available; commercial or business use permitted, with exclusions
Financial strength rating: A (Strong) from S&P Global Ratings
MAS house and contents insurance: $300 per month
For a house sum insured of $835,695 plus $40,000 of contents cover, MAS returned a combined monthly premium of $300. The house policy includes:
Excess: $500 (MAS default tier)
Replacement cover with Area Replacement built in, so inflation and demand surge are covered
Retaining wall cover: up to $100,000
Temporary accommodation if your home is uninhabitable: up to $50,000
Excess-free glass cover on windows and doors
Keys and locks replacement: up to $2,000 (first claim no excess)
Hidden water or gradual damage: up to $5,000
Landscaping cover: up to $5,000
Outdoor patio, deck, pool, recreational features and special features: covered
Demolition and debris removal: covered
Related costs (legal, surveyor, and similar): covered
Natural disaster top-up cover above the NHCover limits: Yes
30-day free-look / cancellation period
Not covered as standard on this MAS house quote:
Methamphetamine contamination
Permanent electronic equipment
Electric current damage
A natural disaster excess penalty may apply, and an additional excess applies if the home is unoccupied for more than 60 days.
The MAS levers that can bring your premium down
Multi-product discount: Members with two of the three general insurance policies (house, contents, or motor) receive a multi-product discount. Still active as of April 2026.
Goldshield discount: Members who hold all three (house, contents, and motor) with MAS qualify for the Goldshield discount, MAS's highest tier of multi-policy saving. This is increasingly rare in the NZ insurance market since many major insurers have scrapped their bundling discounts.
One event, one excess: Where an event triggers claims across more than one MAS policy (for example, a storm damaging both your house and car), you pay only the highest applicable excess once, not one per policy.
Secured No Claims Bonus: Hold a MAS contents policy for five consecutive claim-free years and your maximum no-claims bonus is protected for the life of the policy, no matter how many claims you make afterwards (per MAS Contents Policy wording).
Voluntary excess: Lifting your voluntary excess (for example, from $500 to $1,000 on car or house) reduces your annual premium. Only do this if you can cover the higher excess out of pocket.
Your MAS quote will differ based on vehicle, property, location, and driver profile. To see what MAS actually prices for your situation, run a free Quashed Market Scan.
4. How to Make a Claim on MAS Insurance
MAS handles its own claims in-house rather than outsourcing to a third party, which is one reason Members often rate its claims experience highly. The process for a car, house, or contents claim looks like this:
Step 1: Make sure everyone is safe
If there has been a car accident, a house fire, or any situation where people may be hurt, your first priority is safety. Call 111 if needed, and contact the police if you suspect a crime such as theft or vandalism. Only then move on to documenting what happened.
Step 2: Gather the details
Before lodging the claim, pull together your policy number, a clear description of what happened, and photos of any damage. For car claims, you will also need the registration and driver details of any other parties involved, plus any independent witness contact information.
Step 3: Lodge the claim with MAS
You can lodge a claim three ways. Online via the MAS online claim form, through your myMAS Member portal, or by phone on 0800 800 627 (Option 1). For urgent after-hours claims, MAS has an emergency line on +64 4 478 8863. MAS's in-house assessors then review the claim and contact you about next steps. For car claims, you can choose between one of MAS's preferred repairers (with guaranteed repairs) or a repairer of your choice.
Step 4: Pay your excess and settle the claim
If your claim is accepted, you pay your excess either to MAS, to the repairer, or it is deducted from your settlement. Where a single event triggers claims across more than one MAS policy, you only pay the highest applicable excess once.
What not to do at the scene of an incident
Never admit liability or agree to pay for damage at the scene. Do not authorise non-emergency repairs without MAS approval. Do not dispose of damaged property until MAS confirms you can, and do not offer to settle privately with another driver. Delays in reporting or any of the above can reduce your payout or lead to a declined claim.
5. Pros and Cons of MAS Insurance
Pros
Genuinely mutual. No offshore shareholders, profits reinvested into Member benefits and the MAS Foundation.
Member-voted Consumer People's Choice for house, contents, and car insurance ten years running.
Area Replacement available on house insurance, a safeguard against underinsurance that few NZ insurers still offer.
In-house claims team with a strong reputation for responsive, Member-focused handling.
Excess-free glass cover included as standard on Comprehensive car insurance.
