Review the car insurance product on offer from one of New Zealand’s largest banks and see which cover level is best suited to you.
The Bank of New Zealand offers a full selection of insurance products including a car insurance policy with three levels of cover. Depending on your choice of policy you can enjoy excess-free protection for windscreen damage and roadside assistance too.
Policies are underwritten by IAG New Zealand, and you connect with a BNZ team for quoting and claiming. Read on to see what exactly BNZ car insurance covers and what is excluded from cover.
What cover options does BNZ offer?
At BNZ you can choose to pay for comprehensive cover or reduce your premiums by paying for third-party cover only. There is also the option to add fire and theft protection to third-party cover. Read on for more details on what’s covered at each level.
With BNZ’s comprehensive level of cover, this policy will protect you for all the typical risks of a comprehensive car insurance policy, including:
- Damage to your vehicle cause by an accident, regardless of who is at fault
- Reimbursement should your vehicle be stolen, or damaged in a fire
- Cover for damage or loss due to natural disasters
- Legal liability cover where your use of a vehicle caused loss to another person’s property, or physical injury
- Up to $10,000 in costs towards a manslaughter defence
- A cash benefit of up to $10,000 in case of accidental death or disablement
- Up to $500 towards medical expenses after an accident
- Up to $500 towards trauma counselling
- Cost of temporary repairs to make your car roadworthy
- Towing costs to get your car to a nearby repair centre or a safe location
- Up to $1,000 to repair or replace a trailer
- Cover to transport you back to your home
- Up to $750 in accommodation costs if you are stranded
- Up to $1,000 for replacement keys or lockset repair
- No claim discount protection, if you have the details of the driver at fault
You could consider this middle level of cover as an alternative to comprehensive insurance if you need to save on your premiums.
At this level, your cover will include:
- Accidental loss or damage that is caused by fire or theft, or by certain natural disasters
- Up to $3,000 in cover if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver
- A maximum of $20 million in cover for legal liability where you are at fault
- A maximum of $10,000 to pay for a manslaughter defence
- Up to $10,000 if you are in an accident that leads to death or permanent disablement
- A maximum of $500 towards medical expenses after an accident
- Costs to retrieve your vehicle to a safe location or a repairer
- Costs to transport you and your passengers back to your home or your destination
If you have an older car that you do not wish to insure you could consider third-party insurance alone which will cover you for legal liabilities if you are at fault in an accident.
The BNZ third-party policy includes:
- A maximum of $3,000 to repair your car if another driver is at fault in an accident
- $20 million in cover to pay for legal liability if you are driving and you cause an accident
- $10,000 in legal cover in case you are charged with manslaughter after an accident
What does BNZ generally exclude?
Your BNZ policy won’t cover you for every eventuality. Some of the circumstances under which you won’t be able to claim include:
- Where at the time of an accident the driver was above the legal alcohol limit
- If after an accident the driver does not stop at the scene
- Where a driver was under the influence of unlawful substances while driving
- Drivers who are not licensed to drive in New Zealand
- Tyre damage due to normal use of roads, such as punctures and tyre bursts
- Damage due to electrical or mechanical breakdown
- Modifications to your car that BNZ has not agreed to cover
- Vehicles that are unsafe or not roadworthy
- Cars used to carry fare-paying customers
- Cars used for racing or testing purposes
- Using your car in the process of carrying out work as a salesperson
- Using your car to tow loads for financial gain
How much excess will I pay?
Most claims filed under a BNZ car insurance policy will attract an excess. The exact amount of excess you need to pay will depend on your individual policy.
Some claims do not attract an excess. For example, under PremierCare Supreme Cover you will not be required to pay an excess if you are claiming for damage to windscreens, windows, sunroofs or driving lights.
How to save on your BNZ car insurance policy
- No claim discount. You could earn a no claim discount if you practice safe driving
- Level of cover. Reduce your premium by choosing third-party cover instead of more comprehensive cover. Remember that comprehensive cover offers more protection.
- Discounts for multiple policies. BNZ offers home, life and health insurance too and you can enjoy a special discount if you purchase multiple insurance products from BNZ.
- Earn Fly Buys points. On some policies you can earn Fly Buys that are redeemable for goods and services.
How do I make a claim?
You need to call the BNZ claims line to start the claims process. It helps to be prepared if you want to make a successful claim, so keep the following in mind:
- If possible, at the time of the accident, take pictures of the scene and the damage to your vehicle
- Obtain full details of all parties involved
- Make sure your car is secure and not at risk of further damage after an accident
- Keep your policy documentation ready and any other documents such as a police report
What makes BNZ car insurance different?
Each car insurance policy has a unique set of benefits. At BNZ you can look forward to enjoying the following:
- Repair guarantee. BNZ provides a full quality guarantee on all repair work completed as a result of a claim.
- Windows and driving lights. Exclusive to Supreme Cover, BNZ will charge you no excess and protect your no claim bonus if you make a claim limited to windshield damage, or damage to driving lights.
- Optional roadside assistance. Also exclusive to Supreme Cover, BNZ can provide you with roadside assistance including fuel top-ups, tyre exchange and more. This cover is optional.
