AA car insurance review

Author: Kevin McHugh, Head of Publishing at Banked.

About AA Insurance

AA Insurance is one of the biggest insurers in New Zealand and one of the few car insurers still to have customer service branches. It has been providing general insurance to Kiwis for 25 years and it currently has around 480,000 customers.

AA Insurance is independently operated but it is owned by Australian insurance provider, Suncorp.

The insurer underwrites its own policies (although it does promote partner products on its website) and it has a long-term financial strength rating of A+.

AA Insurance is a member of the Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) and it abides by its Fair Insurance Code.

You can call AA Insurance on 0800 500 231, although you can also start claims and get quotes online and in one of its 4 customer service centres in either Auckland or Hamilton.

Car insurance policies available from AA Insurance

As well as the standard comprehensive, third party fire and theft, and third party only options, AA Insurance also provides cover for classic and vintage vehicles.

Comprehensive

AA Insurance’s comprehensive car insurance policies provide agreed value cover that protects your vehicle if you accidentally damage it. It will also cover you for damage you cause to other vehicles or property.

Key features

Learn more in AA’s comprehensive car insurance policy document.

Third party fire and theft

Third party fire and theft cover from AA Insurance will cover your vehicle for theft or fire damage (up to a value you agree to when you take out the policy). It will also cover your liability for damage you cause to other vehicles.

Key features

See full detail in AA’s third party fire and theft car insurance policy document.

Third party

The most basic car insurance policy from AA insurance will cover your legal liability for damage you cause to other vehicles or property.

Key features

See full details in AA’s third party car insurance policy document.

Optional add-ons

For an added cost you can add these extras to your AA Insurance policy:

• Excess-free glass cover: Take out this add-on and you won’t have to pay an excess for car glass claims.
• Rental cover: You’ll be provided with a rental car while your car is being repaired if you choose this add-on.

What’s special about AA car insurance?

Unlike other New Zealand insurers, AA Insurance has centres you can visit if you prefer to deal with your insurance face to face.

Customer service centres

While other insurers have closed their branches around the country in recent years, AA Insurance still has 4 customer service centres open. So if you live in Auckland (Penrose, Avondale and Wairau Valley) or Hamilton, you can drop by and cover your insurance needs with an AA Insurance representative.

These customer service centres are open Monday to Friday but are closed on weekends and public holidays.

Find your nearest AA service centre.

4 top ways to save on AA car insurance

If you’ve checked out its policies, compared quotes, and decided AA Insurance is the right choice for your car cover, make sure you maximise your savings with these tips.

1. Save as an AA Member: There are a number of benefits of being a member of the AA, and a discount on your insurance is one of them. The amount of the discount you get depends on the policy you take out and how long you’ve been an AA member.
   If you just want third party cover and have been an AA member for 4 years or less, you’ll only save $5. However, if you’re taking out a comprehensive policy, and you’ve been an AA member for 15 years or more, you’ll save $50 on your annual premiums.
2. Combine policies for a multi-policy discount: If you take out more than one policy with AA Insurance (car and contents, for example), you’ll save 10% on your premiums for both.
3. Pay annually: If you can afford to pay for your a year’s car insurance premiums in one go, you’ll save around 8-9% on average with AA Insurance.
4. Pick a higher excess and save on premiums: With AA Insurance you can choose what excess you’ll need to pay if you need to make a claim. The higher the excess you choose, the lower your premiums will be. Just remember that you will need to pay that higher excess if you want to make a claim in the future.

Other insurance products offered by AA Insurance

As well as car cover, AA Insurance also offers the following insurance products:

• house insurance
• contents insurance
• landlord insurance
• classic vehicle insurance
• small business insurance
• caravan insurance
• motorcycle insurance
• motorhome insurance
• trailer insurance

The AA also provides the following insurance products which are underwritten by its partners, including:

• health insurance (underwritten by nib nz)
• pet insurance (managed by PetSure and underwritten by The Hollard Insurance Company)
• travel insurance (managed by Allianz Partners and underwritten by The Hollard Insurance Company)
• life insurance (underwritten by Asteron Life Limited).