Shop around
Get at least 2 or 3 quotes. You could save hundreds of dollars.
Shop separately for car and house and contents
Our survey found some insurers charge above average premiums in one area and below average in another.
Negotiate!
If you rarely make claims and your premiums are increased, ask your company for a better deal before walking away. If you think the company is unfair at claim time, push for better. Note: Most companies set a minimum premium.
Discounts
You can also make significant savings on your home and contents insurance by chasing discounts.
Multiple policy
If you have your house and contents insurance with the same insurer, you should get a discount. We strongly recommend this approach and have based our premium analysis on it.
Higher excess
The excess is the amount of each claim that you must pay yourself. It's usually around $100 to $250 for house and contents – but taking a $1000 excess can cut your premium almost in half with some companies.
Age discounts
Some insurers offer these from ages 50 or 60. They range from 15 percent to over 40 percent.
Security alarms
The alarm must usually be professionally installed and in some cases monitored. You'll get a discount of 5 to 20 percent.
Other discounts
You can also save money by paying your premium annually rather than monthly. Most companies will lift your premium by as much as 10 percent if you pay monthly.
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