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Evidence · Home and contents insurance

Every question, every answer, every source

Explore all 372 home and contents insurance questions and the 1,476 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
372
answers saved, of 1488 planned
1476
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 372 questions

Show all 372

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

    372rows

    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

    1,476rows

    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

    9,014rows

    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

    97rows

    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

    659rows

    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; twelve home and twelve contents selection questions, with missing captures preserved

    94rows

    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

    75rows

    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

    71rows

    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

    1,017rows

    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; four home and three contents platform answers per region

    112rows

    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

    3,828rows

    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

    13,048rows

    Download recorded source urls (CSV)

  • Matched consumer platform membership

    platform-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the identical-question platform comparison.

    Answer ID, question ID, product, consumer and platform; 22 identical questions per platform

    88rows

    Download matched consumer platform membership (CSV)

  • Matched regional platform membership

    regional-platform-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the identical-question regional platform comparison.

    Answer ID, question ID, product, region and platform; 31 identical questions per platform

    124rows

    Download matched regional platform membership (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

Would choosing a higher excess actually save me enough to make it worthwhile?

Yes — choosing a higher insurance excess can be worthwhile, but only if the premium savings justify the extra amount you'd have to pay when making a claim. In New Zealand, the best choice depends on your type of insurance, how much you save each year, and whether you could comfortably afford the higher excess if something went wrong.

The key is to compare the actual dollar savings against the extra financial risk, rather than simply choosing the cheapest premium.

A quick example

Suppose you're considering increasing your excess from $500 to $1,500.

Current excess Higher excess
Annual premium $1,200 $900
Excess if you claim $500 $1,500
Annual saving — $300

You save $300 each year, but you would pay an extra $1,000 if you make a claim.

  • After 1 year without a claim, you're $300 better off.
  • After 3 claim-free years, you've saved $900.
  • After 4 claim-free years, you've saved $1,200, enough to offset that extra $1,000 excess.

These are illustrative figures, not an actual insurance quote. The general principle is supported by New Zealand's Consumer Protection insurance guidance. InsuranceICNZ Consumer Guide 2025

Let's work out whether it makes sense for you

I can calculate the break-even point using your actual numbers.

My rule of thumb: choose a higher excess if the premium reduction is meaningful, you rarely claim, and you could pay the full excess tomorrow without going into debt. If the saving is small or the excess would strain your finances, keeping the lower excess may be the better choice.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

Would choosing a higher excess actually save me enough to make it worthwhile?

Deciding whether a higher insurance excess is "worthwhile" comes down to a straightforward mathematical trade-off: comparing the guaranteed annual savings on your premium against the higher out-of-pocket cash you must pay if you make a claim.

To evaluate whether it makes financial sense for your situation, use this breakdown of how the economics work, what questions to ask, and a simple framework to test the numbers.

1. The Core Trade-Off

  • The Premium Savings (Guaranteed): Agreeing to a higher excess lowers your regular (monthly or annual) insurance bill. This is money safely kept in your pocket right now.
  • The Claim Risk (Uncertain): A higher excess means you carry more of the financial burden if an incident occurs. If you never make a claim, you win. If you make multiple claims, you lose out quickly.

2. The Breakeven Calculation (An Example)

To see if the switch is worth it, calculate the breakeven period.

  • Scenario: Imagine your insurer offers to raise your car or contents excess from $400 to $900 (an increase of $500 in your potential contribution). In exchange, your annual premium drops from $1,200 to $950 (a savings of $250 per year).

$$\text{Breakeven Period} = \frac{\text{Increase in Excess}}{\text{Annual Premium Savings}} = \frac{$500}{$250/year} = 2 \text{ years}$$

  • What this means: If you go longer than 2 years without making an at-fault claim, you come out ahead financially. If you have to claim within the first 12 to 24 months, the savings are wiped out, and you would have been better off keeping the lower excess.

3. Key Questions to Ask Yourself Before Changing

  • Can you comfortably afford the cash hit tomorrow? If an unexpected event happens tomorrow, do you have the higher excess amount sitting safely in an emergency fund, or would it force you onto credit card debt or an overdraft? (Paying 18% to 20% interest on a credit card to cover a high excess quickly erases any premium savings).
  • What is your claims history? If you have a clean driving or claims record spanning many years, you are statistically less likely to claim, making a higher excess a safer bet. If you live in a high-risk area, park on a busy street, or have a history of minor bumps, a lower excess provides better protection.
  • Are you paying for minor fixes? Many minor repairs (like a small scratch or a minor dent) cost less than—or only slightly more than—your standard excess anyway. If you wouldn't bother claiming for minor damage because it's close to your excess amount, you might as well raise the excess and stop paying for lower-tier coverage you wouldn't use.

