Looking for best insurance

Miamiheat

Hello,
I have been a driver since 1994, and currently hold a french license. I have never owned a vehicle nor purchased insurance in Ireland. (moved in 2009).

I find it impossible to fill out automated forms to request for quotes, and the time that I was able to get a quote on the phone the figure was over 3000€ for a 2000 mercedes! Although I explained the agent I have been driving for ages somehow I seem to be considered as a new driver.

Need to find a company that will know how to adapt to foreign drivers, or perhaps there is a trick or a special provision or a special company that would know how to come up with a normally priced offer.

Any advice?

Thank you!

challengemaster

Unless you've got NCB, you ARE for insurance purposes, a new driver. They don't care if you explain that you've been driving for years.

doOh

get your discounts from france !

Miamiheat

doOh wrote: »

get your discounts from france !

What do you mean by that?

MarkoC

Miamiheat wrote: »

What do you mean by that?

If you insured your car(s) in France, get a letter from your insurance how many years you've been insured and any claims made. But you need the original letter not just an email.
We did it as well.

Miamiheat

Thanks MarkoC, I believe I may have that letter already, as if I remember correctly the insurance Co. sends it at the end of the contract.

Would anybody have any recommendations as to what company I should get started with. The goal is to secure a 3rd party insurance for a 1999 to 2002 vehicle worth about 2000€ and 2 liter engine.

Thank you

doOh

i would go wiith axa or any large known companies. 123.ie, nononsense.ie they all suck and try to rip u off from first day u bought policy ...

MarkoC

If you have over 2 years NCB and you are over 25, id suggest to visit AA office.
They are brokers who made best deals for us since we joined them about 4y ago. (Audi 100 S4, 400€ a year fully comp female, 10y+ NCB, and over 25)
Im the named driver on the policy, if we registered the car on my name, we would pay around 2K for insurance )

Overall cheapest online ones are
www.123.ie
www.nononsense.ie

Personally i would stay away from AXA and Quinn Direct and McCarthy Insourance Group (broker)

Just my personal experiences and thoughts.

inforfun

I was in the same boat as you last year OP.
Had 8 or 9 years ncb but that had expired (have to take up a new insurance within 1 year).
Felt i couldnt do more than just take the hit and for me FDB came out best.
Now i do have 1 year ncb and they quoted me €180/200 less than last year.
A quote that is a bit Meh...
Guess it isnt a bad one but i expected a bit better.

Atlantic Dawn

First thing you need to do is exchange your French license for an Irish one, most insurance companies in Ireland load or refuse insurance to foreign drivers based on the reasoning that because you have a non Irish license you won't get penalty points and can pretty much drive as you
want without punishment. Here's a link on how to exchange your license...http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit.html

You need to then proove your no claims history from France, if possible get it translated in to English from your French company, this will help give a reduced quote provided it's from the last 24 months.

Depending on your no claims history and age if you are below 30 with less than 2 years no claims bonus you may need to rethink the car you are purchasing and stick to something below 1.4 litre for the first couple of years until you build up a full no claims bonus in this country.

MarkoC

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

First thing you need to do is exchange your French license for an Irish one, most insurance companies in Ireland load or refuse insurance to foreign drivers based on the reasoning that because you have a non Irish license you won't get penalty points and can pretty much drive as you
want without punishment. Here's a link on how to exchange your license...http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit.html

My missus had always EU license and got quotes from 8 different Insurance companies last year in July when we had to renew our policy, so im not sure where your statement comes from.
In our experiences i can tell you, no you dont have to exchange your license as by the EU laws you not have to and Insurance companies cant refuse to serve you because of that.
Only thing we noticed was the question about residing in the country, with EU license they would like if you resided in the country for 2-3 years.
Cant remember any Insurance company who refused to give even me a quote, well i exchanged my license to Irish ones 4.5 years ago but for other reasons (easier access to the local pubs )

Raskolnikov

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

First thing you need to do is exchange your French license for an Irish one, most insurance companies in Ireland load or refuse insurance to foreign drivers based on the reasoning that because you have a non Irish license you won't get penalty points and can pretty much drive as you
want without punishment. Here's a link on how to exchange your license...http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit.html

You will get a cheaper quote with an Irish licence too.

Miamiheat

First of all thank you all for the imputs: somehow did not see the feedbacks until now.

I have now read the different advice and I have been inquiring with a few insurance companies last week. Here are bits of information... and some whining!!!

- I am 36 years old, hold a French license showing validity as of 06/2004, but previously licensed in the states since 1994
- Moved to Ireland 06/2009, less than 2 years
- I was insured in France for 23 months! so assuming an insurance company wanted to count here I would be elegible for 1 year (that sucks!)
- What sucks even more is that my last policy expired 28 february 09, which means at midnight tonight I am done with possibility of a NO CLAIMS BONUS!!
- Overall, I have been a licensed driver and rider for over 16 years: I have never had major claims: 1 bumper scratched at a STOP sign and somebody dropped my motorcycle. I have insured multiple vehicles and motorcycles, and still find myself in a situation where I will pay twice the amount any normal driver would!!!


Back to the objective:

- Called Quinn and a couple of major companies and got quoted over 1200€ for a 2001 Toyota Avensis. Last month got quoted 3 grand for a 10 year old mercedes.
- AA quoted 925: so far the best I have heard.
- Called a broker who had been recommended by a friend and out of 7 providers he quoted 1165€

I found out that in Ireland, it is almost impossible to find and insurance company that will offer 3rd party coverage only! But I found one that did: 1700€ for 3rd party, that is based on a car valued at 2000€! Is there somebody regulating these businesses? So the new rule is that you cannot eat one dish at the restaurant: you have to have appetizer, main course, dessert AND wine otherwise you don't get in...

Changing to an Irish license: apparently I would have to turn in my French license to do that. My French license does not expire... Will the Irish license be expiring at some stage?

I believe I am running out of options and will have to buy an very small car with a 1 liter engine...

Thanks for having read all that.