More people are considering changing their car insurance policy or switching to third party coverage, as premiums continue to rise.

Latest data from insurance comparison website Quashed shows the average quote for comprehensive car insurance has increased 41 percent in two years.

Average quotes for home and contents insurance have risen 31 percent over the same period.

Quashed chief executive Justin Lim said more users are looking into other options, including third party, as they face a “conundrum” between cheaper premiums and greater coverage.

"Kiwis have had two, three, four years now of quite significant insurance premium increases. Consumers have learned to adapt to keep insurance affordable,” Lim said.

“We haven’t quite seen the corresponding sort of switch across to third party car insurance yet, but we have seen a 46 percent increase in interest.”

Prices continue to vary between providers, with five insurers offering quotes on a 2020 Toyota Corolla in Auckland ranging from $960 to $1790.

Changing coverage – including the excess and sum insured amounts – could cut premiums by up to a third, to as low as $673 in the case of the Toyota Corolla.

Switching to third party insurance could reduce premiums by up to two thirds, with third party fire and theft cover for the Corolla being as low as $580.

The Insurance Council said many people are buying new model cars that are more expensive to repair and replace.

On the other end the spectrum, cheaper, older cars have been targeted with a spate of vehicle thefts. AMI data show stolen vehicle claims dropped slightly last year, but are still three times higher than five years ago.

Quashed figures show premiums average $1,600 in Auckland, where car theft is particularly common.

That compares to $1,325 nationally, $1,230 in Canterbury, and $1,155 in Wellington.

People in their 30s and those over 60 have seen their premiums rise by almost 45% over the past two years.

Young people, aged 18 to 24, saw their premiums rise by just 2 percent over the period.