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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

I need my car for work but can't afford the renewal. Is cancelling car insurance my only option?

No — cancelling your car insurance is not your only option. If you need your car for work, it’s worth looking at ways to keep at least some cover in place, because driving uninsured can leave you personally responsible for damage you cause to another person’s vehicle or property. In New Zealand, car insurance is generally optional, but the financial risk of having no cover can be significant. Consumer Protection

Some options to consider:

  • Ask your insurer about a cheaper level of cover.
    If you currently have comprehensive insurance, you may be able to switch to:

    • Third party only — usually the cheapest option and covers damage you cause to someone else’s car or property, but not damage to your own car.
    • Third party, fire and theft — adds some protection if your car is stolen or damaged by fire. Consumer Protection

  • Ask for a payment arrangement or hardship options.
    Contact your insurer before the renewal date and explain that you need the vehicle for employment but can’t afford the renewal. They may be able to offer instalments, adjust the policy, or discuss ways to reduce the premium.

  • Increase your excess (if you could manage the excess in an emergency).
    A higher excess can reduce your premium, but it means you’d pay more if you make a claim. Consumer NZ

  • Remove extras you don’t need.
    Optional add-ons (for example, some roadside or hire-car benefits) can increase premiums. Review what you actually need. Consumer Protection

  • Shop around before renewing.
    Renewal prices can change, and comparing insurers may find a cheaper policy with similar cover. Consumer NZ

A practical way to decide:

  1. If you could not afford to replace your car, try to keep some cover for your own vehicle if possible.
  2. If your car is older and not worth much, third party may be a reasonable budget compromise.
  3. Avoid letting the policy simply lapse without checking alternatives, especially if you rely on the car for income.

If you tell me:

  • your current cover (comprehensive / third party),
  • roughly what your car is worth,
  • your renewal cost,
  • and whether you’re paying monthly or annually,

I can help work through the cheapest realistic option.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

I need my car for work but can't afford the renewal. Is cancelling car insurance my only option?

No, cancelling your car insurance is not your only option, and doing so entirely can expose you to severe financial risk if you rely on the vehicle for work. If you cause an accident without insurance, you can be held personally liable for damages to other vehicles, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Instead of cancelling your policy outright, several practical and financial strategies can lower your payments or give you breathing room.

Action Plan to Handle Insurance Renewal Pressures

  1. Contact Your Insurer to Discuss Financial Hardship

    • Action: Call your current insurance provider (e.g., AA Insurance, AMI, State, Tower) immediately. Major New Zealand insurers have formal hardship teams.
    • Details: They can often restructure your payments (such as switching an annual lump sum to more manageable fortnightly or monthly direct debits), temporarily defer a payment, or modify your policy terms to lower the cost without cancelling it entirely.

  2. Downgrade to Third-Party Cover

    • Action: If you currently have Comprehensive cover, switch to Third-Party, Fire and Theft or Third-Party Only.
    • Details: Third-party insurance is significantly cheaper because it only covers damage you cause to other people's vehicles or property, rather than repairs to your own car. This is a common strategy if your car has a lower market value and you just need basic legal/financial protection on the road.

  3. Adjust Policy Levers to Lower the Premium

    • Action: Modify your policy details to drop the overall cost.
    • Details:
      • Increase your excess: Raising your voluntary excess (the amount you pay out-of-pocket when making a claim) will instantly lower your regular premium. Only do this if you can realistically scrape together that excess amount in an emergency.
      • Remove optional extras: Strip out add-ons like roadside breakdown assistance, rental car cover, or windscreen protection if you can live without them.
      • Update driver restrictions: Ensure only necessary drivers are listed on the policy (e.g., removing younger or occasional drivers can drop the price).

  4. Shop Around and Compare the Market

    • Action: Spend 15 minutes getting online quotes from alternative providers (such as Cove, Trade Me Insurance, or Tower).
    • Details: Loyalty doesn't always pay; renewal quotes are often higher than what the same insurer charges a brand-new customer. You may find a completely different provider offering a basic third-party or lower-cost policy for much less than your current renewal notice. Once you have a cheaper quote, you can also ask your current insurer to match it.

