aa travel insurance claim new zealand

Financial Strength Rating

The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd ABN 78 090 584 473 (Incorporated in Australia), ("Hollard"), has been given a financial strength rating of A (Strong) issued by Standard and Poor's. View the full details on the  Financial Strength Rating .

An overseas policyholder preference applies. Under Australian law, if The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd is wound up, its assets in Australia must be applied to its Australian liabilities before they can be applied to overseas liabilities. To this extent, New Zealand policyholders may not be able to rely on The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd’s Australian assets to satisfy New Zealand liabilities.

Financial advice

The New Zealand Automobile Association provides general information about AA Travel Insurance products and services so that you can make a choice that best meets your needs. Information provided does not take into account your personal circumstances, needs or goals and is not intended to be financial advice. If you'd like to receive financial advice, you can get professional advice from a registered financial adviser.

More information

Contact us Policy Wording Make a claim Terms and conditions AA Traveller Member Benefits

*AA Members can receive a 10% discount on AA Travel Insurance. Simply provide each traveller’s valid AA Membership number on application. Discount applies to AA Member cover premium, including any additional pre-existing cover, but does not apply to additional cover for high value items.

^All new policies taken out between 7am 13 May and 11:59pm 30 June 2024 will automatically be in the draw to win 1 of 3 $15,000 NZD cash prizes. See the full T&Cs  here .

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Please Note - If you are cruising around Australia you need to select Pacific. With Regions, variances can apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. You are not required to enter stop-over countries if your stop-over is less than 48 hours.

If you don’t know where you’re traveling to within the next 12 months, choose Worldwide to ensure you’re covered no matter where you go. If you’re travelling to multiple countries choose the region that you are visiting that is furthest away (excluding stopovers less than 48 hours). In most cases you will be covered for the closer regions as well. For example, if you choose Europe, you will also be covered in the Middle East, Asia and Pacific.

Worldwide means anywhere in the world

Americas means USA, Canada, South America, Latin America, Hawaii and the Caribbean

Europe means all European countries, including UK

Middle East refers to the area from Syria to Yemen; Egypt to Iran

Asia generally means Asia and the Indian subcontinent. For some insurers this excludes Japan*

Pacific means the South West Pacific, Australia and Indonesia/Bali*. Select Pacific for domestic cruises in New Zealand waters

New Zealand means domestic travel within New Zealand only

*Note: Variances apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. Check that your destination is covered once directed to your chosen insurer’s site.

AA Travel Reviews

The AA has played an active role in New Zealand's domestic tourism since the 1920s. Policies are available to those under 100 years who are residents of New Zealand. Dependents travel for free with parent or grandparent. Their 24/7 emergency assistance is provided by Allianz Global Assistance and they are underwritten by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited.

Customer Experience

Claims experience, value for money.

The Absolute worst experience - STAY AWAY

My claim is only 2000$ and my premium with excess is close to 1000$ , ridiculously small claim - yet ...  Read more

My claim is only 2000$ and my premium with excess is close to 1000$ , ridiculously small claim - yet the claims process was an absolute nightmare. I provided evefry single thing they wanted, then they ask you for additional Documentation and then when you provide it, you wait 20 days and then they ask for more doc which was never asked before and irrelevant just to stall the claim. I am have been waiting almost 3 months for my lousy 2000$ payout, still nothing!

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Took travel insurance out to visit terminally ill parent who died whilst I was there. Tried to claim ...  Read more

Took travel insurance out to visit terminally ill parent who died whilst I was there. Tried to claim $500 for change of ticket. Provided death certificate and copies of original flights etc. Wanted a whole medical review of parent from an overseas medical team. No discussion, just refused to look at claim until 'paperwork' done. I pay $400 per month for AA house/car insurance but they made me feel like I am ripping them off. Have withdrawn the claim and will suck it up but just be warned their customer service is cold and inflexible.

1 comment on this review

A terrible experience

I had a comprehensive policy (no excess)with AA Travel (which by thew way is Allianz so don;'t th...  Read more

I had a comprehensive policy (no excess)with AA Travel (which by thew way is Allianz so don;'t think it actually has anything to do with AA) I spent two months trying to claim and only ever received a partial payment. Their reasons for denying payment on the remainder made no sense whatsoever but they would not engage in further explanation. It was impossible to actually speak to anyone. Stay away from this company.

