Congratulations to State, for winning Canstar's prestigious Insurer of the Year Car Insurance Award.
Whether your car requires you to pump gas or power up a battery to get rolling, it's sure to be worth more to you than just an agreed value. Cars are the main form of transport for most Kiwis: it's how we get to work, taxi the kids around and stock up at the supermarket. Without a ready and reliable set of wheels, we'd be lost.
That's why car insurance is so important. Not only can it be a financial life-saver, it can help provide alternative transport if your own car takes a ding and is up on blocks at the body shop getting repaired.
However, while Canstar's research for our latest car insurance awards reveals that we understand the importance of great car cover – 87% of insured drivers have comprehensive insurance – far fewer of us (32%) bother to shop around for a better deal each year when our car insurance is up for renewal.
But finding the best deal in car insurance doesn't have to be as gruelling as a Monday morning commute in heavy rain. Because here at Canstar, we've done all the hard work for you! Our latest awards research directs you straight to the best in car insurance.
The Canstar Car Insurance Star Ratings use a sophisticated and unique ratings methodology that compares price and features across Comprehensive car insurance products.
We then award the best products our 5-Star ratings for Outstanding Value Car Insurance, and the best insurer in the market our prestigious award for Insurer of the Year Car Insurance. This recognises the insurer that delivers consumers outstanding value through its products, services and levels of customer satisfaction.
This year, our expert panel's research covered 12 providers and policies, across six consumer profiles:
- Under 25: female driver
- Under 25: male driver
- 25-29 driver
- 30-49 driver
- Family with young driver
- 50+ driver
For the customer service element of the award, car insurance policyholders are asked to rate their satisfaction with their insurer across seven key areas:
- Overall satisfaction
- Communication
- Comprehensiveness of cover
- Cost
- Customer service
- Ease of claim
- Value for money
Car Insurer of the Year Award Winner: State
Awarding State our Car Insurer of the Year title for the second consecutive year, our research team noted State's competitive prices, its great comprehensive policy features and strong customer satisfaction score.
Across five of the six driver profiles assessed for our award, State earns top 5-Star Outstanding Value ratings. And State’s generous comprehensive policy inclusions cover new-car replacement, accidental damage to windscreens and window glass, kids’ car seats and towing.
State's Outstanding Value Ratings:
- Under-25 Female Driver – 5 Stars
- Under-25 Male Driver – 5 Stars
- 25-29 Driver – 5 Stars
- 30-49 Driver – 5 Stars
- 50+ Driver – 5 Stars
- Family with Young Driver – 4 Stars
State's car insurance products
State has a choice of three levels of car insurance – full cover, third party fire & theft, and third party – plus optional add-ons, such as roadside assistance, windscreen and glass excess buyout, and car hire. State also offers benefits to its customers such online sign-up and claims.
What’s covered by State's full cover policy?
State's Full Cover comprehensive car insurance policy is designed to give full cover for collision, fire & theft. It also provides you with legal liability, should you damage someone else's property.
Some of the key benefits are:
- Accidental loss or damage to your car, including by flood or storm
- Accidental windscreen and glass damage
- Kids' car seats
- Legal liability protection up to $20m for damage, and up to $1m for injury
- New car replacement
- Protection against uninsured drivers
- Transport and towing expenses
- Up to $500 to replace keys and locks
Optional extras include: roadside rescue, no-excess windscreen and glass cover, car hire.
What's covered by State's third party, fire & theft car insurance policy?
This policy doesn't provide cover for your vehicle if you're involved in an accident, but it does cover legal liability for others' property. It also covers you if your vehicle is destroyed or damaged as a result of fire or theft.
Some of the key benefits are:
- Damage caused by uninsured drivers up to $5000
- Legal liability protection up to $20m for damage, and up to $1m for injury
- Towing costs
Optional extras include: roadside rescue and no-excess windscreen and glass cover.
What's covered by State's third party car insurance policy?
This is State's basic level of car insurance, and is designed to cover you for damage caused to other people's vehicles or property. Some of the key benefits include:
- Cover for accidental damage to someone else’s car
- Legal liability protection up to $20m for damage, and up to $1m for injury
- Damage caused by uninsured drivers up to $5000
Optional extras include: roadside rescue and no-excess windscreen and glass cover.
