A guide to motor insurance & FAQ's

One More Toy wrote: »

Thought it might be a good idea to compile a list of motor insurers in Ireland, saves the hassle of googling when looking for a quote, make your way through the list!
Mod - I'm adding this to the insurance thread

• Chill.ie www.chill.ie
• 123.ie www.123.ie
• Liberty www.libertyinsurance.ie
• Aviva www.aviva.ie
• BoI https://personalbanking.bankofireland.com/insure-and-protect/insurance/car-insurance/options/
• AA Ireland www.theaa.ie
• One Direct www.onedirect.ie
• Easy Insure www.easyinsure.ie
• FBD www.fbd.ie
• No Nonsense www.nononsense.ie
• AIG www.aig.ie
• Sheridan www.sheridan.ie
• 25plus www.25plus.ie
• Allianz www.allianz.ie
• Zurich www.zurichinsurance.ie
• Top Quote www.topquote.ie
• Britton Insurancewww.brittoninsurance.ie
• Insure4Less www.insure4less.ie
• Its4women https://www.its4women.ie/
• Tesco (Closed to New Customers) www.tesco.ie/finance/carinsurance
• Quote Devil www.quotedevil.ie
• First Ireland www.firstireland.ie
• XS Direct www.xsdirect.ie
• Axa www.axa.ie
• Supervalu https://supervalu.ie/insurance

I've written up this thread with a hope to cut down on the duplicate queries received in here every day. I've tried to be as specific as I can whilst speaking in plain English. I cannot guarantee you that every bit of information in this thread is 100% accurate and it is merely for advisory reasons. As such, never take anything said here as gospel and if you are in any kind of doubt then I suggest that you call your Insurer and Broker. I have tried to cover of everything but any further queries not covered in here just ask and I am sure it will be answered by somebody. This is a lot bigger than I initially imagined but I've taken a good stab at it. Please feel free to add to it anybody

Why do I have to have Motor Insurance?

Because it is the law. It is illegal to drive or be in charge of a vehicle in a public place, unless there is a policy of insurance in force, which covers liabilities for injury or damage caused to others.

What is Insurance?

Insurance is a risk transfer mechanism. It enables you to transfer the risk associated with driving a vehicle to your Insurance company should a claim be made against you. Nobody should ever financially gain from a claim however an Insurer should restore the affected party to same financial position they were in before the accident where the policy provides.

Where can I get an Insurance quote?

Well you're on the internet so you could use the internet. Click Here.

How much is Insurance going to cost me?

The only person who can give you an answer to that is an Insurance company or a broker. Call them or quote on-line and find out. Nobody here can tell you even a ball park figure due to the variables involved in calculating insurance premiums.

What kind of Insurance should I get?

That's completely down to you and your own circumstances. There are four levels of Insurance cover in Ireland however you will probably only really find two of them on offer. These are

Third Party Fire and Theft

Comprehensive

THESE ARE GUIDELINES, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR POLICY FOR A DEFINITIVE ANSWER.

Third Party Fire and Theft covers your legal liability to others as well as offering you cover for damage sustained from theft or attempted theft or for the loss of the vehicle if it is stolen and not recovered. It will also cover you for loss of your vehicle by "self ignition, lightning or explosion and fire"

Comprehensive will cover you for everything TPFT will as well as accidental damage and damage caused maliciously. In addition to this most policies will cover you for Personal Accident benefits, Loss of or damage to Personal Property (up to a certain monetary amount) and Breakage of glass in your windscreens/windows. Cars are pricey items, if you can't afford to replace your car should you suffer an accident irrespective of blame then it is advisable to insure your car with Comprehensive.

What are the different Insurance Classes?

There are four main types.

Class 1a Social Domestic and Pleasure - This is normal vehicle use and includes commuting to and from work your normal place of work.

Class 1b Includes use for business by the Policyholder. This would cover use by the insured in connection with their profession and travelling to different locations but excludes commercial travelling and the transit of commercial goods.

Class 2 Includes carriage of commercial goods and samples in connection with the insureds employment. Ideal for a small business but excludes commercial travelling

Class 3 covers Commercial travelling. Ideal for the likes of a Rep etc...

Can I get Insurance for a few weeks?

It's not something that is offered in Ireland really however the EU have changes coming down the line on this. Most insurers will only write 12 month policies. This doesn't mean that you can't incept a policy and then cancel when you don't need it any more. This may attract an admin fee and the refund given will be on a pro rata basis.

Great, I've got my Insurance, what now?

You will be issued with a certificate of Insurance and attached to this will be an Insurance disc. You're obliged by law to ensure that you have a current and up to date Insurance disc displayed in your windscreen at all times. The Gardai may ask you to further produce your certificate at the Garda station, as such, you should keep this cert safe at home.