Very disappointed at a time l needed support l was alone

Its an insult to use the AA name, trusted it and was let down. I had to haggle with the company who m...  Read more

Its an insult to use the AA name, trusted it and was let down. I had to haggle with the company who made a 'payment of good will' as it was put for a legitimate claim l will never recommend AA travel insurance.

Claim wasnt paid because policy was purchased 1 day after

This is absolutely frustrating, I bought AA travel insurance on 20th Dec after finishing all the trav...  Read more

This is absolutely frustrating, I bought AA travel insurance on 20th Dec after finishing all the travel arrangements on 19th Dec. On 21st my daughter fallen sick and on 22nd I had to cancel the entire trip, so put up a claim. My claim was rejected because I didn't purchase policy while doing the travel arrangements...fuming!

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Our comparison is a free service that makes it easy for users to compare multiple quotes, saving both time and money. Our comparison ranks quotes according to price and is limited to those insurers that have agreed to participate on the site. CoverDirect NZ Limited does not hold a financial services licence. The comparison does not take your personal circumstances into account; as such, all information provided should be considered general and should not be considered as advice or a recommendation. Whilst we take all reasonable care when preparing this information, we do not warrant its accuracy. Pricing information is supplied by the insurance providers and ALL policy details should be verified with the before you purchase. This site links users to the website of the insurance provider to verify quotes and access the relevant PDS to understand what is, and is not, covered by a policy prior to purchase. We do not issue insurance. Users purchase directly from the travel insurance provider.

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What's on this page

Emergencies, common queries, find an insurer.

Travel insurance is cover you purchase for international trips, whether they’re for business or holidays. Most travel insurance provides protection for

• cancellation and loss of deposit
• medical treatment costs
• costs for returning home in certain emergencies
• loss of luggage and personal items
• personal liability (except for deliberate acts or use of motor vehicles).

Travel insurance consumer guide

Download our handy consumer guide with all you need to know about travel insurance., domestic travel insurance.

Travel insurance is also available when you travel around New Zealand. While medical events will be covered by ACC in New Zealand, domestic travel insurance will cover you for things like lost luggage, rental vehicle excesses, cancellations or delays, and personal liability. Travellers should be aware that domestic travel insurance generally doesn’t cover as much as an international policy would so you should read the policy carefully before taking out cover.

For an independent view on domestic travel insurance, check out  Consumer NZ’s  article ‘Domestic travel insurance – do you need it?’

Credit card travel insurance

Travel insurance is a common extra when you take out a credit card from your bank, but there are some things to be aware of:

• some policies might need to be activated before you travel
• there might be a limit on how long the policy will cover you for
• you might have to book a certain amount of your travel expenses on the credit card before the travel insurance becomes available
• cover may not automatically be available for pre-existing conditions. You will likely need to contact the insurer to ask about coverage for any pre-existing conditions and you may have to pay an extra premium to have them covered.

Credit card travel insurance may not be as comprehensive as some other travel insurance policies, so it pays to read the policy carefully and think about whether you need to take out any additional cover.

Shop around

Remember that not all travel policies are created equal – just as the premium of some policies costs more than others, some policies have wider cover than others.

If you have a pre-existing condition, are planning to engage in a sport or adventure activity while you’re away, are a non-resident, are pregnant, or are over the age of 65, it’s important to contact a number of insurers before purchasing your insurance. One insurer may have a policy that suits your individual circumstances better than another.

Find out more about travel insurance to cover:

• staying in an Airbnb
• non-residents
• pre-existing conditions
• renting cars
• sports and adventure activities

Buy before you fly

You cannot get travel insurance if you’ve already left the country. You should buy travel insurance when you book and pay for your overseas trip. That way you’re not only covered for your trip, but also if something happens before you depart.

Read your policy wording

Make sure you read the policy wording so you understand what you are and aren’t covered for. If there is anything you don’t understand, ask your insurer for an explanation or more information.

Some common exclusions

Like any other insurance policy, a travel insurance policy is unlikely to cover you for absolutely everything that could go wrong. The following list sets out some of the common exclusions in travel policies, but make sure to check your individual policy’s exclusions as each insurer is different:

• war and terrorism
• pandemic, epidemic or infectious diseases
• financial failure of an airline, travel agent or tour operator
• elective medical or dental treatment
• travel in international waters
• being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Disinclination

Travel insurance policies don’t cover ’disinclination to travel’. This means that if, for example, you choose not to travel because you think your destination looks unsafe, but there hasn’t been a travel advisory issued, you will not be covered for the costs you’ve lost.

