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Cove Car Insurance - Real Customer Reviews & Facts

Who is Cove? We explain what you need to know, listing genuine Cove Car Insurance reviews from drivers all over New Zealand. Our guide looks at average savings, pros and cons, Feefo and Google reviews, the claims process, exclusions and switching information.
Updated 14 September 2025

​Why We're Sharing MoneyHub Reader Reviews
  • Over the past few months, we've received an unprecedented number of unsolicited emails from MoneyHub readers about their experiences with Cove Car Insurance.
  • The volume and consistency of positive feedback prompted us to compile these testimonials to help other New Zealanders make informed decisions about their car insurance.
  • Important: These are genuine, unsolicited emails from our subscribers. We've removed identifying information and corrected spelling, but the experiences and opinions are entirely their own.
​
Quick Stats from Our Reader Feedback
Based on 20+ reader emails received in 2024 and up to July 2025:
  • Average savings: Around $250 per year
  • Switching from: AMI, AA Insurance, State, Tower and others
  • Most common praise: Price, easy claims, helpful customer service
  • Main concern: Brand recognition (Cove is newer to the New Zealand market, but has operated since 2018)

To help explain Cove further, our guide covers:
Know This First: What are the main exclusions in Cove’s policies?

​Key exclusions include:
  • Drivers under 21 or on learner’s licences.
  • Commercial vehicles (e.g., taxis, delivery, ride-sharing).
  • Cars valued over $130,000 or with significant modifications.
  • Claims due to unlisted drivers or unreported modifications. Always review the policy wording before purchasing to ensure coverage meets your needs.

Please be aware Cove only offers comprehensive policies - if you're looking for third-party insurance, please see our comparison guide.

​Why Hundreds of MoneyHub Readers Switched to Cove This Year

Real customer reviews and experiences from New Zealand drivers reveal why Cove is disrupting New Zealand's car insurance market.

The Car Insurance Problem Most Don't Realise
You're researching car insurance - smart move. But here's what shocked our readers - they were overpaying by an average of $250 per year for the same coverage (or even a less generous policy).

What MoneyHub readers discovered in 2024-2025:
  • Minimum $200/year savings keeping the same excess - double that by adjusting excess
  • Some quotes came in at HALF their current premium
  • Two-car families reporting $500+ total savings
  • "My pro-rata refund from switching mid-year covered my entire first year with Cove" - as reported by a MoneyHub reader in June 2025

​The pattern we're seeing: Traditional insurers are quietly raising prices while reducing coverage, what one reader called "insurance shrinkflation". We agree this is happening because we continue to see it in the research we publish, and we don't like it.

What makes Cove different?
  • Digital-first = Lower costs - No expensive branches or TV ads to fund
  • A+ rated underwriter - Same financial security as the big names
  • 4.7/5 from 1,700+ reviews - Higher satisfaction than most traditional insurers
  • Claims paid in days, not weeks - Modern tech means faster processing

Exclusive MoneyHub Offer
  • Free Month worth up to $100 (automatically applied)
  • Extra 10% off when insuring multiple cars
  • Save another 5-8% by paying annually
  • Total possible savings: Up to $400 in year one - check your quote here

The reality: While you're paying for your insurer's big budget advertising, corporate offices and hundreds of people in the HQ, you're paying a lot. We believe many Cove customers are getting the same (or better) coverage for less.

Know This:
  • "Is Cove legitimate?" Operating since 2018, A+ rated, 2,000+ positive reviews. They're just newer and smarter. Get an instant quote
  • "What's the catch?" They don't insure under-21s or heavily modified cars. If you're a regular driver with a standard car, there's no catch.
  • "Will they raise prices later?" They've maintained competitive pricing for 6+ years by being selective about risk, not by playing pricing games.

Ready to see why MoneyHub readers continue to make the switch?

Real Cove Car Insurance Customer Testimonials Shared with MoneyHub

We list recent Cove customer emails and tagged feedback:

"Saved $300 by switching"

​Date: June 2025
Previous Insurer: Initio
Annual Savings: $300

"Kia ora Christopher,
Just letting you know that I've just switched my car insurance to Cove. Many thanks for your analysis of the different insurers.

A few years ago, I switched from State to Initio based on your resources, and I still have house and contents insurance with Initio. But with my main car's insurance due for renewal in July, I checked what Cove was quoting. I'm now about to save just under $300 per year with Cove.

I've accepted a higher excess of $750 with them versus $400 with Initio, but even if I'd opted for the same excess with Cove, I'd still be saving nearly $200.

