Suncorp has been awarded the title of best home, contents and motor insurer for 2012 by consumer group Choice.

The Choice Awards seek to highlight innovation, exemplary customer service and product reliability.

The award is in sharp contrast to the group’s Shonky Awards, which are given to defective products and services. The entire insurance industry was awarded a Shonky in 2011 for its performance during the floods crisis, but at that time Suncorp was singled out as an exception.

“Choice has been critical of insurance companies,” Choice CEO Nick Stace said. “It’s therefore very pleasing to see an insurer that has a very high customer satisfaction rating.”

In order to determine the best home, contents and motor insurer, Choice conducted an insurance satisfaction survey of 2200 consumers.

In the case of home and contents policies, it then looked at the availability of substantial extra cover above the sum insured, unlimited accidental damage cover and a high limit for valuables, as well as the inclusion of flood cover without limitations, exclusions or a special excess.

“For those in harm’s way in 2011 and more recently, Suncorp’s Classic and Platinum home and contents policies offer the kind of protection that could mean the difference between recovery and financial catastrophe,” Mr Stace said.

The standards it looked at for motor insurance included total replacement for up to two years after purchase, a workable hire car offer, and a solid policy score in a market-wide car insurance survey, conducted by Choice.

It says only Suncorp’s comprehensive policies ticked all the boxes among the finalists, and nine out of 10 Suncorp car insurance customers rated the company’s claims handling as very good or excellent. 

“The Choice Awards are the best of the best, so to have Suncorp win is a great achievement and an honour,” Personal Insurance CEO Mark Milliner told insuranceNEWS.com.au.