[Glenda]

Without inside information about how the insurance system works, it is hard to answer your query.

I can say that our two-year old Toyota Previa (7-seater) is insured for $573 a year through AA Insurance. That is a comprehensive insurance with $300 excess.

Our second car is worth a third of the Previa's value, but with my son driving it the insurance is $688 with a massive $1300 excess as he is under 25 and a learner.

Insuring vehicles is a lot cheaper here in NZ than the UK, and for an even cheaper insurance you can just have 'third party, fire and theft' - not much use if you prang the car or someone with no insurance prangs yours. There is a good range of cars here - Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda, Holden and Ford I think are the top players. You won't see as many European cars here.