International students and seasonal workers

While the general rule is that New Zealand insurers don’t provide travel insurance for non-residents, there are some exceptions. If you are a seasonal worker travelling to New Zealand for work (for example, to pick apples during the harvesting season), or if you are an international student coming to New Zealand to study, then you will be able to purchase travel insurance from some New Zealand insurers.

You may need to contact a number of different insurers as not everyone offers inbound student or seasonal worker insurance.

Feeling adventurous?

If you’re planning on taking part in any sport or adventurous activities on your trip, talk to your insurer and read your policy wording to check whether you are covered. In particular, you should check whether you are covered for:

• skiing, snowboarding or doing other winter sports
• scuba diving
• bungy jumping
• hang gliding
• water skiing
• motorcycling or using a scooter (in certain countries)
• taking some other form of extreme risk which might put you in danger.

Driving overseas

Travel insurance policies provide limited cover for vehicles hired overseas. If you have an accident, the cover provided by your travel policy will usually only pay either the excess by the rental car company or the vehicle repair costs, if those costs are less than the excess. To ensure that you have enough cover, you should buy comprehensive motor insurance from the rental vehicle company in the country you hire the car in. If you then have an accident, you will have to pay the rental vehicle directly and claim costs from your insurer.

High-value items

You need to tell your insurer if you are going to take, or are planning to buy, high-value items on your trip. Many travel insurance policies contain sub-limits on the value of items you can claim for (including electronics and jewellery).

If you’re unsure, ask your insurer what value or coverage limits your policy may have.

Check for travel advisories

Sometimes there will already be events happening in the area you’re planning to travel to, when you take out your insurance policy. These are called ’known events’ and are unlikely to be covered by your policy. For example, if a volcano erupts in the country you are travelling to, it’s unlikely that delays or cancellations caused by the eruption would be covered. When you are taking out your insurance, check to see if there are any current advisories which might affect your cover. In New Zealand you can check the government advisory website  www.safetravel.govt.nz  and trusted media sources – if there are warnings in the media about the place you are travelling to, your insurer may not cover you.

This is another reason why you should take out your insurance cover at the same time as booking your travel. That way your insurer is on risk if an event happens and your travel plans are disrupted before you’ve even left.

Keep your receipts

If you need to pay for something while you’re travelling that you plan to make a claim for (like a lost phone or stolen camera that you had to replace while you were still overseas) make sure you keep your receipts to make the claim process as smooth as possible.

You can still make a claim even if you haven’t managed to keep hold of the receipts, but it’s likely that you’ll need to provide proof of ownership of the lost or stolen item to your insurer.

Travel insurers provide free 24-hour emergency assistance. Keep the details of their emergency assistance provider with you at all times while travelling.

In the event of an emergency, you may need to contact them for medical treatment or advice.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade runs a website that has up to date travel advisories for all countries on key issues like security and health. 

Before you travel, you must tell your insurer if you intend to travel to any countries that have a ‘Do not travel’ travel advisory status – as it may not be possible to get insurance cover for travel to countries with this status.

Visit  www.safetravel.govt.nz  to check your intended destination and any countries you’re stopping in or passing through.

While you’re on the website, you can also check out their travel insurance guidance.

Some circumstances may make travel insurance more difficult to find or mean you need to fulfil additional requirements in order to receive cover.

Most travel insurance policies don’t provide liability cover for damage to property you’re staying at (e.g. an Airbnb or hotel) while travelling. Generally,  the Airbnb host will hold sufficient insurance to cover them should a paying guest damage their property, but there is a chance that the host or their insurer could ask you for payment if you were responsible for the damage. This would not be covered by your travel insurance policy.

Some insurers only provide cover for New Zealand residents, so if you are a non-resident, you may need to contact a number of insurers before you are able to get cover. 

It’s important to tell your insurer if you’re already pregnant when you book your travel insurance, or if you fall pregnant before you leave. Most insurers offer cover for the first few months of pregnancy as long as there have not been any complications. The length of time each insurer will provide automatic cover for varies so talk to your insurer to be certain you’ll be covered. An insurer may also require you to have a medical assessment before providing cover.

If you become pregnant after taking out a travel insurance policy, contact your insurer as soon as possible to ensure you’ll still be covered for your travel.