AA Roadservice roadside assistance is built into eligible Comprehensive car policies with no extra cost and no excess for standard services.
Goldshield and multi-product discounts are still active as of April 2026, making MAS one of the few NZ insurers that still meaningfully rewards bundling after AA, AMI, AMP, State, and Tower have scrapped theirs.
A (Strong) financial strength rating from S&P Global Ratings.
Cons
Not always the cheapest in the market. MAS competes on service and cover quality, not headline price (as our Auckland Market Scan above shows).
Standard MAS house cover excludes some modern risks that other policies include, specifically methamphetamine contamination.
The Member-first model is a feature for many Kiwis, but if all you care about is the lowest possible price, a direct-to-consumer insurer may suit you better.
6. Is MAS Insurance Worth It?
MAS is a credible, values-driven insurer with a century of history behind it, a strong financial strength rating, and a long track record of Member satisfaction. For Kiwis who want a locally owned alternative to shareholder-driven insurers, appreciate the Area Replacement option on their home, or want a single Member relationship spanning house, contents, and car cover, MAS is genuinely worth considering.
That said, convenience and values do not always equal the best price. MAS premiums are calculated on an individual basis and can sit above the market average on some profiles. The only way to know where MAS sits for your profile is to compare. Run a free Quashed Market Scan to check MAS alongside other NZ insurers in under two minutes.
Related Reading
Average Cost of Car, House, and Contents Insurance in NZ 2026. The latest Quashed Index data on what Kiwis are paying across all three policy types.
Multi-Policy Discounts on Insurance in NZ: What You Need to Know. How bundling works, which insurers still offer it, and how to make sure you are not paying more than you should.
How to Save Money on Your Insurance. Smart strategies to cut your premiums, avoid over-insuring, and make the most of the Quashed Market Scan.
Ultimate NZ Guide to Contents Insurance. A deep dive into how to calculate your contents sum insured, pick excesses, and uncover savings.
How to Find the Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in NZ 2026. Data-backed strategies for balancing price and cover quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MAS insurance cheaper than other NZ insurers?
Not necessarily. MAS competes on cover quality, Member service, and in-house claims handling rather than headline price. For some profiles MAS is cheaper, for others it is not. The only way to know is to compare via the Quashed Market Scan.
What is the Goldshield discount?
Goldshield is MAS's top-tier multi-policy discount, available when you hold house, contents, and motor insurance with MAS. If you only hold two of the three, you still qualify for a smaller multi-product discount. MAS is one of the few NZ insurers to still offer meaningful multi-policy discounts.
What is Area Replacement on MAS house insurance?
Area Replacement is a type of settlement where MAS agrees to rebuild your home to the same floor area (square metres) regardless of the rebuild cost at the time of the claim. This removes the underinsurance risk that many Kiwis faced after the Christchurch earthquakes. You must measure your floor area accurately for it to work as intended.
Does MAS comprehensive car insurance include glass cover?
Yes. MAS Comprehensive car insurance includes excess-free glass cover as standard, meaning you can claim windscreen, window and sunroof glass repairs or replacement without paying your policy excess. Many NZ insurers charge this as an optional extra.
How do I make a claim on MAS insurance?
Lodge your claim through the MAS online claim form, via your myMAS Member portal, or by calling 0800 800 627 (Option 1). For urgent after-hours claims, call +64 4 478 8863. Have your policy number, incident details, and photos of the damage ready. MAS's in-house assessors will review and contact you about next steps.
Who owns MAS?
MAS is a mutual, which means it is owned by its Members rather than external shareholders. Every Kiwi who holds an active MAS insurance or investment product is a MAS Member. Profits are reinvested into Member benefits, reserves, and the MAS Foundation (MAS's philanthropic arm), rather than paid out offshore.
How much does MAS insurance cost?
MAS premiums are calculated individually, so costs vary by profile. In our April 2026 Market Scan for a 50-year-old owner-occupier in Greenlane, Auckland, MAS quoted $290 per month for comprehensive car insurance on a Tesla EV (sum insured $73,990) and $300 per month for a combined house and contents policy ($835,695 house, $40,000 contents). Your numbers will differ, so run a free Quashed Market Scan to see what MAS actually quotes for your situation.
Is MAS on the Quashed Market Scan?
Yes. MAS is available on the Quashed Market Scan alongside other NZ insurers, so you can see live MAS quotes and compare them directly to other providers in under two minutes.
