[Lambuel+Ruby]

We expect to arrive ChCh in early 2009.

Any advice in terms of car insurance? I've heard if you have had no claims for three years, you may receive a discount. And to pack insurance evidence in suitcases, not wait for container.

If we are without a car during the move for a month or two, will that bump us into a "high risk" category (as it does in the States)?

And what is a good car insurance company (pay on line, no junk mail, good in handling claims when needed, won't raise rates a lot, etc.).

I have Geico in the US and my one complaint is that they get you in under "introductory rates" and they creep up yearly from there. Have otherwise served us well.

Thank you!

[DMcG]

If you can get a letter from your existing insurance company specifying how long you've been claim free, NZ companies will take this into account when calculating your policy.

Rates in NZ don't seem to be too bad and are mostly based around how likely your vehicle is to get stolen (at least in Auckland it is!). I bought a three year old Subaru Impreza (non turbo) when I got here, then traded it in for a brand new Subaru Outback a couple of years later and despite the new car being twice the value of the old one, my insurance bill actually dropped. I think because Imprezas of any sort are considered boy racer type cars and therefore very high in the theft category.

I use AMI and haven't had any complaints about their service.

Dougie

[IanW99]

We expect to arrive ChCh in early 2009.

Any advice in terms of car insurance? I've heard if you have had no claims for three years, you may receive a discount. And to pack insurance evidence in suitcases, not wait for container.

If we are without a car during the move for a month or two, will that bump us into a "high risk" category (as it does in the States)?

And what is a good car insurance company (pay on line, no junk mail, good in handling claims when needed, won't raise rates a lot, etc.).

I have Geico in the US and my one complaint is that they get you in under "introductory rates" and they creep up yearly from there. Have otherwise served us well.

Thank you!

Certainly bring no claims discount proof with you.

You will get a bigger discount for more years no claims proof you have (capped), so even if you only had one year it would be worth bringing.

I don't know for sure, but wouldn't expect a month or two 'holiday' would make any difference to the premiums.

Can second AMI who have given excellent service even when we needed to make a claim, and they haven't raised the premiums yet even after the claim.

Would suggest that you get several quotes though as the quotes do vary quite a bit.

Also, note that if you take out other insurance policies with the same company they normally offer you an additional discount.

Ian

[James 1077]

We got ours through Westpac as we wanted to just walk into a branch and get the insurance. They didn't even ask for our no-claims discount as they gave us full no claims on the basis that we had been driving for ages!

It is also far cheaper than the UK and they didn't charge extortionate interest rates to pay monthly (they actually didn't charge any interest to pay monthly).

No doubt they'll increase the price in the coming years but there is nothing stopping us from moving if they do (I never used the same insurance company two years running in the UK).

[StevieD]

We used AMI, very good, and it even went down this year! We have a mpv/people mover or whatever other guise they come in, and we don't get junk mail off them either, which is nice.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

We used Tower through National Bank to renew all our house and car insurances this year.

We found them to be very competitive and good quality cover with plenty of options.

Since using them I have had them recommended by financial type acquaintances too.