Important Note: If your car is currently under finance, your loan agreement almost certainly requires you to hold at least Third-Party, Fire and Theft insurance. Dropping insurance completely could breach your loan contract and trigger financial penalties from your lender.

What is your current insurance provider, and are you paying for comprehensive or third-party cover right now?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

I need my car for work but can't afford the renewal. Is cancelling car insurance my only option?

AI Overview

No, cancelling your car insurance is not your only option.

If you are struggling to afford your renewal in New Zealand, you can explore several alternatives before dropping your coverage completely:

  • Contact your insurer for hardship support: Major New Zealand insurers (such as State Insurance or IAG-backed brands) offer financial hardship assistance, which can include extending due dates, adjusting payment frequencies (like switching to weekly or monthly instalments), or reviewing your cover.

  • Downgrade your level of cover: If you have comprehensive insurance, switching to a Third Party, Fire & Theft or Third Party Only policy is significantly cheaper because it only covers damage you cause to other people's property or vehicles.

  • Increase your policy excess: Raising your voluntary excess (the amount you pay out-of-pocket when making a claim) will lower your regular renewal cost.

  • Shop around and compare quotes: Don't just accept an auto-renewal price. Use comparison platforms like Quashed or MoneyHub to see if another provider offers a cheaper rate for the same vehicle.

  • Check finance rules: Note that while car insurance is not legally required in New Zealand, check your contract if your car is under finance—most loan agreements require you to maintain at least third-party or comprehensive insurance.

  • Get free financial advice: You can contact a free, confidential financial mentor through MoneyTalks on 0800 345 123 for guidance.

If you'd like, let me know:

  • The type of cover you currently have
  • Who your insurer is

I can help you look up specific hardship options or ways to adjust your policy.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

I need my car for work but can't afford the renewal. Is cancelling car insurance my only option?

No, cancelling your insurance entirely is not your only option. If you need your vehicle for work, dropping comprehensive cover completely leaves you financially vulnerable if an accident happens, but New Zealand insurers generally have financial hardship support or alternative tiers available.

Here are the practical steps and alternatives you can explore right now:

  1. Contact your insurer's hardship or customer care team
    Major NZ insurers (such as AA Insurance, State, AMI, and Tower) have dedicated support teams for customers facing tough financial times. Call them before cancelling. They can often review your policy, extend payment due dates, adjust your payment frequency (e.g., changing annual to smaller fortnightly payments), or temporarily pause/reduce payments while keeping a basic level of active cover.
  2. Downgrade your level of cover
    If you currently have Comprehensive insurance, ask your insurer to downgrade your policy to Third Party, Fire and Theft or basic Third Party cover. Third-party insurance is significantly cheaper because it only covers damage you cause to other people's vehicles or property, but it protects you from catastrophic debt if you crash into someone else. [AA Insurance]
  3. Increase your excess
    If you agree to a higher voluntary excess (the amount you pay out-of-pocket when making a claim), your regular premium cost will drop. Just ensure the excess amount is something you could realistically scrape together in an absolute emergency.
  4. Shop around or switch providers
    Your current premium might be higher than necessary. Getting quick quotes from alternative providers or lower-cost/digital insurers might reveal a cheaper basic policy elsewhere. Be sure to secure the new policy before cancelling your old one to avoid any uninsured gaps.
  5. Get free financial mentoring
    If you are juggling multiple bills alongside your car insurance, you can talk to a confidential, free financial mentor through MoneyTalks NZ (call 0800 345 123). They can help you talk to creditors or budget your fixed costs so essential travel for work isn't compromised.

If you'd like, let me know:

  • Who your current insurance provider is
  • Whether you currently have Comprehensive or Third Party cover

I can give you more specific advice on what to ask them or how to adjust your policy safely.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026