I'd hurriedly renewed my wife's car with Initio at the beginning of April, so I checked yesterday what Cove would charge. With the same $750 excess versus $600 with Initio, I've made a big save. In fact, my refund from Initio after 2.5 months of insurance easily covers the cost of the new 12-month cover I've paid to Cove - so a win-win!"

"Disappointed with Tower's 'Shrinkflation' - I Saved $150+ with Cove"

​Date: April 2025
Previous Insurer: Tower
Annual Savings: $150+

"Hi MoneyHub

Thank you for all your unbiased emails each week. I find them very useful and I'm really pleased that I subscribed.

Just wanted to let you know that I saved over $150 on my annual car insurance renewal by switching from Tower to Cove.

As a long-term customer of Tower, I'm extremely disappointed after receiving this year's renewal statement. They halved my sum insured (no, the premium didn't drop 50%), which equated to the lowest value for my car according to TradeMe's car valuation tool. My car is in very good condition, so this forced me to increase the sum insured, hence increasing the premium.

I consider this devious and nothing more than the insurance equivalent of shrinkflation by Tower! They tried to justify this by saying it was because I have a European car; however, at the end of the day, Cove was way cheaper.

I will now also be swapping my wife's car over to Cove.

Thanks again for all your help and your great work".

"New to Cove - Quotes Half the Price"

Date: April 2025
Potential Savings: 50%+

"Hi, I recently subscribed to MoneyHub - really interesting reading!

​Reading through your emails, I came across Cove Insurance. I'd never heard of them before. How long have they been selling insurance in NZ? Would you insure with them?

I did quotes on our vehicles, and Cove is half (and less) than our current insurer. Unreal.

But I don't know anything about them". 

"Fantastic prices - saved significantly on two car policies"

Date: June 2025
Previous Insurer: Not specified
Policies: Two vehicles

"Fantastic prices - recommended by MoneyHub, so we decided to give it a go and saved a lot of money across our two car policies.
The website was quite buggy when trying to sign up, so I had to attempt it three times across two different devices, but it was worth it in the end for the savings we achieved".

Heading

Date: July 2025
Previous Insurer: AMI
Policies: One vehicle

"​Hi MoneyHub team,

Having spent significant time reviewing your data about Cove and conducting my comparisons on coverage and premiums between Cove, Tower, and AMI (our current insurer), I've decided not to renew our coverage with AMI and have switched our policy to Cove, saving $148 annually.

Thank you for bringing Cove to my attention". 

Cove Car Insurance: Addressing Common Concerns

We have heard from many users with questions about insuring with Cove. We have related the questions and respond to them in detail here:

Is Cove legitimate?

​Yes, absolutely. Here are the key facts:

Why haven't I heard of Cove?

Cove is a digital-first insurer; they keep costs low by:
  • Operating primarily online (no physical branches)
  • Using technology to streamline processes
  • Minimal traditional advertising
  • Passing savings directly to customers

Is Cove's pricing too good to be true? Will they raise rates once they gain market share?

Someone in the insurance industry raised this concern on a 2024 Reddit post, who suggested Cove might be using unsustainably low prices to attract customers, then raising rates later. Here's Cove's direct response to this criticism:

The concern: "Cove is undercutting premiums to build its book. They will either raise premiums in the future, make products worse, or both."

Cove's official response (verified account): "Our strategy isn't to build a book and raise prices. We've been in business for 6 years now (as of 2024), so we have enough claims experience to understand where we need to set our premiums.

A few points on why we can offer lower prices:
  1. We're selective about who we insure. We won't be the cheapest for everyone - not for a 22-year-old driving a financed Subaru, or a 35-year-old on their restricted licence with three recent claims. We don't insure Maseratis, heavily modified performance cars, Uber vehicles, etc. By focusing on lower-risk drivers (like those with 5-10 year old Toyotas and full licences), we can offer better rates to 80% of New Zealanders.
  2. We operate efficiently online. Our customers buy, manage, and cancel policies online. We don't need 200 customer service staff in an Auckland CBD tower. However, we do have phone support available when customers need help."

The takeaway: Cove's lower prices appear to be based on selective underwriting and operational efficiency rather than unsustainable pricing strategies.

Beyond the feedback MoneyHub has received, what about other Cove reviews?

Cove has 2,000+ reviews published on Feefo and Google. 

Feefo Reviews (4.7/5, based on 1,700+ reviews as of July 2025)

Positives:
  • Customers praise Cove’s “quick, easy, online” process, with quotes and sign-ups taking under 5 minutes.
  • Competitive pricing is a recurring theme, with repeated sentiment around Cove pricing lower than other insurers for comprehensive cover.
  • Live chat and email support are described as “fast,” “polite,” and “intuitive.”
  • Claim experiences, like windscreen repairs, are often “seamless” and “hassle-free.”

