Car Insurance

Redwood Insurance Brokers keeps motor vehicle insurance simple, practical, and easy to understand.

We’ll help you choose cover that matches how you actually drive, explain agreed value vs market value in plain English, and make sure your policy won’t surprise you when it’s time to claim. If something goes wrong, we’re in your corner to help drive the claim through.

Why motor vehicle insurance matters

A crash or theft is stressful enough without surprise costs, delays, or arguments about what your vehicle is worth. The right motor cover helps you get back on the road faster, protects you if you damage someone else’s property, and reduces the financial sting when the unexpected turns up.

Our job is to help you pick cover that makes sense, avoid nasty surprises, and feel confident the policy will respond the way you think it will.

What we help with

We can help you organise:

  • Comprehensive motor insurance (often the broadest cover)

  • Third-party options (including third-party, fire and theft, where available)

  • Agreed value vs market value guidance (what it means at claim time)

  • Excess structure choices (standard excess, young/inexperienced driver excess, theft excess, etc.)

  • Windscreen/glass options (availability varies by insurer)

  • Courtesy car / alternative transport options (availability varies)

  • Business use and commercial use (where relevant)

  • Accessories, modifications, and special vehicles (depending on insurer rules)

We’ll talk through how you use the vehicle, who drives it, and what you want protected — then recommend cover that fits your risk, budget, and tolerance for excess.

Free insurance review

Agreed value vs market value

If your vehicle is written off, the settlement amount depends on whether your policy uses agreed value or market value.

  • Agreed value: a value agreed upfront (often reassessed at renewal).

  • Market value: what the insurer determines the vehicle was worth at the time of loss.

Plain-English takeaway: this is one of the biggest “surprise points” in motor claims. We’ll help you understand what your policy uses and whether it’s the right fit for your situation.

The “gotchas” we look for

This is where a broker earns their keep. We check for:

  • Value mismatch (market value shock, or agreed value that hasn’t kept up)

  • Excess choices that look fine until you actually have to pay them

  • Driver restrictions (age limits, named drivers, exclusions)

  • Use mismatch (private vs business, commuting, deliveries, rideshare — insurer rules vary)

  • Undeclared modifications/accessories (can reduce or complicate claims)

  • Parking and security conditions (especially for theft)

  • Claims process friction (what evidence is needed, how repairs are managed, and what “approved repairer” rules apply)

If there’s a risk gap, we’ll tell you straight and show you options.

How Redwood does it differently

Independent
We compare options across insurers and recommend the best match for your situation.

Advice, not just a quote
We explain any trade-offs in plain English so you can choose confidently.

A sharper risk lens
We look for gaps, overlaps, and exclusions that can bite later.

Claims advocacy
If you need to claim, we’re in your corner, helping drive it through to a fair outcome.

Fast-moving
You deal with people who can make progress, not a maze of corporate handoffs.

Our process (simple, on purpose)

  1. Quick chat: what you own, how you live, what you want protected

  2. Review: we check your current cover (or start fresh)

  3. Recommendations: clear options, clear trade-offs

  4. Placement: we organise the policy and confirm key details

  5. Ongoing support: updates, changes, renewals, and claims help

If you need to claim

When something goes wrong, the last thing you need is to become a part-time claims manager.
We help you:

  • understand what to do first

  • lodge and progress the claim

  • provide the right info without overcomplicating it

  • keep momentum with the insurer and other parties

FAQ’s

  • Not always. Comprehensive often offers the broadest protection, but third-party options can suit some vehicles and budgets. We’ll help you choose what makes sense.

  • It affects how your vehicle is valued if it’s written off. We’ll explain what your policy uses and what that means in real life.

  • Often, yes, under comprehensive, and sometimes under third-party fire and theft. Cover and conditions vary by insurer.

  • Usually yes, but they often need to be declared and sometimes have limits or special terms.

  • Not always. Some policies restrict drivers or apply extra excesses based on age and experience. We’ll make sure it’s clear.

  • No. We also help with business and commercial vehicles — this page is focused on motor insurance advice in NZ.

Want a free second opinion on your motor vehicle insurance?


Bring your current policy (or just tell us what you want covered). We’ll review it, explain what matters, and show you options.

Free insurance review