Prepare your car

Ensure your car is road worthy ahead of your trip. A quick maintenance check at your local garage (or DIY if you know how) to check if tyre pressure and tread levels are correct, oil and fluid levels are topped up, and wiper blades, lights and indicators are in good working condition. Fill up with gas and know how far you can travel until you need to fill up again.

A regular car service will mean most of these are already done and you can head off on your holiday knowing your car is in road worthy condition. But if your car hasn’t been serviced in a while, spending money on a service before you set off on a road trip could help you avoid a major repair while you’re on holiday. If you need to plan ahead for a car service or vehicle repair but don’t have the cash saved up yet, consider an emergency loan through Max Loans to help cover the cost.

Pack smart

Nothing spells freedom quite like a road trip. You’re in control of your time, the pace you set, and where you go. It’s the ultimate in Kiwi family holidays. But just as your car needs to be prepared for a road trip, so too do you. Here are some tips for packing smart and preparing yourself for a road trip:

• Along with getting a good night’s sleep before you drive, let someone know where you’ll be going.
• Pack your mobile phone and charger, and check you have mobile coverage in case of emergencies.
• Wear comfortable clothing and footwear ideal for long spells in the car.
• Check the weather forecast for weather warnings and familiarise yourself with the route.
• Remember to pack prescription medications for family and pets.
• Don’t forget your sunglasses!
• Keep an emergency first aid kit in the car in case of minor incidents.

Here are a few other things you may like to pack:

• Water and snacks
• Blankets and pillows
• A basic tool kit and jumper cables
• Waterproof matches
• Toilet roll

Check your insurance

Long road trips mean more wear and tear on your car. And with so many Kiwis staying home this year, roads are likely to be even busier than usual. All of which means things can go wrong: cars can break down; tyres need replacing; major repairs need to be done; and accidents can happen. Make sure you have the right insurance cover to protect you and loved ones, and your car, caravan or motorhome while you’re on the road.

If you haven’t reviewed your car insurance in a while, now is a good time to do it. Book in an insurance review with a Max Insurances Adviser to check you’re not paying too much for the insurance cover you need.

Safe driving

Now that you’re ready to head off on your summer road trip, be sure to keep yourself and others safe on the road by staying alert and being aware of what’s going on around you. Scan the road ahead for hazards and look out for dangerous drivers. Avoid pulling over onto the side of the road unless it’s safe to do so, and then have your emergency lights turned on. Take regular breaks – get out and stretch your legs, have a coffee or something to eat to avoid falling asleep at the wheel. Listen to music or roll down your window for fresh air if you feel your concentration waning. Never leave children or pets unattended in a parked car, especially in hot weather. Safe travels!

Getting you on the road again

When it comes to finding the right insurance cover, it can be hard knowing which one is best. With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to end up paying too much or too little for the insurance cover you need. At Max Insurances, we understand the importance of putting your needs first. Which is why we’ll help you choose from a wide variety of insurance providers, and share our industry knowledge of insurance products to make it easy for you to decide. Get in touch with one of our experienced Insurance Advisers today and let us help you compare insurance NZ wide to find the insurance solution that’s right for you!

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The post Summer Road Trip Coming Up? Stay Safe With These Tips appeared first on Max Insurances.

1. Car Insurance

Depending on the level of cover you choose, car insurance can protect you against financial loss should you cause or be involved in an accident, cause damage to someone else’s property, or if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.

Although car insurance isn’t mandatory in New Zealand, most car owners choose some form of insurance cover for their vehicle. After all, losing a car through theft or an accident is not only a significant financial loss, it could also impact your earning ability if you’re unable to get to work.

When it comes to car insurance, there are generally three types of insurance cover:

1. Third party car insurance is usually the most affordable car insurance, covering your legal liability should you cause an accident and damage someone else’s car or property. Any damage to your own car or property is not covered though. This type of car insurance is ideal if you have a low-value car and you’re willing to replace or repair the car at minimal cost.
2. Third party, fire and theft is similar to third party car insurance, but it also covers your car for loss or damage by fire or theft.
3. Comprehensive car insurance offers full protection with cover for accidental damage to your car and other cars and any property in an accident that you cause.

