Digital-first insurer
Cove
The kiwi digital-first challenger. App-driven, monthly pricing, no-paper claims. Underwritten by Hollard.
- Distribution
- Digital-first insurer
- Years in NZ
- Since 2018
- Cover types offered
- 3
- Region availability
- Nationwide, with postcode loadings
- Indicative premium
- $60–$140/mo; particularly competitive for urban under-35 drivers
Editorial
What Cove is, in plain English
Cove is the digital-first challenger that built the most app-native NZ car insurance experience. Quotes, binding, claims, and policy changes all happen in-app, with photo-based claims as the headline feature. Underwriting is done by Hollard. Cove tends to be sharp on price for younger, urban, low-mileage drivers — exactly the demographic the legacy insurers price up. For drivers over 40 with garaged cars, traditional insurers are usually cheaper; for everyone else, Cove is worth a quote.
Good at
- App-based claims with photo evidence — fast turnaround
- Monthly pricing without surcharge
- Sharp pricing for young urban drivers — the demographic legacy insurers price up
Not so good at
- Older drivers with garaged cars often pay more than at AA or State
- Phone-based service is thinner — designed app-first
Cover types Cove offers
The shapes of cover available, in order of premium.
Comprehensive cover
$70–$160/mo on a 2018-ish hatch, mid-30s driver, mid-loading regionThe full one. Pays for damage to your car, their car, and almost everything else. Highest premium, broadest cover.
Third-party property
$25–$70/mo on a typical carThe minimum. Pays for damage to other people's cars and property if you cause a crash. Nothing else.
Third-party fire & theft
$45–$110/mo on a typical carPays for damage to other cars, plus theft and fire of yours. Doesn't pay for crashes you cause to your own car.