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Tower Car Insurance Review

We analyse Tower Insurance's car policies, outlining the cover, pros, cons, optional features and claim process.
Updated 24 April 2024

Summary
  • Tower offers comprehensive, third party fire and theft and third party policies.
  • Tower is one of many car insurers; what you pay for a policy will depend on many factors, including your driving profile and history. The type of car you insure and where you live will also affect individual quotes.
  • We suggest visiting the Tower website for a quote, and comparing it to other providers, including your current insurer.
  • We believe the average time to arrange 3-5 quotes is around ten minutes, and the differences in price (per our research) can be significant. 

​Our review covers:

Tower Car Insurance vs Alternatives - Our Research has You Covered:

  • Tower is one of many car insurers; what you pay for a policy will depend on your driving profile and history. The type of car you insure will also affect individual quotes. 
  • We suggest visiting the Tower website for a quote, and comparing it to other providers, including your current insurer.
  • We believe the average time to arrange 3-5 quotes is around ten minutes, and the differences in price (per our research) can be significant. 

A standard Tower Car Insurance policy covers you for the following:

  1. ​Collision cover - Tower pays for accidental damage to your vehicle (comprehensive policies only).
  2. Full liability - you're covered for accidental damage to someone else’s car or property while driving your car (all policies).
  3. Damage by an uninsured vehicle - if your car is damaged by an uninsured vehicle, Tower's coverage will depend on your policy:
    a. Tower will repair or replace your car (comprehensive cover only). 
    b. Tower will repair or replace your car up to $4,000 if you can identify the person at fault and the fault was at least 50% theirs (Third party fire and theft and third party policies)
  4. Repair guarantee - Tower guarantees the repairs for life if you use one of their recommended repairers (not applicable to a third party policy).
  5. Transport costs - Tower pays out your travel and accommodation expenses to complete your journey or return home after an accident, or if your vehicle is stolen (not applicable to a third party policy). The benefit is up to $500 (Comprehensive policies) and $250 (Third party fire and theft) to allow you to complete your journey or return home following loss to your car. This benefit is not applicable to a third party policy.
  6. Lost or stolen keys - if your keys are lost or stolen or duplicated, Tower pays up to $1,000 to rekey or fix the issue (comprehensive policies only).
  7. Child Car seats benefit - If you are in an accident, Tower will pay for the replacement of your child car seats up to $750 (comprehensive policies) and $500 (third party fire and theft),

Want to compare policies by benefits? Our AMI vs AA Insurance vs Cove vs State vs Tower vs Trade Me Insurance review has all the details

Tower Car Insurance offers the following cover options, for an additional premium:

For an additional monthly cost, Tower offers the following add-on benefits:
  1. Roadside assistance - Tower's 24/7 roadside assistance service covers the car, not the person (unlike AA Membership) and includes three free call-outs per year. Pricing is from $3/month.
  2. Windscreen excess buyout - If damage happens to your windscreen and/or window glass, this additional benefit replaces or repairs said glass, and claims are excess-free. Pricing is from $6/month.
  3. Rental car - If your car is stolen or undriveable after an accident, Tower covers the cost of hiring and insuring a similar car. The limit will depend on your policy: up to $1,000 (for comprehensive policies) $750 (for Third party, fire and theft). Pricing is from $5/month.
  4. Trailer Cover - If you own a trailer you can insure it under your car insurance policy for repairs or replacement for up to $3,000. Pricing is from $6/month.

Tower Car Insurance - What You Need to Know:

  1. Excess Range: $400, $500, $750 and $1,000
  2. Multi-Policy Discount: 10% for two policies and 20% for three or more policies.
  3. Loyalty Rewards: 1 Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollar for every $100 spent on a Tower policy
  4. Claiming Process: Call 0800 379 372 (closed Sunday), but there is support if you require urgent assistance. Customers can complete a claim online outside office hours. Windscreen claims can be lodged via "Charlie the Chatbot".
  5. Call Centre Location(s): Auckland and Rotorua
  6. Average Wait Time to Answer: Around 4 minutes
  7. No Claims Bonus: Not offered
  8. Additional (Optional) Benefits: Excess free windscreen and window claims (around $3/month), Rental vehicle (around $6/month), Roadside assistance (around $6/month) and Trailer cover (around $5/month). 
  9. Accessories or modifications cover: Offered (but exclusions apply, examples can be seen here in our uninsurable cars guide)
  10. Young Drivers:
  • Open drivers policy: The policy is an "open drivers" policy meaning anyone can drive the car with your permission. For a discount you can exclude drivers under 25.
  • Two young drivers policy: There are additional excesses for drivers under 25 ($500) and 21 ($750) for claims where they are at fault.  This does not apply if they are not to blame for the accident e.g. the car was stolen.