Working with an Insurance Adviser like those at Max Insurances, we can help you determine which type of cover would fit your needs best. And we can also offer advice around insurance cover for other types of vehicle, including boat insurance, caravan insurance, motorhome insurance, motorcycle insurance and classic car insurance.

2. House Insurance

As probably your most valuable asset, it makes sense to protect your home with house insurance, to cover events that are out of your control. Like an earthquake, fire, or a burst pipe that could cause extensive damage to your home. Also, most lenders require you to have house insurance in place when you apply for a home loan.

Whether it’s a repair or a rebuild, house insurance protects you from significant financial loss should something happen to your home. It can also cover things like:

1. Temporary accommodation if you’re unable to live in your home while it’s being repaired or rebuilt.
2. Clothes, furniture, electronics and personal items lost because of theft or damage.
3. Your legal liability should you or a family member cause damage to someone else’s property, or if someone is injured in your home.

Insuring your home for the right amount is vital. An experienced Insurance Adviser like those at Max Insurances can help you compare house insurance policies to find the right cover for your needs.

3. Contents Insurance

No matter how careful you are, things can happen that are out of your control, sometimes damaging or destroying your personal possessions. With contents insurance, anything from clothing and jewellery to electronics and furniture can be repaired or replaced if they’re damaged or destroyed by insured events, which may include natural disasters, theft or fire, and accidental damage.

The cost of replacing the things you own can easily run into thousands of dollars. Contents insurance brings peace of mind, knowing that your things can be repaired or replaced without you having to foot the bill.

When it comes to choosing the right contents insurance, it’s a good idea to compare both price and level of insurance cover. An experienced Insurance Adviser like those at Max Insurances can help make this process easier, and ensure you have a thorough understanding of what’s covered and what’s not.

4. Renters or Landlord Insurance

Whether you’re a renter or a landlord, damage to rental property can end up costing you thousands of dollars. Having to pay for the cost of repairs or replacement can leave a significant hole in your budget.

Most landlords have insurance that covers the physical structure of their rental property, along with their own possessions inside the property. However, if you are a tenant, it’s worth bearing in mind that landlord insurance usually covers damage caused by tenants, loss of rental income and landlord liability, but these policies typically don’t cover tenants for any loss or damage to their own personal possessions inside the rental property-which is why renters insurance is useful for renters.

Renters insurance, also called tenants insurance, covers items inside the rental home, including things like mobile phone, electronics, furniture and clothing. It could also extend to personal belongings in the driveway, garage or a car. What’s more, renters insurance can also protect legal liability when it comes to loss, fire or any water damage you may accidentally cause to the property you’re renting.

Finding insurance cover that provides flexibility and good value – to suit renters or landlords-can be a challenge. With expert knowledge in a range of insurance products and access to a wide variety of insurers, Max Insurances can help you find the right insurance cover at the best price.

5. Travel Insurance

Whether you’re travelling near to home or far from home, changes to your travel plans, cancellations or illness can end up costing you in both time and money. When you need to change your holiday plans– or if your plans change because of events that are out of your control– travel insurance lets you get on with enjoying your holiday without worrying about the extra expense and unbudgeted costs that could result because of illness, loss or damage, cancellations or emergencies.

Travel insurance can also be used to pay for:

1. Medical costs due to illness or accident: however, most standard policies may not cover pre-existing conditions and you may need to pay extra to get cover for that condition.
2. Rebooking flights or accommodation when flights are disrupted.
3. Returning home in an emergency situation.
4. Luggage, credit cards or passports that may be lost or stolen while on holiday.
5. Injuries to someone else or damage to someone’s property.

All your insurance needs under one umbrella

When it comes to insurance, there’s a lot to understand. Many insurance policies are written using complicated language and hard to understand terms and conditions. It can be challenging trying to compare insurance cover, pricing and exclusions. That’s why it makes sense to work with an experienced Insurance Adviser. At Max Insurances, we specialise in helping Kiwis arrange insurance NZ wide, and we are also there for you at claim time if need be.