Pre-existing conditions are medical conditions you already have or have previously had at the time you’re buying your insurance. They include symptoms you’ve asked a doctor about, even if you didn’t receive a formal diagnosis.

Pre-existing conditions are excluded from most insurers’ basic packages. Some insurers have automatic cover for certain pre-existing conditions and others may allow you to buy additional cover for pre-existing conditions, although not all insurers will be able to provide this service.

If you have a pre-existing condition, you should check your chosen insurer’s list of automatically covered pre-existing conditions. If your condition is not listed, you will need to speak to the insurer to find out if you can get cover. They may require you to get a medical certificate before providing cover.

It’s important to remember to declare all pre-existing conditions when taking out travel insurance otherwise you may not be covered under all or part of your policy.

Most travel policies do not provide cover for damage caused to a rental vehicle hired overseas. Nor do they cover damage caused to people or property while in control of a rented or borrowed vehicle.

Some policies will provide rental vehicle excess (RVE) insurance but this will only provide cover for the excess on damage to the vehicle that the insured person has to pay — it does not provide any cover for the repairs themselves or any personal liability the insured person has if an accident damages property or injures someone. If a travel policy offers RVE, the cover may only apply to renting cars through a registered care hire company.

If you drive overseas, it’s important to get appropriate motor vehicle insurance and personal liability cover through either a vehicle rental company or through a local insurer (if you are borrowing a friend or relative’s vehicle).

The level and types of cover available for senior citizens varies by insurer and may be affected by the age(s) of the traveller(s). In some instances, you may be required to fill out some forms to give the insurer information about your medical history.

To ensure that you will be covered and to find a policy that best meets your needs, you should contact an insurer directly.

Some insurers have a list of sports and activities they will automatically provide cover for, however, there are also a number they won’t cover. If you are unsure whether your intended sport or activity will be covered, you should contact your insurer to check.

If you are planning on doing any sort of sport or adventure activity while you are travelling, make sure to let your insurer know when you take out cover.

ICNZ is unable to provide personal or professional advice. The list of travel insurance providers below is included for your information. Any queries about the specifics of policies or cover should be directed to the insurer.

Other travel insurance may be available through your bank or credit card provider, as well as by contacting an insurance broker. 

You can download the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s travel insurance guide from their Safe Travel website.

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Allianz Partners New Zealand Premier Corporate Travel Insurance

Allianz partners. experts at building value-added partnerships, part of the world’s largest travel insurance and assistance provider, allianz partners new zealand provides a range of travel insurance products for new zealand travellers.  whether you are a small insurance broker or a large multinational, if you have corporate clients who travel for business, domestically or internationally and would like to learn more about how we can help you, get in touch with our friendly and supportive corporate team today., our solutions go beyond traditional insurance, our products.

Corporate & Retail Travel Insurance  

Student Travel & Medical Insurance  

Seasonal Worker's Travel & Medical Insurance

Pet Insurance for Cats & Dogs  

We partner with some of new zealand’s leading brands, our partners.

As part of the  Allianz Group , we have a strong foundation. Yet we have the ability to be innovative and nimble, to push technological and geographical boundaries. Our agile approach allows us to be flexible and responsive to the ever-changing landscape in which we operate. We are future ready. 

Headquartered in Auckland, our team provides travel insurance, emergency assistance, and pet insurance to our customers and partners throughout New Zealand.

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Visiting New Zealand

Cover while visiting new zealand.

Travel insurance is one of the best ways to protect yourself overseas. Whether you're holidaying, catching up with family or travelling for work, our Visiting New Zealand travel insurance can give you the freedom to enjoy your stay in New Zealand with confidence.

Why choose us?

At Southern Cross Travel Insurance, we've been providing great quality cover for people visiting New Zealand since 2003. Who better to protect you during your stay in New Zealand than one of the country's leading and most trusted travel insurers? Here are more reasons to choose us for your next trip:

1. We offer 24/7 emergency assistance

If the unexpected happens, we're here to help. Our emergency assistance team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can access help when you need it.

2. We go the extra mile

We’re committed to providing quality cover, which is why our Visiting New Zealand travel insurance policy includes emergency dental treatment and ancillary services like chiropractors and physiotherapy.

3.  We provide optional cover for some pre-existing medical conditions

Instead of incorporating pre-existing medical conditions into your base premium, which can result in higher premiums, we offer cover for some pre-existing medical conditions that you can choose to add-on to your policy. If you choose to add this cover, you will be charged an additional premium. We do not cover all pre-existing medical conditions. You can find a list of those that are included here .

