Best car insurance company?

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heavenlywild

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#19184 8-Feb-2008 19:05

Hi everyone,

I am about to purchase my first ever brand new car and need your opinions on insurance companies.

Currently, AA is quoting $2200 per year, which is just insane. Sure, this is my first ever comprehensive insurance policy but still! I am 25 by the way.

State is the least expensive at $750.

I have heard State is difficult to deal with?

Your thoughts would be appreciated!:)

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#109321 8-Feb-2008 19:17

I have had good experiences with BNZ Insurance. Not so good experiences with State.

heavenlywild

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#109322 8-Feb-2008 19:21

BNZ insurance? Great, I will have a look.

Can you tell me what happened with State?

alasta

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#109324 8-Feb-2008 19:35

I have always been treated very well by AMI.

Have you got a no claims bonus with anyone? Since my car is just an old runabout my premiums are very affordable but it would be a different story if I didn't have my 60% no claims bonus.

heavenlywild

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#109326 8-Feb-2008 19:42

This is my first ever insurance policy so I am being burnt, haha. No discounts at all.

So far, AMI $1700/yr
BNZ $890/yr
State $750/yr

sbiddle

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#109329 8-Feb-2008 19:51

You could always try and insurance broker and see what they can come up with.

I've been with AA for a long time and when my car was written off (not my fault) they were very good to deal with. I had been paid out within about a week and had a new car while the other guy's insurance company was busy messing him about!

Obviously you don't want to stick with them if you're going to be paying such a huge figure though.

heavenlywild

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#109333 8-Feb-2008 20:03

AA costs $2200/yr!!!!

I agree, AA is a great insurance company. I think what I will is: go with State, then second year go to AA and get the no claims discount.

bigqueez

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#109337 8-Feb-2008 20:19

Experience with State:

Burst water pipe caused damage around a spa bath. They flatly refused to payout citing a clause in the policy regarding water damage over time which was clearly irrelevant.
Wasted a lot of time on the phone and writing letters until they finally saw the light and paid out.

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bcourtney

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#109344 8-Feb-2008 20:36

I'm 28 and also have a brand new car. I'm insured with State after no end of troubles with AMI.

Anyway, my lovely brand new car has had 3 damage claims made against it in it's first year of life (none of which have been my fault!!) and State have been nothing but brilliant with all 3 claims. Rung them up and have had them taken care off within 10 minutes each time.

Having said that, I've had both car and contents insurance for 10 years straight now with no claims to this year (seriously, no claims and then as soon as I get a brand new car I have 3 claims in the space of 3 months!). So as far as premiums go, mine are nowhere near those that you've been quoted so I can't really comment on whether they are acceptable or not.

alasta

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#109354 8-Feb-2008 21:02

heavenly_wild: This is my first ever insurance policy so I am being burnt, haha. No discounts at all.

So far, AMI $1700/yr
BNZ $890/yr
State $750/yr

You need to compare more than just the premiums. The companies with higher premiums may be offering a lower excess, or may be offering perks such as windscreen cover, rental car where emergency transport is required, etc.

johnr

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#109357 8-Feb-2008 21:11

AMI gets the thumbs up from me. Awesome service great prices

DjShadow

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#109358 8-Feb-2008 21:19

Having just come out of a job in the Insurance industry I can offer a few tips:
Most people focus on just how much its going to cost, def look beyond this and look at what you are actually being covered for e.g how much Liability cover? (thats when yyour "At Fault" for a claim), do you get glass cover? do you get roadside assistance? do your keys/locks get covered and by how much? is your car covered if you let someone else drive it?
Excess wise the average I've noticed is $300, whereas AA is $400 and I believe AMI is still $250. State, AA and AMI I know can offer protected No Claims bonuses also (if you have an "At Fault" accident your no claims bonus won't lower). The Banks all offer Insurance: ASB, BNZ, and I think PSIS use IAG as their underwriter, ANZ/National use Tower and Westpac uses Lumley.
Hope this helps.

mckenndk

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#109364 8-Feb-2008 21:48

I was with AA it was good and had no problems with with them.
When I had an accdient after finding the police station fax number for them the rest was easy and got my car fixed.

The only problem I had with them is when I bought a Subaru Impreza (non turbo, 1.8L) they said they will cover me and I paid for the car and called them back to give them the rest of the details and they said O we can't cover you actually as you are under 25 (was 23 at the time).

So went to my bank (BNZ) and they covered me no problem and even gave me a %50 no claims after having %0 from the claim on the previous car.
I would still go with both of them but have to say BNZ defently came to the party without even begging to them.

Currently don't own a car but would not mind to bring home one of those Russian single person cars.

Dion

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#109371 8-Feb-2008 22:28

alasta: I have always been treated very well by AMI.

Have you got a no claims bonus with anyone? Since my car is just an old runabout my premiums are very affordable but it would be a different story if I didn't have my 60% no claims bonus.

Same here. I have 3rd party with AMI and I found that they were the cheapest at the time... for a reasonably new driver and mid range car :)

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chiefie

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#109373 8-Feb-2008 22:57

I was with State when I changed the insurance from my parents' to my own one. First year under my own name, even though the car was previously insured with State for god knows how long, with me as one of the authorised driver. Charged me $670+ first year, then slightly less the second. then this year, I went for ASB Bank Insurance, which apparently only offer ASB Bank customers. They have the same underwriter as State, whom is IAG. I saved $100 by switching to ASB Bank Insurance, and paid only $265 a year.

I'm 30, full policy cover, no-under-25-driver, windscreen/windows protection, no roadside assistance (as am AAPlus member)

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heavenlywild

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#109387 9-Feb-2008 00:19

chiefie:I went for ASB Bank Insurance, which apparently only offer ASB Bank customers. They have the same underwriter as State, whom is IAG. I saved $100 by switching to ASB Bank Insurance, and paid only $265 a year.

I'm 30, full policy cover, no-under-25-driver, windscreen/windows protection, no roadside assistance (as am AAPlus member)

I have heard good things about ASB Bank insurance. I have an account with them so hopefully tomorrow when I call they can give me a competitive deal.

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