Our team are experts at understanding insurance jargon, and we can help you understand it too. What’s more, we know that your needs are unique, so we work hard to find the right cover to fit your lifestyle and budget. For all your insurance needs, talk to us to get the right advice! Find out more about the types of insurance cover we can help you with, by getting in touch with our team today.

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The post 5 Most Popular Types Of Insurance In NZ appeared first on Max Insurances.

Why do I need travel insurance?

Sometimes things happen that are out of your control and you’re no longer able to travel. If you’ve already paid for flights, accommodation or other services, you could end up losing your deposits or being charged a cancellation fee.

Travel insurance may cover you for any financial loss you incur if your travel plans have to change because of circumstances that are out of your control.

Some policies cover emergency medical treatment while you’re on holiday, and most will cover the cost of your luggage and items inside – such as cameras, tablets and laptops to a maximum limit – in the event of theft, loss or damage.

When it comes to hiring a car, you may be able to use your travel insurance to reduce the amount of excess that rental companies charge.

Remember to check the exclusions carefully, as many travel insurance policies do not cover cancellations in the event of a pandemic.

What does it cover?

At Max Insurances, we work with a panel of insurance providers offering both standard and comprehensive travel insurance options. Typically, the travel insurance policies we recommend cover:

• Trip cancellation – if you’re unable to travel due to unforeseen events.
• Hospital visits and medical emergencies – unexpected hospital or emergency treatment.
• Lost, stolen or damaged personal belongings – covering items like your luggage.

Besides these, travel insurance may also cover travel delays, rental car excess, personal liability and more.

What is excluded?

Before buying travel insurance, it’s important you read the policy document carefully, as there are some instances where travel insurance will not cover you. Missed flights that are due to your own fault, mechanical issues, overbooking or aircraft maintenance are generally not covered by travel insurance.

Your luggage and personal items may be covered for theft, damage and loss, but you do need to keep them as safe as you can. Your travel insurance claim could be rejected if you left your luggage unattended or visible in the back seat of the rental car.

And while generally high-value items – like laptops and cameras – are covered by travel insurance, there is usually a maximum value limit set on each of these so you may only be able to claim a certain amount per item.

Lastly, some activities are deemed too risky to insure and won’t be covered by travel insurance. Things like sky-diving, rock climbing, or skiing off-piste are usually excluded by insurance companies.

Does travel insurance cover my motorhome or caravan?

If you’re going on holiday with your caravan or motorhome, it’s important you have the right cover should the unexpected happen. Caravan insurance or motorhome insurance is designed to cover caravans or motorhomes against accidental damage, theft, fire and even weather damage. This type of insurance differs from travel insurance in that it covers a wider range of events and items.

It’s also a little more complex than simply having comprehensive car insurance. Caravan insurance and motorhome insurance cover not just the vehicle itself, but also the contents inside – like the carpets, entertainment systems, appliances, furniture and more. Because your caravan or motorhome doubles as your vehicle and your accommodation, you need insurance cover that protects both. That includes while you’re on the road and when you’re parked up somewhere.

What about pre-existing conditions

Most travel insurance policies won’t cover pre-existing medical conditions, but you do need to disclose these in your application. You may have the option to pay a slightly higher premium in order to cover any pre-existing conditions, but otherwise you won’t be able to claim against anything that happens as a result of a pre-existing condition.

The right insurance cover

Even the most carefully planned trips can go wrong. That’s why it’s so important to have the right travel insurance cover in place. So you can get back on track again, without any financial worries.

At Max Insurances, we specialise in helping Kiwis get the best insurance NZ wide and can help you find the right travel insurance to fit your specific needs. What’s more, if something does go wrong, we can help you get your claim underway.

Talk to our team today about getting travel insurance for your next holiday in New Zealand.

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The post Travelling Within NZ: Things You Should Know About Insurance appeared first on Max Insurances.