4. We cover your children at no additional cost

We know how important it is to protect your children with quality travel insurance on your journey, which is why we can add them to your policy at no additional cost to your base premium.

5. We cover you  from start to finish

Our Visiting New Zealand travel insurance policy can cover you while you’re travelling to and from New Zealand, including transit stops, for up to five days.

6. We're based in New Zealand

Not only are we based in New Zealand, we’re 100% New Zealand owned. We’ve worked hard to become one of the country’s most trusted and knowledgeable travel insurers, and we’re proud to offer great quality cover for your visit to our home.

7. We offer cover for medical repatriation

Worst case scenarios are never nice to think about, but you can travel knowing your Visiting New Zealand travel insurance offers cover for medical repatriation.

8. Making a claim is easy

We know that making a claim can be confusing and frustrating, which is why we're committed to making it as stress-free and efficient as possible. If you need to make a claim, the easiest way is to register with My SCTI , where you can make and track a claim and manage your policy, all in one secure location. Alternatively, you can complete a claim form online . 

Need some help?

If you would like to get in touch, we’re here to help. If you have any questions regarding our Visiting New Zealand travel insurance, you can:

Call us from New Zealand: 0800 784 691 Call us from overseas: +64 9 9796597 Email us: [email protected]

Take the next step towards your journey in New Zealand and get an online travel insurance quote today .

What you need to know

This page provides a summary of the key terms only. As with all insurance policies, terms and conditions apply. For our terms and conditions (including information about exclusions, excesses and sub limits) we recommend you read the travel insurance Policy Document .

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Our travel insurance didn't insure…

Our travel insurance didn't insure travel. When Air Vanuatu went bankrupt we lost $12K and AA said that bankrupt airline travel isn't covered.

Date of experience : 30 May 2024

International travel insurance

Unable to fin international help assistance number and this can only be found online so if there is no internet you can't contact them. Demanded medical report even though I had done a telehealth phone consult and had emailed receipts. Expected me to go to ED for this and waste limited resources NHS have already over a bloody viral/chest infection. On the other hand really good RIP OFF for this company demanding a medical report when they know full well getting a consult with a GP is near on impossible. Money I paid, I may as well fave to charity. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY

Date of experience : 01 May 2024

Disorganized nightmare

Dealing with this company is a huge headache , they don't read emails so bills don't get paid , they are so disorganized. If your going through a traumatic time stay away from aa health

Date of experience : 21 April 2024

Burocracy, was not able to pay my simple invoice at their office counter showing my policy number, then had to make an appointment with the insurance lady, when I finally met her, she send me away as too busy with the advice to do it online. I wonder how other, not-online people do business with AA? And do we need a local AA Shop with around 10 stuff not looking busy?

Date of experience : 04 April 2024

Great Customer service

Customer service really great for car insurance claim when I backed out of garage with the flap of my ev open and it broke off. I found them excellent to deal with and it wasn't a trouble when I needed to go to my specialist dealer to get it fixed not one of their usual.

Date of experience : 25 January 2024

AA Insurance - Shocking at best

AA Insurance is very un-professional, Disorganized and lacking feeling. Had to explain things 5x, send items through multiple times, wait over a month to see any results then had to initiate the complaints process. As the victim in a serious head on crash, they accepted liabilty of the crash and the claim, then proceeded to give my client a month run around and made my her feel like a criminal effecting her mental health negatively - Very poor service 1 star is for the one team memeber that did a good job. Not very impressed from a company that historicly has been a solid part of NZ community for generations. Need to do better

Date of experience : 03 April 2024

Our house was flooded in mid September…

Our house was flooded in mid September 2023. The stripping and drying was done by AA contractors, their work leaves a lot to be desired. The problem now is the repair work cost is not agreed with the in house team dragging their heals, offering half of the builders estimate quote. That includes repair of the walls and floors, replacing the family bathroom and the kitchen and recoderating the whole downstairs and the landing and 2 rooms upstairs. TheAA costing is laughable and not realistic to be polite. With such a big insurance company you would expect better costumer understanding and empathy.

