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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

The car insurance website showed one price, but paying monthly costs more. How do I compare the total price properly?

In New Zealand, the best way to compare car insurance is to look at the total amount you’ll pay over 12 months, not just the price advertised on the website.

A lower advertised premium can become more expensive when you choose monthly payments because the insurer may charge an instalment fee, apply a payment surcharge, or use a premium-financing arrangement that adds interest.

How to calculate the real price

Use this formula for each insurer:

Annual total=all instalments+fees and surcharges+interest+other compulsory charges\begin{aligned}
\text{Annual total} ={}& \text{all instalments}\
&+ \text{fees and surcharges}\
&+ \text{interest}\
&+ \text{other compulsory charges}
\end{aligned}Annual total=​all instalments+fees and surcharges+interest+other compulsory charges​

Make sure you count each charge only once. If the monthly amount already includes fees and interest, don't add them again.

Worked example

Suppose the website advertises an annual premium of $900, but monthly payments cost $85.

Pay annually

$900.00

Pay monthly

$1,020.00

$85 × 12 payments

Extra cost for monthly payments

$120.00

Monthly payments cost 13.3% more over the year in this example.

Compare quotes fairly

Use this checklist for every insurer:

  • Same cover: comprehensive, third-party fire and theft, or third-party only.
  • Same excess: the amount you pay towards an accepted claim.
  • Same insured value: agreed value or market value, as applicable.
  • Same optional extras: roadside assistance, glass cover and other add-ons.
  • Same payment period: compare a full 12 months, including any fees, interest or surcharges.
  • Same discounts: check whether an advertised discount applies only to the first year or to annual payment.

Consumer Protection NZ recommends comparing both price and cover, rather than choosing on price alone. Car insuranceCar insurance buying guide

Check whether monthly payments really cost more

They don't always. For example, AMI says its direct-debit instalments have no extra cost, and State Insurance says it doesn't charge extra for monthly, fortnightly or quarterly payments. Explore Ways to PayInsurance Made Simpler

You can also compare quotes through Consumer NZ's car insurance guide or ask the insurer:

“What is the total amount payable over 12 months if I pay monthly, including all fees and interest, and what is the total if I pay annually?”

Want me to calculate your actual difference?

Enter the figures from the quote and I'll work out the true annual cost and how much extra monthly payments will cost.

Enter amounts in NZ dollars (NZ$).

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

The car insurance website showed one price, but paying monthly costs more. How do I compare the total price properly?

Insurance companies often quote the annual price upfront because it looks cheaper, but spreading payments across the year via monthly installments frequently incurs installment fees, administration surcharges, or higher interest equivalent rates.

To compare the total cost properly and see if paying monthly is actually worth the cash flow flexibility, use a structured side-by-side calculation.

Step-by-Step Comparison Framework

  1. Calculate the True Annualized Cost for Monthly Payments

    • Multiply the monthly payment amount by 12 (or check the full payment schedule disclosure summary provided by the insurer).
    • Add any one-off setup fees, monthly direct debit surcharges, or credit card processing fees.
    • Formula: $(\text{Monthly Payment} \times 12) + \text{Annual Setup/Admin Fees} = \text{True Annual Cost}$

  2. Subtract the Upfront Annual Price

    • Formula: $\text{True Annual Cost} - \text{Upfront Annual Price} = \text{Total Extra Cost of Paying Monthly}$

  3. Evaluate the Opportunity Cost (The "Is it worth it?" Test)

    • Divide the total extra cost by 12 to see what you are paying per month just for the privilege of spreading out payments.
    • Compare that fee to what you could earn by keeping the lump sum in a high-yield savings account or using the freed-up cash flow to avoid high-interest debt (like an overdraft or credit card).

Example Calculation

  • Upfront Annual Quote: NZD $1,200 (paid once)
  • Monthly Direct Debit Quote: NZD $105 per month + a NZD $2 monthly installment fee
  • True Annual Cost: $($105 \times 12) + (2 \times 12) = $1,260 + $24 = $1,284$
  • Total Extra Cost: $$1,284 - $1,200 = \textbf{NZD $84 extra per year}$

In this scenario, you are paying an extra NZD $7.00 per month to defer payments. If keeping that lump sum in your bank account prevents you from dipping into an overdraft or helps your short-term cash flow, it might be worth it. If not, paying upfront saves you money.

Alternative Options to Check

  • Direct Debit vs. Credit Card: Some insurers in New Zealand charge no extra fees if you set up an automated bank account direct debit, but tack on convenience fees (e.g., 1.5%) if you pay monthly via a credit card. Always check if changing the payment method removes the extra fee.
  • Policy Review: Look closely at your policy schedule before signing up to ensure no hidden broker or premium funding fees have been automatically added.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

The car insurance website showed one price, but paying monthly costs more. How do I compare the total price properly?

AI Overview

To properly compare the total price of your car insurance, you must calculate the annualized total cost for both options rather than looking at the base rate alone.

Most New Zealand insurers show the annual payment price upfront because paying a single yearly lump sum is cheaper. Choosing monthly or fortnightly installments adds an interest surcharge or admin fee, which increases the total amount you pay over 12 months.

Step-by-Step Total Price Comparison

To see the true cost difference, use this quick math:

  • Annual Option Total: The exact single price quoted on the website.

  • Monthly Option Total: (Monthly Payment Amount × 12) + any upfront setup fees.

  • Fortnightly Option Total: (Fortnightly Payment Amount × 26).

Simulated Cost Breakdown Example

If a typical policy shows an annual lump sum of $1,000 , the monthly payment might look like $92 per month.

Payment Frequency Regular Amount Calculations True Annual Cost Cost Premium
Annual (Lump sum) $1,000.00 Single payment $1,000.00 $0 (Base Price)
Monthly $92.00 $92.00 × 12 months $1,104.00 +$104.00 (10.4% more)

What Makes Up the Extra Cost?

  • Installment Loading Fees: This is effectively interest charged by insurers for breaking up the payments.

  • Card Transaction Fees: Some providers pass on credit or debit card processing percentages every month.

  • Missed Multi-Policy Discounts: Ensure any online multi-policy or online-only sign-up discounts are applying correctly to both methods.

Strategy to Save

If you prefer smaller payments but want to avoid the extra fee, check different providers. A few New Zealand insurers do not penalize you for paying monthly, while others charge over 10% more for the flexibility.

If you want to find the absolute cheapest route, let me know:

  • Which insurance provider you are looking at?
  • Do you have other policies (like house or contents) you could bundle for a discount?

AI responses may include mistakes. For financial advice, consult a professional. Learn more

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Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

The car insurance website showed one price, but paying monthly costs more. How do I compare the total price properly?

  • Annual Cost Multiplication : Multiply your quoted monthly payment by 12 to find the total annual expense under the monthly payment plan.

  • Compare with Annual Rate : Subtract the upfront annual payment price from the total calculated monthly cost to see the exact dollar difference (the financing or administration fee).

  • Calculate Percentage Difference : Divide the extra fee amount by the annual price and multiply by 100 to find the effective interest or loading percentage (

Extra CostAnnual Price

×100

).

  • Assess Opportunity Cost : Weigh the extra dollar amount against what else you could do with that cash kept in your pocket throughout the year, or whether the cash flow relief of paying monthly is worth the markup.

If you want, tell me:

  • The annual price versus the monthly price
  • Whether there is an initial setup fee or deposit listed

I can calculate the exact percentage markup and help you decide if it's worth it.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026