Our View:​ Tower offers a full-service policy, with the benefits of a multi-policy discount, local call centre and excess-free key loss. Young drivers are also taken care of, although a $750 excess applies on top of the standard excess for anyone under 21. The Airpoints tie-in isn't significant (we calculate this to be a 1% cashback equivalent), but it's an easier rewards benefit to understand compared to Flybuys (which is offered by State). 

Airpoints are automatically applied every year on renewal if you have given Tower your Airpoints number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tower offers competitive pricing, but it may not be the cheapest quote for you. We answer common queries below. 

Is Tower Car Insurance the cheapest option?

It depends on many factors, so there is no yes or no answer. Our How to Get Cheaper Car Insurance guide outlines ways to save, and our compare car insurance review offers sample quotes for different user types. We suggest always comparing a range of quotes before buying car insurance to give yourself the best chance of saving money.

Is a Tower policy cheaper if I pay one year in advance vs monthly?

Yes, like most policies, Tower allows customers to pay fortnightly, monthly or annually. Customers paying annually save around 10% per our research. Please note, add-on benefits the priced the same if paid fortnightly, monthly or annually so there's no discount for paying in advance.

What happens if I claim on my Tower policy?

When you contact Tower and claim, you will need to pay the excess stated in your policy (unless you're exempt under the policy). Tower will suggest an approved repairer (you can see the closest repairer near a given location using their tool), or the car will be assessed for write-off if the damage is significant. 

Do I have to pay an excess for third-party damage if I didn't cause the accident?

It depends on the claim but generally you do not. Our guide to car insurance excess explains your rights and responsibilities in detail.

Can I renew a Tower car insurance policy online?

It depends. Tower customers who have signed up to their online MyTower portal can also see, compare and pay (if not direct debit) their renewal online around 4 weeks before it is due. Otherwise, Tower will send you a renewal notice one month before your car insurance expires. Your policy will automatically renew and will be emailed or posted to you one month before renewal.  If you pay by direct debit or credit card Tower continue taking payment and you’ll be automatically insured.

Important: If you want to compare the pricing you're offered with the current quotes available, our car insurance guide would be a good starting point.

Can I claim windscreen damage with a Tower policy?

Yes - this is an additional benefit for any Comprehensive or Third party, fire and theft policy. You'll pay an extra amount (around $75 a year) for such cover, although the exact price will depend on your risk assessment. Any claims require the excess to be paid first.

​How do I cancel a Tower policy?

You can cancel your policy online via My Tower or call Tower on 0800 379 372

What does Tower's car insurance policy NOT cover?

As is the case with most car insurance policies, Tower excludes the following events:​
  • Mechanical failure - i.e. if your car breaks down and needs to be repaired. Unless you have breakdown assistance (an optional extra to any policy), Tower won't provide any roadside rescue. 
  • Breach of licence terms - i.e. if you drive without the correct licence and have an accident. Examples include learner or restricted licence holders driving in breach of their conditions, or driving while intoxicated. 
  • Using your vehicle for business purposes - ride sharing or courier work is a breach of Tower's standard policy and will void any claim. If you use your car for work (i.e. sales visits, trade services and Uber), check to see if you're covered - you may need commercial vehicle insurance.
  • Modifications - Some performance features increase the risk of your car being stolen or damaged, which means Tower won't cover the car altogether. A sample list can be found here; any questions about modifications should be directed to Tower.
  • Driving off-road – Using the car off-road, such as driving over open land, on beaches, riverbeds, and sand dunes. This exclusion does not apply while you are launching or retrieving your boat from it’s own boat trailer.

Tower Car Insurance vs Alternatives - Our Research has You Covered

  • Tower is one of many car insurers; what you pay for a policy will depend on your driving profile and history. The type of car you insure will also affect individual quotes. 
  • We suggest visiting the Tower website for a quote, and comparing it to other providers, including your current insurer.
  • We believe the average time to arrange 3-5 quotes is around ten minutes, and the differences in price (per our research) can be significant. 
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