Date of experience : 01 February 2024

Awful service for house insurance

Awful service for house insurance. Couple in late 70s burgled stole a mobile, laptop, handbag, purse. Not much total value 350 quid max. 100 quid excess and these scum would only pay for the phone as that is the only one they had a reciept for! Greedy and awful treatment to old people who have just been burgled. NEVER do business with the AA

Date of experience : 28 March 2024

AA car insurance stole £100 from a…

AA car insurance stole £100 from a credit card of mine without my permission and said it was admin! Watch out they are thieves and you can’t get through by telephone ever and they stick things in small print and never get in contact regarding renewal. More expensive than most and diabolical customer service. Not even 1 star. Be very careful using them you can end up in debt

Date of experience : 09 September 2023

Thankyou AA Insurance for my new spectacles ease of…

Thankyou AA Insurance for the ease of making a claim and how quickly and easily it was processed. My spectacles had dropped on the road without me realising and were crushed almost beyond recognition. I received my new spectacles today and I'm delighted with the way the whole process was so easy.

Date of experience : 26 January 2024

AVOID THIS COMPANY THEY TAKE MONEY FROM YOUR CREDIT CARD WITHOUT PERMISSION

My renewal was 3 times as much.When I said I was leaving they dropped it to the old price but I never received the new documents to confirm the new price so I emailed them to cancel the policy I never heard anything then 2 months later they stole my money from my credit card without my permission and took the full yearly amount of £482.50 I normally pay monthly. They say ring to complain but they mess you around and have you on the phone for ages the company that owns it is admiral the reviews are a disgrace they are theives to help complain use a company called resolver they are good. good luck lets put these scammers out of business

Date of experience : 06 February 2024

Do not insure with these people

Do not insure with these people Hopeless communication online claims manager is a joke Want more information is their stop standard reply could not open file is another Attrition is this companies weapon DO NOT INSURE WITH THESE PEOPLE For me never again

Date of experience : 01 August 2023

Scam Artists

Read Stuffs latest news on them facing court. They were charging me double a fortnight because of the system taking money and refunding it. Tried to change policies and gave them the same answers as before and they were going to charge me $5 extra! Get them investigated and shut down! Never have I had a payment plan do what they've done. I couldn't even afford groceries or petrol!

Date of experience : 30 June 2023

Been a customer for 24 years

Been a customer for 24 years. Unfortunately our house got broken into recently. We have full replacement policy. Made to feel like a criminal making the claim. Expect to be able to produce evidence of ownership. Check your jewellery limit default is $5000. At 60 years of age a lady can accumulate quite a bit more than limit. No receipt don’t expect photographs to be accepted. Claims assessor said he could not establish if the jewellery was real. As if we planned to defraud insurance with photographs going back over 20 years. AVOID THESE INSURANCE CON MEN.

Date of experience : 03 September 2019

I am SO relieved to be paid out $1440

I am SO relieved to be paid out $1440, 7 weeks after claiming for an ambulance ride in Australia. I paid the ambos with savings earmarked for car service/wof/insurance as I was given to expect payment within 10 days. On an income of $600/fortnight I've been on tenterhooks. I imagine its a very small team with a huge inbox and that my claim had to just await its turn. Over the 7 weeks, AA has several times invited me to enter various insurance promotions, ironically even for travel insurance. I've let someone else win those.

Date of experience : 19 June 2023

Wouldn’t even give these guys one star

Wouldn’t even give these guys one star. Have made two claims that were clearly NOT gradual damage. AA insisted on gradual damage and refused to cover. We’ll be going back to Tower and to court to recover our costs. Absolutely horrific insurance company hiding behind the “gradual damage” guise to get out of paying. Total joke. Don’t go anywhere near them.

Date of experience : 01 December 2021

Company declined payment

Company declined payment for a cancelled trip when my mother in law died because her illness was pre-existing when the policy was taken out months beforehand. She was not even on our trip and we did not know how serious it was when we booked the trip.

Date of experience : 05 December 2023

AA is horrible.

AA is horrible. Partner and I had both separate experiences of getting hit by other people. 1) some HoleAss backed into his car - got the details they even had the person who owned the car had insurance with AA and still nothing done. No police update or anything 2) got smacked by a trailed when merging - guys was over the speed limit and wanted to go past me smacked into me with his boat.. honestly police were terrible aswell. Case still going been over 6 months. Part of it I feel is discrimination against women. Oh silly female driver - everyone believes it. I need to change insurance companies they are...

Date of experience : 19 November 2021

Awful! Have been chasing my storm damage claim since 27/02! No progress whatsoever. I've never seen such poor customer service levels... they simply DO NOT RESPOND. AA have one more week to demonstrate their support or I'm escalating.

