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7 mins to read

Car dealers earning big on ‘junk’ breakdown insurance

Consumer advocates say expensive vehicle finance ‘add-ons’ offer little protection, and hope incoming rules will curb the sector’s excesses.

WATCH: Consumer NZ investigative team leader Rebecca Styles speaks with Maria Slade.

Maria Slade Wed, 15 May 2024
Key points
  • What’s at stake: Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) comes with a long list of exclusions and offers no more value than the Consumer Guarantees Act, consumer advocates say.
  • Background: They hope the incoming Conduct of Financial Institutions regime will give the car finance ‘add-ons’ sector a shakeup.
  • Key players: Andrew Simms, Janssen Insurance, Commerce Commission, Consumer NZ, Salvation Army, FinCap.

Jordan Nacu was pleased as punch to drive his sleek black 2018 Jeep Renegade off the lot of Andrew Simms Used Manukau in June 2022.

Less than 18 months later, that pleasure turned to horror when the $20,000 vehicle suddenly lost power one morning while he was on his way to work.

“The engine went

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Key points
  • What’s at stake: Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) comes with a long list of exclusions and offers no more value than the Consumer Guarantees Act, consumer advocates say.
  • Background: They hope the incoming Conduct of Financial Institutions regime will give the car finance ‘add-ons’ sector a shakeup.
  • Key players: Andrew Simms, Janssen Insurance, Commerce Commission, Consumer NZ, Salvation Army, FinCap.
Car dealers earning big on ‘junk’ breakdown insurance
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