Top 10 Car Insurance Companies in New Zealand 2026: Reviewed & Compared
Choosing the right car insurer is a real-money decision. Premiums have climbed in recent years, and the spread between the cheapest and most expensive comprehensive policies for the same driver has widened sharply, based on our latest Q1 2026 Quashed Index data.
There are two ways to compare the insurers in this guide. You can visit each insurer's website and fill in your details ten separate times. Or you can run a free Quashed Market Scan once and see live quotes from the insurers below, compared on price and what's covered, in under 2 minutes. We'd suggest the second option.
How We Selected the Top 10 Car Insurers
These are the 10 insurers Kiwi drivers are most likely to encounter when shopping for car insurance, spanning direct, online, and dealer-distributed channels. They all quote on the Quashed Market Scan. Reviews are in alphabetical order, and inclusion isn't a recommendation. The right insurer depends on your car, driving history, location, and cover needs, so the fastest way to see how each one prices your risk is a Quashed Market Scan.
Top 10 Car Insurance Companies in New Zealand 2026 (Reviewed)
A note before we dive in. The phone wait times, online quote times, and monthly costs in each profile come from a single test interaction we ran for this article, using the same profile: a 2013 Toyota Aqua with a $9,205 sum insured and a $500 excess (or the closest each insurer offered). They're point-in-time data points, not averages. Your experience will differ depending on the time of day, call volumes, and how each insurer prices your risk.
AA Insurance
AA Insurance is a New Zealand-based joint venture between Vero (part of the Suncorp Group) and the NZAA, and has provided car, home, and contents cover since 1994. It holds an AA- (Very Strong) Insurer Financial Strength Rating from S&P Global Ratings. See our full AA Insurance review.
Phone | Time to reach a human | Time to quote online | Monthly cost we got |
0800 500 231 | 30 seconds | 1 min 34 sec | $137 |
Walk in to any of the 37 AA Centres nationwide for face-to-face service. Online channels include live chat (Mon-Sat 8am-6pm), email (customerservice@aainsurance.co.nz), the My AA Insurance app, and the Aria chatbot.
AMI
AMI is one of New Zealand's largest direct insurers and a brand of IAG New Zealand. It offers comprehensive, third party fire and theft, and third party only car cover. See our full AMI Insurance review.
Phone | Time to reach a human | Time to quote online | Monthly cost we got |
0800 100 200 | 1 min 50 sec | 1 min 19 sec | $151.52 |
Walk-in support is available at AMI MotorHubs in Auckland and Christchurch (no appointment needed). Otherwise, manage via phone, email (info@ami.co.nz), the My AMI app, or Facebook Messenger.
AMP
AMP is a long-standing New Zealand financial services brand whose general insurance products are distributed in partnership with Vero. AMP's car insurance includes comprehensive, third party fire and theft, and third party only cover. See our full AMP Insurance review.
Phone | Time to reach a human | Time to quote online | Monthly cost we got |
0800 267 263 | 34 seconds | 2 min 19 sec | $126.40 |
No retail branches. Manage via phone, the My Insurance Manager portal, or email (contactus@gi.amp.co.nz). Customers with adviser-sold Homeplan cover can book in-person meetings with AMP-affiliated advisers around the country.
Assurant
Assurant (formerly Protecta) is a specialist motor insurer that has operated in New Zealand for over 30 years. It writes direct car cover and dealer-distributed products like mechanical breakdown insurance and GAP. See our full Assurant review.
Phone | Time to reach a human | Time to quote online | Monthly cost we got |
0800 776 832 | 41 seconds | 56 seconds | $105.84 |
No retail branches (Auckland head office only). Contact via phone, email (nz.contact@assurant.com), or the Help Centre online form. Roadside assistance is booked through the First Rescue Roadside App.
Autosure
Autosure has insured Kiwi drivers since 1971 and is part of the Turners Automotive Group. It's best known for mechanical breakdown insurance, alongside direct motor vehicle cover. See our full Autosure review.
Phone | Time to reach a human | Time to quote online | Monthly cost we got |
0800 267 873 | 1 min 10 sec | 58 seconds | $129.85 |
No retail branches. Sold through a national network of 700+ Approved Dealers. Customer support by phone and email (support@autosure.co.nz), Monday to Friday.