Date of experience : 21 March 2022

Cheap for a reason

These were the cheapest on Gocompare, as you do you take the insurance. 2 weeks later a demand for additional funds because of an incident that never happened years ago, which subsequent insurers had discounted as not of any importance. The letter demands payment or cancellation, no middle ground, so they collect either way. Will not use again for anything

Date of experience : 08 May 2021

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How to Get the Best Car Insurance

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For a lot of people, buying car insurance is like buying sliced bread. It’s not the most exciting purchase, and the options all seem similar. So thrifty shoppers might simply reach for the cheapest thing on the shelf. But like cheap bread, cheap car insurance may leave you wishing you spent a little more on quality.

“The cheapest is not always the best,” warns Jessica McNally, an agency owner with Goosehead Insurance in Dallas. That’s because there are lots of factors that make up a car insurance company. And while price is one of them, it’s best to look at the bigger picture.

Here’s what to look for when picking the best car insurance company.

1. Choose a financially stable company

The best car insurance companies have plenty of money on hand to pay for customers’ claims. It’s important to check an insurer’s financial stability before buying a policy, especially if it’s a smaller insurer you’ve never heard of.

There are several independent agencies that evaluate the financial strength of insurance companies. One example is A.M. Best. You can use its online search tool to find an insurer’s financial strength rating. Companies with a rating of A or higher are considered to have an excellent ability to pay out customer claims.

2. Check customer satisfaction ratings and reviews

Not every insurer is customer-first. That’s why it’s important to research the customer satisfaction of insurers you’re considering.

You can turn to surveys from companies like J.D. Power to find insurers with the best customer satisfaction scores [0] J.D. Power . Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources . Or, if you don’t mind doing a little detective work, you can compare customer complaints against insurers by using the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website . But take other people’s emotionally charged comments about companies or agents you might read online with a grain of salt, McNally advises.

3. Look for convenience

A great auto insurer should offer multiple ways to manage a policy. For example, some insurers allow customers to use a mobile app to file and track claims. But it’s hard to tell how simple it’ll be to file a claim or perform other essential tasks, like paying your premium, before becoming a customer.

Some telltale signs that an insurer will be easy to work with are high mobile app ratings, flexible customer service hours and an easy-to-use website with helpful content. Consider asking a company representative to walk you through the claims process to learn what you’ll need to do if you have to file a claim. And pay attention to how the company communicates with you. "If they don't properly communicate, well, that's a warning sign," says Michael DeLong, a research and advocacy associate for the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America.

4. Pick an affordable company

Car insurance premiums are stretching to record-breaking heights [0] U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS . Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources , and almost half of U.S. consumers shopped for a new car insurance policy in the past year, according to an April 2024 report by J.D. Power [0] J.D. Power . Half of Auto Insurance Customers Currently Shopping for New Policies, J.D. Power Finds . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources . The best car insurance companies offer competitive rates and a variety of potential discounts.

It’s not hard to get car insurance quotes online from many companies. Make sure you compare the same coverage options throughout the quote-gathering process. And don’t forget to look for car insurance discounts, like breaks for being a good driver, paying your premium in full or driving a new car.

More tips to find the best car insurance

When shopping for the best car insurance, keep the following tips in mind.

Assess your needs. Before buying car insurance, take a moment to reflect on what’s important to you and your family. For example, maybe you prioritize affordability and a well-polished mobile app, but don’t need accident forgiveness .  

Consider small insurers. There are lots of small insurance companies you’ve probably never heard of. These regional insurers may provide lower rates and better customer service than the big companies you see advertised on TV.

Work with an independent agent. While it may be easy to get quotes yourself, independent car insurance agents and brokers can streamline the process. These experts vet companies and compile quotes from small and large insurers on your behalf. Independent agents and brokers can especially come in handy if you have a less-than-perfect driving record and can’t find insurance on your own.

Do your research. Search online for recent mentions of a company in the news before buying a policy, recommends DeLong. If you find a company has lots of recent lawsuits against it, you may want to think twice about signing on the dotted line. “And if they've had to pay out settlements, that's an even bigger red flag,” DeLong says.

Shop around once a year. Make a practice of shopping for car insurance every year — especially if price is important to you. Insurers adjust car insurance rates regularly, so what might have been the most affordable option last year may no longer be a bargain.

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