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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

What should I decide about my car and my driving before choosing insurance?

Before choosing car insurance in New Zealand, it helps to decide two things: what you need to protect your car against, and how you actually use your car. These decisions will help you compare policies on more than just price.

1. Decide what cover your car needs

How much is your car worth?

Consider its current market value, age, condition and whether you could afford to replace it yourself. If it is financed, check whether your lender requires comprehensive insurance.

Could you afford to repair someone else's car?

Even a minor collision can cause expensive damage. Decide how much financial risk you are comfortable taking if you are responsible for an accident.

What other risks matter to you?

Think about theft, vandalism, storms, flooding, falling objects, broken windows and damage while parked. Check which events each policy actually covers.

In general, New Zealand drivers commonly compare three types of cover:

  • Third-party: covers your liability for damage you cause to other people's property, subject to policy terms.
  • Third-party, fire and theft: adds cover for specified fire and theft losses involving your own car.
  • Comprehensive: generally covers accidental damage to your own car as well as your liability for damage to others, subject to exclusions and excesses.

2. Decide how you use your car

Your driving habits can affect both the premium and which policy is appropriate.

  • How often you drive: daily commuting, occasional errands or only weekend trips.
  • How far you drive: your approximate annual kilometres.
  • Where you keep your car: in a garage, on a driveway or on the street overnight.
  • Where you drive: mainly around town, on motorways, on rural roads or on long-distance trips.
  • Who else drives it: just you, your partner, family members or other drivers.
  • What you use it for: personal trips, commuting, business use, deliveries or rideshare work. Check that the policy allows your intended use.
  • Your driving history: accidents, previous claims, licence restrictions and any relevant convictions that the insurer asks about.

Be accurate when providing this information. Incorrect or incomplete answers can affect a claim.

3. Decide what you could afford if something went wrong

Before getting quotes, work out these three amounts:

  • Your annual insurance budget: what you can comfortably afford to pay in premiums.
  • Your emergency savings: how much you could pay towards repairs or replacement if your car were damaged or stolen.
  • Your affordable excess: the amount you could pay immediately if you made a claim.

A higher excess may reduce your premium, but only choose one you could comfortably afford. Car insurance buying guideCar insurance

4. Decide how you want your car valued

If you choose comprehensive insurance, check whether the insurer uses:

  • Agreed value: you and the insurer agree on the insured value, subject to the policy terms.
  • Market value: the payout is based on the car's market value immediately before the loss, as determined under the policy.

Also decide whether you need extras such as a rental car while yours is being repaired, windscreen cover, roadside assistance or cover for accessories. Car insuranceMotor Insurance: What You Need to Know

5. Your pre-insurance checklist

Decisions to make

0 of 8

I know my car's approximate current value.

I know whether my car is financed.

I have chosen the level of cover I want to compare.

I know my typical annual kilometres and driving purposes.

I have identified everyone who may drive my car.

I know where the car is parked overnight.

I have decided what premium and excess I can afford.

I know which optional benefits matter to me.

Reset checklist

Once you've made these decisions, compare quotes from at least three insurers and read the policy exclusions, excesses and claim limits—not just the premiums. Consumer NZ offers a useful car insurance buying guide. Car insurance buying guide

The most important starting point: decide whether you could comfortably replace your own car out of pocket while still being able to afford damage you cause to someone else's property.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

What should I decide about my car and my driving before choosing insurance?

Before shopping for car insurance in New Zealand, you need to evaluate several key details about your vehicle, how it is used, and who will be behind the wheel. Insurers calculate premiums based on risk profiles, and having these details ready ensures you select the right level of cover without overpaying.

1. Your Car's Value and Payout Type

Decide how you want your car to be valued if it is written off or stolen:

  • Agreed Value: You and the insurer agree on a fixed payout sum when you start or renew the policy. This provides certainty and is often recommended for newer cars, financed vehicles, or cars with modifications.
  • Market Value: The insurer pays what the car is reasonably worth on the retail market immediately before the loss. This usually comes with lower premiums and suits older, standard second-hand cars that depreciate quickly.

2. The Level of Cover You Actually Need

  • Comprehensive: Covers damage to your own car as well as damage you cause to other people's vehicles or property, plus events like theft and fire.
  • Third Party, Fire and Theft: Does not cover damage to your own car from an accident, but covers you if your car catches fire, is stolen, or if you damage someone else's property.
  • Third Party Only: The bare minimum; it only covers damage you cause to other people's cars or property, leaving you to pay entirely out of pocket to fix your own car.

