10 handy gems

 

Did you know smoking more than doubles your Life insurance premiums!

If there was ever a good reason to give up, this is it!

Vaping with nicotine is considered smoking – but using nicotine-free (flavoured) vapes is not.  

 

 

Did you know there are no driver restrictions on a ‘Commercial’ Motor vehicle policy?

If you or anyone else is driving within the bounds of your licence, you are covered by this policy (all things being equal).

A Private Motor policy may have driver restrictions – like named drivers or excludes under 25-year old drivers. 

 

 

Did you know Tenancy agreements matter?

To access landlord benefits on your rental property insurance, you must have a tenancy agreement in place and perform regular documented inspections (at least every 3 months).

 

 

Speaking of rental properties, did you know Meth contamination can be covered?

Policies often include cover for meth damage, protecting your property from costly remediation.

 

 

And did you know loss of rental income is protected?

If your rental property becomes uninhabitable, insurance can cover lost rental income during repairs under an accepted claim.

There is also an option to cover loss of rent when your tenants do a runner, are evicted or your sole tenant dies.

 

 

Did you know your house is insured for rebuild cost – not market value?

Your home is covered for the cost to rebuild, including materials, labour, and modern compliance, not what it might sell for. This can be more – or less – than your property’s market price which includes land and the ‘present day’ or depreciated value of your property .

 

 

Did you know invited guests aren’t covered if they steal from your home?

The key word is “invited” – most policies cover theft by strangers, but not by someone you let in.

 

 

Did you know you are covered to drive other people’s cars?

In NZ the car – not the driver – is insured. So most policies allow you to drive a friend or family member’s car if you are driving within the legal bounds of your licence (remember some policies exclude under 25-year-old drivers).  

 

 

Did you know that Electric vehicle’s (EV’s) are generally more expensive to insure than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles?

The main reason is the vehicle’s battery – which makes up a significant portion of the purchase price – has a high likelihood of being written off when damaged.

On top of that, there are fewer qualified repairers, so vehicles often need to be transported to approved specialists for repairs.

 

 

Did you know that leaving keys in the ignition or unlocked car can void theft claims?

Yep. Even if you “just ran inside for two minutes.”

 

 

The takeaway:

Insurance policies contain more value – and more fine print – than most people realise. A quick review can help make sure the cover you think you have is actually there when you need it.

If you’d like help understanding how your policy works (or doesn’t), we’re always happy to help!

The advice provided is general in nature, using typical industry policies.

(C) JenBro, March 2026