Cove
Cove is a digital-first car and pet insurer backed by Aioi Nissay Dowa (part of the MS&AD group, one of the world's largest insurance groups). Online quoting and self-service claims are the core proposition. See our full Cove car insurance review.
Phone | Time to reach a human | Time to quote online | Monthly cost we got |
0800 268 347 | 3 min 35 sec | 1 min 53 sec | $91.38 |
No physical branches. Live chat (weekdays 8.30am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm), email (support@coveinsurance.co.nz), and the My Cove dashboard cover the full journey from quote to claim.
MAS
Medical Assurance Society (MAS) is a member-owned mutual insurer founded in 1921 for professionals. It has been voted Consumer NZ People's Choice for car insurance 10 years running (2016 to 2025). See our full MAS review.
Phone | Time to reach a human | Time to quote online | Monthly cost we got |
0800 800 627 | 50 seconds | 50 seconds | $100 (estimate) |
Offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, plus MAS Advisers who meet Members in person nationwide. Some offices are not always staffed, so phone ahead. Our cost figure came from the online MAS estimate tool; you can also get a full car insurance quote online or by phone.
Provident Insurance
Provident is a 100% New Zealand owned and operated motor specialist focused on comprehensive car cover and mechanical breakdown insurance, commonly distributed through dealers. See our full Provident Insurance review.
Phone | Time to reach a human | Time to quote online | Monthly cost we got |
0800 676 864 | 41 seconds | 1 min 11 sec | $108.04 |
No retail branches (head office in Takapuna, Auckland). Comprehensive car cover can be quoted and bought directly online or by phone (0800 676 864), or through Provident Authorised Motor Vehicle Traders nationwide. Mechanical breakdown insurance is dealer-only. Email support is info@providentinsurance.co.nz.
State
State is one of New Zealand's largest direct insurers and a brand of IAG New Zealand, the same underwriter behind AMI. It offers comprehensive, third party fire and theft, and third party only car cover. See our full State Insurance review.
Phone | Time to reach a human | Time to quote online | Monthly cost we got |
0800 80 24 24 | 1 min 23 sec | 1 min 11 sec | $127.39 |
No retail branches (closed by 2020). Manage via live chat (Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm), the My State portal, the State app, or Facebook Messenger. State's contact page steers most written queries to live chat and self-service rather than a public email inbox.
Tower
Tower is an NZX-listed New Zealand insurer offering car, home, contents, boat, and pet cover. Tower offers a choice of agreed value or market value, and was the first NZ insurer to introduce risk-based pricing for earthquakes (2018) and inland flooding (2021). See our full Tower Insurance review.
Phone | Time to reach a human | Time to quote online | Monthly cost we got |
0800 379 372 | 1 min 4 sec | 1 min 29 sec | $181.47 |
No retail branches in NZ (Auckland head office is non-customer-facing). Manage via the My Tower portal (24/7 secure messaging), the online contact form, or phone.
All 10 Insurers At a Glance
The full comparison for our test profile: a 2013 Toyota Aqua, $9,205 sum insured, $500 excess. As above, the wait times, quote times, and costs are each from a single test interaction, not averages, so treat them as a snapshot.
Insurer | Phone & hours | Time to a human | Time to quote | Monthly cost |
AA Insurance | 0800 500 231 · Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, weekends 8am-6pm | 30 sec | 1 min 34 sec | $137 |
AMI | 0800 100 200 · Mon-Fri 7.30am-5pm | 1 min 50 sec | 1 min 19 sec | $151.52 |
AMP | 0800 267 263 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm | 34 sec | 2 min 19 sec | $126.40 |
Assurant | 0800 776 832 · hours not publicly listed | 41 sec | 56 sec | $105.84 |
Autosure | 0800 267 873 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm | 1 min 10 sec | 58 sec | $129.85 |
Cove | 0800 268 347 · Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm | 3 min 35 sec | 1 min 53 sec | $91.38 |
MAS | 0800 800 627 · Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm | 50 sec | 50 sec | $100 (estimate) |
Provident Insurance | 0800 676 864 · hours not publicly listed | 41 sec | 1 min 11 sec | $108.04 |
State | 0800 80 24 24 · Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, weekends 9am-6pm | 1 min 23 sec | 1 min 11 sec | $127.39 |
Tower | 0800 379 372 · Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm | 1 min 4 sec | 1 min 29 sec | $181.47 |
Want this comparison filtered to your specific car, location, and excess? Skip the table and run a free Quashed Market Scan. It pulls live quotes from every insurer above (and more) in under 2 minutes.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in New Zealand
The average cost of comprehensive car insurance in New Zealand is $1,267 per year, or $106 per month, based on our Q1 2026 Quashed Index data. What you pay depends heavily on where you live, what you drive, and your claims history.
