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Evidence · Car insurance

Every question, every answer, every source

Explore all 183 car-insurance questions and the 728 answers saved on 11 October 2026. Read the original responses and download the tables behind the study’s comparisons, sources, sentiment and factual checks.

questions
183
answers saved, of 732 planned
728
consumer situations
12
named regions
16
AI platforms
4

01

Every question, with its answers

Each question went to the four AI platforms. All were collected with a New Zealand setting. Open a question to read every captured answer in full.

Showing 20 of 183 questions

Show all 183

02

The tables behind the study

Every figure on the study page comes from these tables. They are CSV files, which open in any spreadsheet.

  • Questions

    questions.csv

    One row per question, with its exact saved wording.

    Question ID, source references, question, consumer situation, named regions, question group and collection setting

    183rows

    Download questions (CSV)

  • Answers

    answers.csv

    One row per captured answer, with its full text.

    Answer ID, question ID, platform, collection setting, consumer situation, named regions and full answer

    728rows

    Download answers (CSV)

  • Sources by answer

    sources.csv

    One row per website recorded as a source of an answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, assistant, collection setting, website and publisher type

    4,213rows

    Download sources by answer (CSV)

  • Checks against primary sources

    checks.csv

    One row per stated assertion checked, for one platform.

    Check, question and answer IDs, assistant, exact passage, verdict, primary-source finding, URL and date

    96rows

    Download checks against primary sources (CSV)

  • Consumer recommendation coding

    consumer-recommendation-coding.csv

    One row per reviewed provider role in a consumer-selection answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, consumer, platform, provider, role, counted recommendation, exact passage and conditions

    301rows

    Download consumer recommendation coding (CSV)

  • Consumer selection membership

    consumer-selection-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the matched consumer-selection comparison.

    Answer ID, question ID, consumer, platform, question group and full text; the same twelve questions per platform

    48rows

    Download consumer selection membership (CSV)

  • Ongoing support coding

    support-coding.csv

    One row per reviewed named-provider role in an eligible support answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, consumer, platform, provider, role, support-preference decision and exact passage

    49rows

    Download ongoing support coding (CSV)

  • Ongoing support membership

    support-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the actual consumer-support group.

    Answer ID, question ID, consumer, platform, question group and full text; acquisition validation is excluded

    32rows

    Download ongoing support membership (CSV)

  • Regional recommendation coding

    regional-recommendation-coding.csv

    One row per reviewed provider role in a region-named selection answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, named consumer region, platform, provider, recommendation decision and exact passage

    440rows

    Download regional recommendation coding (CSV)

  • Regional selection membership

    regional-selection-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the matched regional comparison.

    Answer ID, question ID, named consumer region, platform and equal-comparison membership; sixteen questions per platform

    64rows

    Download regional selection membership (CSV)

  • Insurer sentiment

    insurer-sentiment.csv

    One row per unique saved claim about an insurer in a selection answer.

    Claim, question and answer IDs, insurer, saved stance, exact passage and original-answer offsets

    1,926rows

    Download insurer sentiment (CSV)

  • Recorded source URLs

    source-urls.csv

    One row per recorded answer, website and URL association.

    Answer ID, question ID, platform, website, URL, source records and presence in the captured answer text

    6,056rows

    Download recorded source urls (CSV)

Use these tables to trace findings back to the original questions and answers. The full text of each answer is also on this page, under its question.

03

Read in full and checked

Some answers were read in detail or checked against official sources. Those appear on the study page, beside the findings they support.

ChatGPT · New Zealand

My budget is tight and I need affordable car insurance. Which NZ car insurers should I look at?

If your budget is tight in New Zealand, I’d start by comparing third-party, third-party fire and theft, and comprehensive car insurance rather than choosing a policy based on the brand alone. The cheapest option depends on your car, age, driving history, excess and where the car is kept.

Here are some NZ insurers worth getting quotes from, including options to compare for lower-cost cover.

NZ insurers to compare

  1. Cove

Worth checking for an online quote if you want a straightforward digital experience. Its listed car cover is comprehensive, so check whether that fits your budget.

Website: coveinsurance.co.nz

  1. AA Insurance

Offers third-party, third-party fire and theft, and comprehensive cover. Compare the lower cover tiers if you drive an older, lower-value car.

Website: aainsurance.co.nz

  1. AMI

Offers several levels of car insurance. Include it in your quote comparison, especially if you want to compare third-party cover against comprehensive.

Website: ami.co.nz

  1. State

Has third-party and comprehensive options. Get a personalised quote rather than assuming its advertised offers will be the cheapest for you.

Website: state.co.nz

  1. Trade Me Insurance

Another option for comparing different cover levels, including third-party insurance, through an established online brand.

Website: trademeinsurance.co.nz

  1. Tower

Offers multiple levels of vehicle cover. Compare the premium, excess and policy conditions with the other providers before deciding.