I've just got my renewal and it's more expensive than last year, why?

There are many variables involved here however number one advice is SHOP AROUND. Don't just accept what you're given. Every year, pick up the phone and see if you can get the best price elsewhere. Sometimes, even your current insurer will be willing to match the better price to keep you. Any number of reasons can cause your premium to go up over last years and the main one is that sometimes the customer just accepts the renewal premium or last years was cheaper so as to lure you in.

Is Insurance cheaper for men now because of the new EU Gender ruling?

Not really. What is being seen in the market is a rise for females and minor decrease for males if indeed any at all.

Will my Insurance be cheaper if I name my partner on the policy?

Potentially. This spreads the risk. If your partner has their own vehicle and assuming that most policies have a third party extension this actually lessens the risk of your insurance and theirs should something occur and your partner was driving your vehicle.

Why?

Because if your partner has an accident in your vehicle as a named driver and has their own third party extension then their own insurer is liable for 50% of the third party costs associated with the claim.

Does my Insurance allow me to drive other vehicles?

Most policies do offer this however CHECK YOURS FIRST. Basically, this extension known mainly as the third party extension provides you with cover for third party liability while driving another motor vehicle which does not belong to you and which is not hired to you under a hire purchase or lease agreement.

Does the other vehicle have to be insured?

CHECK YOUR OWN POLICY. Some insurers say yes and some say no.

I want to insure a car I don't own. Can I?

Generally speaking, no. You need to have an insurable interest in a vehicle in order to insure it. As such, if you were to have a claim in a car you don't own your insurer may refuse to pay you for the loss of that vehicle.

I am going away, should I cancel my Insurance?

That's your call however you can choose to lay up your car. This means that you return your disc to your insurer. The vehicle will not be covered for Third party but will be for fire and theft. You will also receive a pro rata amount of your premium back.

What is a Named Driver?

This means that you are named on another persons policy of Insurance and can drive that vehicle but you are not the main driver and generally cannot gain a NCB (however some insurers do recognise named driving experience)

My Licence has expired, am I now uninsured?

No. Generally, Whilst you should have a valid licence letting it lapse isn't a big deal from an Insurance perspective. It is generally said that if you can hold a licence and have held a licence and there is nothing stopping you from holding a licence (and you're in the ten years renewal stage) then not having a valid licence does not invalidate your insurance.

I've passed my test, Should I tell my Insurer?

Yes, this is a big change and you're obliged to notify your insurance company of all material changes.

I've passed my test and now my premium has gone up, is this normal?

Unfortunately, it can happen. Basically you are considered more of a risk now that you have a full licence. On a provisional permit you had to be accompanied at all times by a full licence driver. Now as a full licence driver you are on your own and a greater risk of causing or being involved in an accident. Whilst this isn't guaranteed to be the case, don't be surprised to see a premium increase.

Insurers won't insure me. What now?

This does happen. You will need to get letters of refusal from all insurers who refuse you cover. You need three letters in total. Then approach the Irish Insurance Federation who will instruct an insurer to quote you. This quote might not be favourable to your pocket but it is still a quote.

I have penalty points, should I bother telling my Insurer?

Yes. Despite the fact that insurers will probably have access to the points database in the not so distant future IF they were to find out that you do have points and failed to tell them then they could well cancel your insurance policy. You are obliged to disclose if you've ever had an insurance policy cancelled in the past and you may find it hard to get a new policy with another insurer.

I've had a claim in the past, will I tell my new insurer?

Yes. Failure to do so can be seen as "Non Disclosure of a material fact" What this means for you is that when / if you ever have a claim or if the Insurer becomes aware of your history they could cancel your policy. They could also refuse to repair your vehicle and as they are forced to cover third party claims could also look to recover the full amount of the third party claim from you directly. Is it worth the risk? No.

What happens when my car is written off?

To simplify it, Your vehicle is assessed or a value determined by the Insurer. They will make you an offer. You can either accept or reject the offer. If you feel the offer is too low then you can argue your case with the insurance company. Take a few examples from Carzone etc and show that cars of similar spec and mileage are going for more than what you're being offered. When the deal is done, your insurer will own your car. You will have to give them your logbook. The vehicle will then be sold on for salvage in most cases. If the damage is minor but the motor was written off then you can in certain circumstances buy the vehicle back off the insurance company.

I've had an accident, What should I do now?

Call your Insurance company straight away and notify them of this accident. Despite who you think is at fault, thoughts can change and the person involved in the accident with you could well change their mind from being at fault to chasing you for the blame. It is imperative that your insurance company know what has happened straight away and to facilitate this, most have set up 24 hour claims notification lines.