Region | Yearly cost | Monthly cost |
National | $1,267 | $106 |
Auckland | $1,478 | $123 |
Canterbury | $1,166 | $97 |
Wellington | $1,115 | $93 |
How do our test quotes compare? Our 2013 Toyota Aqua test profile drew monthly quotes from $91.38 (Cove) to $181.47 (Tower). The cheaper end sits well below the $106 national monthly average and the top end above it, a reminder that the car you drive and the insurer you pick move the price as much as your region does. The Aqua is one of New Zealand's most common hybrids, and popular models can attract higher theft-related pricing. For a full breakdown of what it costs to insure this car, see our Toyota Aqua car insurance guide.
The savings are real. In Q1 2026, Kiwis who shopped their comprehensive car insurance with the Quashed Market Scan found a cheaper policy 81% of the time, with average savings of $377 a year. For the full breakdown across car, house, and contents premiums, see our Average Car, House, and Contents Insurance Cost NZ 2026 guide.
Compare the Whole Market in Under 2 Minutes
Comparing 10 insurers one by one means 10 quote forms and 10 chances to give up. A Quashed Market Scan pulls live quotes from every insurer in this guide onto one screen. The prices are the same as each insurer offers direct, so you won't pay more by quoting through us.
Before you buy, think about:
Cover level. Comprehensive covers damage to your own car and damage you cause to others. Third party fire and theft adds fire and theft cover to third party liability. Third party only is the cheapest and covers only damage you cause to others. Our Comprehensive vs Third Party guide compares all three.
Agreed value or market value. Agreed value locks in your payout amount upfront. Market value pays what the insurer assesses your car at when you claim. Newer or financed cars often suit agreed value; older common cars can suit market value. Our Market Value vs Agreed Value guide covers which NZ insurers offer which.
Excess. Your excess is what you pay towards a claim. A higher excess lowers your premium but raises your out-of-pocket cost, so set it at a level you could comfortably afford tomorrow. Our guide to picking the right excess walks through the trade-off.
Declared use and modifications. Undeclared modifications and undeclared use (ride-share, courier, business) are two of the most common reasons claims are reduced or declined, so tell your insurer the full picture upfront. Our guide to cheaper car insurance covers how your car and cover affect what you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the cheapest car insurer in New Zealand?
There's no single cheapest insurer for every driver. It depends on your car, age, location, claims history, and the cover you choose. Cove was cheapest for our test profile, but other insurers win for other profiles. To find your cheapest option, run a free Quashed Market Scan.
Which is the best car insurer in New Zealand?
"Best" depends on what you value. MAS has been voted Consumer NZ People's Choice for car insurance 10 years running. AA Insurance has been Reader's Digest Most Trusted General Insurer for 16 years. For the best balance of price and cover for your circumstances, compare the full market through Quashed.
Are online-only insurers reliable?
Yes. All insurers operating in New Zealand are regulated by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the Financial Markets Authority. Online-only insurers aren't less safe, they've just chosen a different distribution model. Check each insurer's financial strength rating before signing up.
How do I switch car insurance providers?
Switching is simple, and you can cancel your existing policy at any time. Get a quote from another insurer, set your new policy to start when you want cover to begin, then cancel your old policy. If you cancel mid-term, most NZ insurers refund the unused portion of your premium, sometimes less a small admin fee. Just aim for no gap in cover between the two.
