Claims & Accidents

Discover what to do if someone hits your car and drives off in New Zealand. Get practical legal advice, insurance tips, and step-by-step guidance to protect yourself after a hit and run accident

Discover what to do if your parked car gets hit in New Zealand. Step-by-step guide on immediate actions, insurance claims, and legal rights to protect yourself.

Got into a car accident in New Zealand and wondering who’s at fault? Learn how NZ police and insurance companies determine responsibility, what evidence matters most, and what steps you should take to protect your claim.

Wondering if your damaged car will be written off in New Zealand? Learn how NZ insurance companies decide write-offs, what categories mean, and what to do next if your car is declared beyond repair.

Learn the car insurance claim time limit in NZ. Discover rules, exceptions, deadlines, and tips to avoid denied claims. Stay protected and claim with confidence.

How long does a car insurance claim really take in NZ? We compare the 10-day official code against 18-month delays reported by real drivers in 2026.

Confused by the Knock-for-Knock agreement? Discover how the 2026 rules affect your excess, repairs, and payouts if you're not at fault in an accident.

Learn how insurance works when driving someone else’s car. Understand coverage rules, responsibilities, and tips to ensure your claim is valid in New Zealand.

Car insurance claim denied in NZ? Don't panic. Learn why claims fail (non-disclosure, WOF) and how to challenge the decision via the IFSO scheme in 2026.

Confused by 'choice of repairer' clauses in NZ car insurance? We explain your rights, the 'reasonable cost' trap, and approved network pros/cons for 2026.

If an uninsured driver hits your car in New Zealand, what happens next depends largely on whether you have comprehensive cover, third-party cover with uninsured motorist protection, or no cover at all. In our experience, the key issues are fault, evidence, whether the other driver can be identified, and how quickly you notify your insurer. This guide explains the practical claims process, when you may have to pay an excess, what to do if the other driver refuses responsibility, and how disputes can escalate to an insurer’s complaints process or the Disputes Tribunal.

Confused by car insurance claims? Follow our 2026 NZ Claims Flowchart. Step-by-step guide on reporting accidents, waiving excess, and resolving disputes.

Confused by car insurance excess in NZ? Discover how Standard vs. Voluntary excess impacts your premium, when you can waive the fee, and advice for young drivers in 2026.

In New Zealand, who pays towing and storage after a car accident depends on your policy, whether your claim is accepted, and how quickly the vehicle is moved through the claims process. In our experience, comprehensive policies often cover reasonable towing and short-term storage tied to an accepted claim, while third party cover and uninsured drivers are more likely to face out-of-pocket costs first and recover them later only in some situations. The biggest cost trap is delay: storage fees can keep accruing while drivers wait for insurer instructions, fault disputes, or write-off decisions.