I am at fault for the accident and want to settle directly, Can I?

If your insurer is happy to let you do so (and some may as the involvement of an insurer may prompt a personal injury claim from the other side) then yes you can but you still should tell them about it. You should also note that if you feel the other party is coming back with an expensive quote for repairs than you let your own insurance company look after the case and then pay your insurer back the outlay preserving your No Claims Discount and effectively treating the claim as if it never existed.

My passenger opened the door in front of another car causing damage, what now?

Your insurance extends to cover actions of your passenger whilst in your vehicle and that includes the damage that they caused to the other person.

I was in an accident and my insurer found me liable. I think this is unfair but they won't listen and settled the other persons claim. What now?

Your insurer has a right to take over the handling of the claim and settle it if they so wish. You may however lodge a complaint with your insurance company over their decision and if you're still not happy with their response you can escalate the matter to the ombudsman for impartial review.

I was in a non fault accident and my personal property was damaged, is this covered?

Yes, if you're not at fault for the accident then the other sides insurance company must compensate you for your damaged good.

My car has been stolen, what do I do now?

Call the Gardai straight away and report the theft of the vehicle to them. Then call your insurance company and notify them of the theft. Generally what happens after this is that your insurer may investigate the theft. They should send you a report form and ask you to fill it out and return it to them and may ask that it is stamped by the Gardai. Most insurers will ask that you wait 28 days before settling with you for the value of the vehicle. This means that if your car has not been recovered in four weeks that you will receive a cheque for an agreed amount. In return you will have to give your insurer your log book. Should the vehicle ever be located, it's now owned by the insurer. Your policy should also cover certain elements of personal property left in the vehicle. Check your own policy for details of these.

My car has been stolen and recovered but it is damaged, what now?

As always, notify your Insurance company. They will likely inspect your vehicle to determine if it is worth repairing. If they deem it to be a write off then they will attempt to settle with you for an agreed value of the vehicle less any excess on your policy. If they feel that the vehicle can be repaired then they will do so usually through their own approved repairers.

There is finance on my car, what now?

If you're car has been written off or stolen and there is finance owed then your insurer will pay your settlement directly to the finance company and the remainder of the balance to you (if applicable) They will not pay you directly if there is finance owed.

What is GAP Insurance?

More or less what is says on the tin. This insures the gap between what your insurer will settle with you for and what is owed on your finance. So if you owe GE Money 2000 and your settlement is 1500 then your GAP insurer will pay the remaining 500.

What is an excess?

An excess is the first monetary amount that you pay toward your claim and is only payable on own claims (fire, theft, a comprehensive claim) It basically exists to disway small claims for the likes of paint chips, wing mirrors etc.

Do I have to use my Insurers Approved Repairers?

No you don't however you should note that Insurers won't pay excessive repair costs associated with your garage if the same job can be done for less elsewhere.

I don't have an NCT for my car, is this a problem?

Yes, it is a potential issue. Most policies state that your vehicle must be roadworthy and some even go so far as to say that your vehicle must have a valid NCT however in the event of a claim it is most likely that your insurer will have to cover it unless they can prove that a vehicle deficency was a contrbutory factor of the accident.

What's a No Claims Discount?

In short, NCB was introduced by insurers so as stop small own damage claims. Eg: You knock your wing mirror off a wall. You are incentivised to acheive the maximum No Claims Bonus (generally 4 to 5 years) as you receive a discount on your premium for each year earned up to and sometimes exceeding 50% off.

I've had a claim and lost my NCB, Why?

NCB is more or less what it says on the tin. If you have a claim then you will lose some or all of your NCB. Some Insurers will only step your NCB back a degree and some will wipe it. (check your policy for details) Generally NCB is lost as a result of an at fault claim or a claim made by you for damage you cause under Comprehensive.

I had a non fault claim but I have still lost my NCB, Why?

When you have a claim that isn't your fault but claim against your own policy, your insurance company has to complete a number of tasks in order to get their money back. This can include, proving that the other side was liable and supporting the outlay of their claim. Variant on the other side, this can potentially be a time consuming matter and on top of this, can sometimes involve Solicitors and court. As a result, until your insurance company get their money back you lose out on your No Claims Bonus. When your NCB is reinstated you are then entitled to a full refund of what would have been discounted had you had the discount in the first place. This is a good reason to sometimes claim from the other side directly if liability is not contested.

I've been hit by an uninsured driver. What now?**

Report the incident to your Insurer. Notify the matter to the Gardai naturally and then notify the MIBI. The MIBI will cover the matter. They will either instruct your insurer if you have comprehensive cover to settle the matter as an agent for them or may instruct the last insurer involved with the uninsured vehicle to settle the claim. This should not affect your NCB. Go to www.mibi.ie for more information.