Negatives:
  • Some users were disappointed when applications were declined without clear reasons (e.g., prior insurance refusals). However, less than 1% of reviews are one or two-star, indicating extremely high satisfaction with Cove for both pricing, policy benefits, and claiming.

Google Reviews (4.6/5, based on 460+ reviews as of July 2025)

Positives:
  • Customers value the “easy set-up” and “intuitive” website, with one reviewer stating, they “shopped around, and Cove had the best price by a couple of dollars a month.”
  • Support via live chat is “quick” and “convenient,” especially for policy changes or claims.
  • Positive claims experiences include prompt handling, such as a phone claim being resolved with a tow truck arranged the next day.

Negatives:
  • Some users report premium increases at renewal, prompting switches to other insurers, as well as individual complaints from 1-2% of all reviews discussing denied claims. ​

Who does Cove work best for?

Based on our research and general MoneyHub reader comments, our view is this:

Ideal Customers:
  • Tech-comfortable drivers who prefer managing insurance online
  • Price-conscious consumers looking for comprehensive cover
  • Those with clean driving records
  • Multi-car households (additional discounts apply)
  • Drivers willing to accept slightly higher excess for lower premiums

Cove May Not Suit:
  • Those who prefer face-to-face service
  • Drivers needing specialised coverage (classic cars, heavily modified vehicles)
  • People uncomfortable with a digital-only claims process

Money-Saving Tips If You Are Considering Switching to Cove
  1. Time Your Switch: Don't wait for renewal - You can get your prepaid car insurance refunded pro-rata and put that towards a cheaper policy
  2. Bundle Policies: Insure multiple cars for additional discounts
  3. Increase Excess Strategically: Moving from $400 to $750 excess can save $150+ annually
  4. Pay Annually: Save 5-8% compared to monthly payments
  5. Review Sum Insured: Use current market value, not purchase price

How to Get a Quote:
  1. Visit the Cove website
  2. Enter your vehicle details (have your rego handy)
  3. Customise your coverage options
  4. Compare with your current policy
  5. Switch online

Important: Before you make any switch, make sure you:
  • Compare coverage levels, not just price
  • Check what's included (windscreen, roadside assistance, etc.)
  • Understand the excess differences
  • Review policy exclusions​

The Bottom Line

Based on extensive reader feedback and our analysis, Cove is a legitimate and trusted option for car insurance in New Zealand, particularly for price-conscious consumers comfortable with digital services.

Pros:
  • Consistently cheaper premiums (10-30%+ savings reported)
  • Modern, user-friendly platform
  • Quick claims processing
  • Strong financial backing

​Cons:
  • No physical branches
  • Limited brand recognition
  • May not suit complex insurance needs

Share Your Experience: Have you switched to Cove or received a quote? We'd love to hear about your experience to help other New Zealanders make informed decisions - please contact our research team.

Disclaimer: This compilation is based on reader testimonials and publicly available information. Individual experiences may vary. Always compare policies carefully and ensure coverage meets your specific needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Cove handle claims?

Claims are lodged online 24/7. Most customers report quick, hassle-free settlements. For major claims, Cove assigns a dedicated claims manager.

Can I deal with someone in person?

Cove is digital-first, but phone support is available during business hours. They don't have physical branches.

What if Cove goes out of business?

Your policy is underwritten by established international insurers. If Cove ceased operations, your coverage would continue with the underwriter.

Is roadside assistance included?

It's an optional add-on for about $60/year per our Cove Car Insurance policy review, covering all standard callouts.

What optional add-ons are available?

Cove offers:
  • Roadside Assistance: ~$60/year, covering two call-outs for breakdowns, flat tires, or towing.
  • Windscreen Cover: Repairs or replacements without affecting your no-claim discount.
  • Courtesy Car Hire: Provides a rental car if yours is being repaired post-accident. Add-ons can be customised during the quote process to suit your needs.

Does Cove insure drivers under 21?

No, Cove currently does not cover drivers under 21, as their policies focus on lower-risk demographics. If you’re under 21, consider insurers like AA Insurance or AMI, which offer policies for younger drivers, though premiums may be higher due to risk profiles.

Does Cove offer multi-policy or multi-car discounts?

Yes, insuring multiple cars or adding pet insurance with Cove can yield discounts of up to 10%. For example, a MoneyHub reader saved $150 by insuring two cars with Cove. Refer-a-friend bonuses also provide a free month of insurance per referral.

Does Cove cover high-value or modified cars?

Cove does not cover vehicles valued over $130,000 or heavily modified cars, as their policies target standard vehicles.
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