Website: tower.co.nz

Provider cover options can change. These are a shortlist to request quotes from, not a verified ranking of the cheapest insurers. You can also compare policies using Canstar NZ. Compare Car Insurance Policies and Providers in NZCompare Car Insurance Providers NZCompare Car Insurance Quotes NZ 2026

How to keep your premium down

  • Compare third-party-only cover. It is generally the cheapest type, but it won't pay to repair your own car if you cause an accident.
  • Consider third-party, fire and theft if you want some protection for your own car without paying for full comprehensive cover.
  • Try a higher excess if you could comfortably afford that amount after an accident.
  • Limit named drivers to people who genuinely need to drive the car, where the policy permits it.
  • Compare annual and monthly payment costs and check for any fees or discounts.
  • Don't sacrifice essential cover just to save a little. A single accident involving an expensive vehicle could leave you with a substantial bill. Car insuranceCar insurance buying guide

Let’s narrow it down to the cheapest options for you

I can help you make a more targeted shortlist. Two things will make a big difference: what car you drive and the type of cover you need.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

My budget is tight and I need affordable car insurance. Which NZ car insurers should I look at?

When you are looking for affordable car insurance in New Zealand, several providers and digital-first alternatives stand out for competitive pricing:

  • Cove Insurance: As a digital-first insurer, Cove typically offers lower quotes because they lack the overhead of physical branches. Their streamlined online platform lets you manage policies quickly while keeping costs down.
  • AMI and Trade Me Insurance: Both are widely recognized for offering competitively priced policies that suit tighter budgets while maintaining reliable local support.
  • State Insurance and AA Insurance: Frequently recognized by industry awards (like Canstar) for outstanding value, though pricing can vary depending on your specific vehicle, age, and location.

Tips to Lower Your Premium

  • Choose Third Party Cover: If your car is older or of lower value, opting for Third Party Only or Third Party, Fire & Theft instead of comprehensive cover will drastically reduce your costs.
  • Adjust Your Excess: Agreeing to a higher voluntary excess lowers your regular premium, provided you can afford that amount in the event of a claim.
  • Shop Around: Insurance rates vary significantly between providers based on your specific driver profile, so getting quick online quotes from multiple companies is essential.

If you like, I can help you look into specific coverage levels (like Comprehensive vs. Third Party) or provide tips on how to trim your policy to fit a strict budget. Do you want me to do that?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

My budget is tight and I need affordable car insurance. Which NZ car insurers should I look at?

AI Overview

There is no single "cheapest" car insurance provider in New Zealand, as quotes depend heavily on your age, driving history, and vehicle. However, direct-to-consumer digital brands like Cove and Assurant frequently offer some of the lowest premiums for no-frills, budget-conscious policies.

If your budget is tight, your best strategy is to get quotes from a mix of low-cost digital providers and major insurers offering competitive entry-level pricing.

Top Budget-Friendly Car Insurers in NZ

Insurer Best For Budget Features
Cove Digital-first drivers Frequently lowest in price tests • 1 month free promo.
Assurant Lower-value cars ($5k-$25k) Affordable, highly competitive no-frills policies.
State High value on a budget Lower-than-average premiums • No age-based excess.
Tower Drivers under 25 or 50+ Low market-average rates • Online discounts available.

How to Minimize Your Premium Costs

  • Downgrade your cover level:

  • Third-Party Only is the cheapest tier.

  • Ideal for older cars valued under $5,000.

  • Increase your excess:

  • Choosing a higher excess directly lowers your monthly premium.

  • Pay annually if possible:

  • Saves up to 10%–15% compared to paying monthly.

  • Use comparison platforms:

  • Compare multi-insurer rates for free on the Quashed Market Scan.

What is the approximate value of your car, and how old is the main driver? Providing this can help pinpoint the exact policy type for your needs.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

My budget is tight and I need affordable car insurance. Which NZ car insurers should I look at?

When you are working with a tight budget in New Zealand , finding affordable car insurance comes down to balancing low base premiums with the type of cover you actually need.

Options and strategies to consider for keeping costs down:

  • Cove Insurance — Often ranks as one of the most budget-friendly app-based/digital insurers in New Zealand for standard drivers, though they typically exclude drivers under 21 and operate via a streamlined digital model.

  • Trade Me Insurance — Underwritten by Tower, this online-focused brand frequently undercuts larger traditional insurers on price for basic and mid-tier coverage.

  • Assurant (formerly Protecta) — Known for offering no-frills, cost-effective vehicle policies that can work well if you drive an older or lower-value car and want to prioritize a low premium over extensive perks.

  • AA Insurance / AMI / State / Tower — While larger legacy brands can sometimes skew pricier, it is always worth running a direct quote because they frequently run multi-policy bundles (e.g., combining car and contents) or loyalty discounts that can bring totals down. You can compare several of these directly using platforms like Quashed or Consumer NZ guides.

Tips to slash your premium further:

  1. Drop to Third-Party Only: If your car is worth very little and you could easily replace it with cash savings, a Third-Party Property Damage policy is significantly cheaper than Full Comprehensive cover. [Consumer NZ]
  2. Raise your excess: Opting for a higher voluntary excess lowers your regular monthly or annual premium. Just make sure you can actually afford to pay that excess if an incident occurs. [Consumer NZ]
  3. Pay annually: If you can swing it upfront, paying for the full year rather than fortnightly or monthly avoids extra payment processing fees and installment charges. [MoneyHub NZ]

If you share details like your car's make/model/approximate value , your age/licence type , and whether you want Comprehensive or Third-Party cover, I can give you more tailored advice on which direction to look.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026