Digital-first insurer
Trade Me Insurance
Trade Me's brand on Tower-underwritten cover. Often the lowest quote in the market, especially online.
- Distribution
- Digital-first insurer
- Years in NZ
- Since 2014
- Cover types offered
- 3
- Region availability
- Nationwide, with postcode loadings
- Indicative premium
- $65–$130/mo for comprehensive — often the cheapest mainstream quote
Editorial
What Trade Me Insurance is, in plain English
Trade Me Insurance is a distribution channel — Tower does the underwriting, Trade Me brings the customers via a slick online buying experience and aggressive pricing. For straightforward profiles (newer cars, older drivers, clean records), Trade Me Insurance regularly produces the lowest comprehensive quote among the mainstream insurers. The catch is that the cover is functionally Tower's, with Tower's postcode loadings — so the same regional caveats apply.
Good at
- Often the lowest comprehensive quote in head-to-head comparisons
- Slick online quote and binding flow
- Generous multi-vehicle discount
Not so good at
- Same postcode loadings as Tower — no advantage in high-risk areas
- Claims experience routes through Tower; loyalty discount is thin
Cover types Trade Me Insurance 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.