4. Next Steps

  1. Request an exact quote comparison: Ask your insurer for the precise premium difference between your current excess and the next tier up (e.g., moving from $400 to $800). Don't guess the savings.
  2. Calculate your timeline: Divide the difference in excess by your annual savings to find your breakeven window.
  3. Audit your buffer: Only commit to the higher excess if that cash amount is fully funded in your savings account today.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

Would choosing a higher excess actually save me enough to make it worthwhile?

AI Overview

Choosing a higher excess will save you money on your premium, but whether it is "worthwhile" depends on your cash reserves and claim frequency. In New Zealand, increasing your insurance excess typically reduces your annual premium by 10% to 15% for every $250 to $500 bump in excess, though the exact math requires a quick breakeven calculation.

To determine if a higher excess makes financial sense for your situation, consider this direct comparison:

Metric Standard Excess (e.g., $500) Higher Excess (e.g., $1,000)
Annual Premium Higher (Base rate) Lower (Approx. 10%–15% cheaper)
Out-of-Pocket Expense Per Claim Low ($500) High ($1,000)
Risk Profile Best for high-frequency/low-cost incidents Best for rare, major incidents (catastrophic cover)
Breakeven Window N/A Typically 3 to 5 years without making a claim

The "Is It Worthwhile?" Checklist

To see if this strategy works for you, look at three core variables:

  • The Breakeven Period: If raising your excess from $500 to $1,000 saves you $100 a year on your premium, you need to go 5 consecutive years without a claim just to break even on that extra $500 risk. If you make a claim within 5 years, you lose money.

  • Emergency Fund Readiness: Do you have the higher excess amount sitting in a bank account right now? If raising your excess means you couldn't afford to pay it to get your car repaired or house fixed after an accident, the premium savings aren't worth the financial strain.

  • Claim Frequency: If you have a clean driving or homeownership record and rarely file claims, a higher excess is highly beneficial. If you frequently make small claims (e.g., minor scratches or contents damage), a lower excess is better, as minor claims won't even cross a high excess threshold.

Strategic Recommendation

If you have a solid emergency fund, my recommendation is to opt for the higher excess. This shifts your insurance strategy away from managing minor, everyday costs and focuses it entirely on protecting you against major, catastrophic financial losses.

To help find the exact sweet spot for your policy, could you share:

  • What type of insurance are you looking at (e.g., comprehensive car, house, contents)?

  • What are the current excess options and premium differences your insurer quoted?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

Would choosing a higher excess actually save me enough to make it worthwhile?

Whether a higher excess is "worth it" comes down to a simple mathematical trade-off: trading guaranteed annual savings on your premium for a larger out-of-pocket cost if something goes wrong.

According to guidance from financial commentators like MoneyHub NZ, most people do not make an insurance claim every year. Because insurers drop your annual premium when you agree to carry a bigger share of the risk, a higher excess generally rewards drivers or homeowners who remain claim-free.

To figure out if it makes financial sense for you, weigh these key factors:

  • The Break-Even Math: Compare the annual premium difference between your current excess and the proposed higher excess. For example, if raising your excess by $300 saves you $150 a year on your premium, you break even if you go two years without a claim. If you go three or more years claim-free, you come out ahead. Tools like the Calculate.co.nz Excess vs Premium Calculator can help crunch these exact numbers over a multi-year horizon. [Calculate.co.nz]

  • Your Claim History: If you have a clean driving or claims record stretching back several years, you are statistically likely to save money over time by opting for the higher tier. If you tend to make regular claims or live in a high-risk area, a single incident can completely wipe out years of cumulative premium savings.

  • Your Emergency Cash Flow: Consider whether you can comfortably lay hands on that higher amount at a moment's notice. The strategy only works if a sudden $500 or $1,000 bill won't force you into high-interest debt when an accident happens. [Calculate.co.nz]

To help narrow down whether it pencils out for you, tell me:

  • What is the difference in your annual premium versus the difference in the excess?
  • How many years has it been since your last insurance claim?
Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026