You’re driving home after a long weekend away. The motorway is busy, a stone flicks up, and suddenly a chip spreads across your windscreen. It’s an annoying moment, but these days it doesn’t have to derail your plans. Lodge a claim online, get near-instant approval for a repair, and you’re sorted.
If the same thing had happened back in 1995, you’d have been in for a very different experience. You might have had to wait until Monday to call your broker, fill out paper forms, and post them away. The repair could take weeks to organise, and you’d be left wondering when – or even if – the claim would be approved.
The way we insured in 1995
Thirty years ago, car insurance in New Zealand was a slow-moving process. Quotes required phone calls or broker meetings, payments were often made by cheque, and claims meant mailing or faxing paperwork. Drivers had little control or visibility once the process began.
Policies were also more generic. Safe drivers in modest cars were often charged the same as higher-risk drivers in faster vehicles. There wasn’t much flexibility, and the system didn’t always feel fair.
What’s different in 2025
Fast forward to today, and the change is striking. Modern insurance brands have rethought how cover works, focusing on speed, fairness, and simplicity. Getting a quote or buying a policy, which once involved days of back-and-forth, can now be completed entirely online in just minutes, at whatever time suits the driver.
Claims have also become far less stressful. In some cases, such as windscreen repairs, approvals can be near-instant, removing the uncertainty that used to leave motorists waiting and wondering. Pricing has become fairer too, with safer drivers and safer cars no longer subsidising higher-risk groups. Instead, those who drive responsibly benefit from more competitive premiums.
Perhaps most importantly, policies themselves are easier to understand. The jargon and red tape that once frustrated drivers have given way to clearer, more transparent cover. Cove, a New Zealand digital-first insurer, is one example of how far things have come. Drivers can now quote, buy, and manage their policies entirely online, with many claims resolved in hours rather than weeks.
Why repair bills are higher today
While insurance is easier to manage, the cost of repairs has increased. Cars are safer than ever thanks to advanced technology, but those same features make repairs expensive.
A bumper that cost a few hundred dollars to replace in the mid-1990s may cost thousands today because it contains sensors and cameras that need specialist calibration. Add in higher labour rates and global parts shortages, and it’s clear why insurance plays a bigger role in protecting household budgets now than it did thirty years ago.
What it means for drivers today
The contrast between then and now shows how much expectations have shifted. In 1995, drivers often felt stuck waiting in the dark. In 2025, they expect speed, clarity, and fairer treatment.
For today’s motorists, that means less time chasing paperwork and more time getting back on the road. And with insurance brands like Cove embracing a digital-first, customer-friendly approach, cover finally reflects the way Kiwis actually live and drive.
Find out more about Cove car insurance here.