**I am open to correction on this.

What is NCB Protection?

It protects your No Claims Bonus and means that if you have an accident and make a claim that your NCB is protected. Policies vary but if you have an at fault accident where you would normally lose your NCB, you don't. This isn't limitless though and after a certain amount of claims within a certain time span you will lose your protection and revert to Step Back. Despite your NCB being preserved, come renewal your premium will be loaded to reflect the claim and then the discount applied. It is also likely that another insurer will not accept your NCB should you have used your protection but this is quite rare in my experience. Most insurers insist that you have full NCB of five years before offering protection and they will most likely insist on an additional premium from you.

What is Step Back?

Like NCB Protection, when you have a claim your NCB is stepped back generally two years instead of being completely wiped. So you go from 5 to 3 instead of going straight to 0 meaning you still get some sort of discount come renewal.

My Car has been written off, Can I get my car back?

Under certain circumstances, yes, you can. When the Insurance company pays out on your car it becomes their car. You can negotiate with them to retain ownership of your car and pay a small fee for "salvage" however this is variant on the levels of damage the car has sustained and what damage bracket it has been placed into.

Whats the spare parts for Japanese imports?

There was a time when certain cars imported from Japan were not readily available here. This isn't as much of an issue in more recent times. The costs associated with importing certain parts of bodywork were excessive. This clause meant that any extra costs associated with the import on an own fault claim would not be covered by the Insurer. They would pay for the part but not for the extra costs involved bringing it in from Japan and not for the extra amount of time car hire was required to cover the import if applicable.

What is New Car Replacement?

Most insurers now replace a car during the first 12 months of it's life if it stolen and not recovered within 28 days or damaged to the extent that it would cost 60% or more the value of the vehicle to repair.

What's the story with Windscreen and glass cover?

This is mainly a standard thing in Comprehensive policies and also an additional benefit offered by most insurers. As they use "glass" in their policy, it is felt that all glass in the vehicle is covered including moon roofs and sun roofs. There is no excess applicable to a claim and it does not effect your NCB. Insurers will usually insist on one of their providers being used and in this case will not usually apply a limit on cost of repars.

Personal Accident Insurance?

I don't want to get into it here. It's offered on Comprehensive policies most of the time and is a benefit policy applicable to injury. Speak to your broker or insurer for more information.

Breakdown Assistance

This is often offered by Insurers. It can include the likes of home start etc. It also means that if you're left stranded that you and your vehicle will be rescued and either brought home or to your destination or indeed, put up in a B&B. These policies are broad and differ greatly. Check your own policy for details on what you're entitled too.

Do I need a green card to travel abroad?

EC Directives have made sure that all Insurers within the EU provide the minimum level of cover within the EU. As such, you don't actually need a green card however they are internationally recognised and make things a lot easier so if your insurer will give you one then take it. Generally speaking though, you are automatically covered for a trip abroad of 30 days (open to correction here)

I need a Spanish Bail Bond.

No you don't. EU directives have more or less done away with the need for these bonds and Insurers no longer issue them.

Do I need to insure a car sitting on the side of the road?

Technically, no. "It is illegal to drive or be in charge of a vehicle in a public place, unless there is a policy of Insurance in force which covers liabilities for injury or damage caused to others. So by rights, if the car is sitting at the side of the road without Insurance, it isn't an issue until you take charge of it.

What's a public place?

"Any place where the public have access with vehicles"

I've sold my car, should I cancel my Insurance?

Yes, straight away. Your Insurer could be caught as "Insurer Concerned" should anything happen with the new owner while your policy is in place.

I've got two Insurance policies in place for the same car, what happens now I need to make a claim?

Simple, one insurer will take the lead and the other will sit back however both insurers will have to pay 50% of the claims costs on the associated risk. So if Insurer A has Comp and Insurer B has TPFT then B will pay 50% of the third party costs.

My car isn't taxed, will this matter to my Insurer?

No

I know somebody making a fraudulent claim, What should I do?

Call 1890 333 333 and tell Insurance Confidential.

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There are certain conditions also bestowed onto you as an Insured. Duties we will call them. You for example need to ensure that you always mitigate losses (act as if you were uninsured) An example of this could be to make sure that you don't leave your keys in the front door of your house or indeed, in the ignition unattended as somebody could steal your car.

There are also certain exclusions that are in most policies.

Damage caused as a result of the following are generally not covered

1. War/ Terrorism
2. Radioactive Contamination or Nuclear risk
3. Riot, Earthquake and civil unrest
4. Racing and rallies.