3. Who Will Drive the Vehicle

Insurers strictly price policies based on who has access to the keys:

  • Main Driver vs. Secondary Drivers: Be accurate about who drives the car most often. If a younger driver (under 25) or someone with a restricted or learner license regularly drives the car, they must be listed. Failing to disclose regular drivers can lead an insurer to decline a claim.
  • Restricted Drivers: Opting to exclude drivers under a certain age can lower your premium, but you must ensure unauthorized or unlisted people do not drive the car.

4. Vehicle Condition, Modifications, and History

  • Warrant of Fitness (WOF) and Maintenance: Your car needs to be legally roadworthy. If an accident occurs and a claim reveals wear-and-tear issues (such as bald tires) that would have failed a WOF, the insurer may refuse the claim.
  • Modifications: Any changes from factory specs—such as lowered suspension, custom paint, performance tuning, or aftermarket audio—must be declared. Undeclared modifications can void your cover.
  • Usage: Determine if the car is strictly for private/personal use or if it is used for work-related tasks (like business travel or deliveries), which require specific commercial or business use policies.

5. Your Budget for Excess

  • Decide what excess (the amount you pay toward a claim) you can comfortably afford. Opting for a higher voluntary excess will lower your regular premium, but you must be sure you can pay that cash upfront if an incident happens. Note that insurers also apply mandatory higher excesses automatically for younger or less-experienced license holders.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

What should I decide about my car and my driving before choosing insurance?

AI Overview

Before choosing car insurance in New Zealand, you must first clarify key details about your vehicle's value, who will be driving, and how the vehicle is used. While vehicle insurance is not a legal requirement in New Zealand , personal injury from accidents is uniquely covered under the government's Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) no-fault scheme. However, you remain entirely liable for property damage.

🚗 Decide About Your Car

  • Market vs. Agreed Value: Decide if you want to insure your car for its market value (what it is worth right before an accident) or an agreed value (a fixed sum you and the insurer lock in). Agreed value gives you certainty but usually carries higher premiums.

  • The Replacement Cost: Assess the car's current worth. If your car is cheap to replace, a basic Third Party policy (covering only damage you cause to others) might suffice. If it is valuable or on finance, you will want Comprehensive cover.

  • Modifications: Identify if your car has non-standard modifications (e.g., custom wheels, exhaust, or suspension). You must disclose these, or your policy could be voided.

  • Security Features: Note whether the car has an alarm, immobiliser, or is securely parked off-street overnight, as this lowers your premium.

🛣️ Decide About Your Driving

  • Primary vs. Occasional Drivers: Figure out exactly who will drive the vehicle. Listing under-25 drivers will increase your premiums, but excluding them means they won't be covered if they take the wheel.

  • Your Policy Excess: Decide how much out-of-pocket excess you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. A higher chosen excess reduces your ongoing premium costs.

  • Annual Kilometres: Estimate your yearly distance. Many New Zealand insurers offer discounts for low-kilometre drivers (e.g., driving under 5,000 or 10,000 km per year).

  • Usage Type: Explicitly define whether the car is strictly for private use (commuting and social) or business use (such as ride-sharing or delivery). Using a private policy for commercial work will cause claims to be declined.

To help narrow down the best plan, could you share the approximate value of your car and whether anyone under the age of 25 will be driving it?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

What should I decide about my car and my driving before choosing insurance?

  • Vehicle Value and Replacement Cost : Consider what your car is realistically worth in the current market and whether you could afford to replace it entirely out of pocket if it's written off or stolen. This helps you decide between Comprehensive , Third Party, Fire and Theft , or basic Third Party Only cover.

  • Usage and Mileage : Evaluate how often you drive, your daily commute distance, and whether you use the vehicle for private or business purposes. Insurers use this to gauge your risk level and calculate your premiums.

  • Security and Storage : Note where your car is kept overnight (e.g., a locked garage, a carport, or on the street). Off-street, secure parking often lowers your risk profile and premium.

  • Driver History and Age : Review who will be driving the car, including any drivers under 25 or drivers with a history of claims or traffic offences. Adding younger or less experienced drivers typically increases the cost.

  • Excess Affordability : Decide how much voluntary excess (the amount you pay towards a claim) you can comfortably afford in an emergency. Choosing a higher excess can lower your regular payments, but it increases your out-of-pocket cost if you have an accident.

If you'd like, let me know:

  • The make, model, and estimated age of your car
  • Your preferred type of cover (Comprehensive vs. Third Party)

I can help you figure out what factors will impact your quote the most.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026