Please Help--Questions on Driving in Ireland

fuz3nes5

Hello, I am an au pair here from California. I am trying to get insurance to drive but the insurance companies are either flat out refusing to insure me or charging more than 2000 euro for the year (which is more than the car cost!). The problem according to these companies is that my license is not recognized here in Ireland. Although, I believe I have one full year to drive (I also have an international drivers permit). I have had my full license in California for four years. I was looking online at options I may have and came across something about exchanging my license for an Irish one. But I am not sure if this applies to me, being from the states and all...Does anyone have any information and/or advice?? Thanks so much!

CiniO

fuz3nes5 wrote: »

Hello, I am an au pair here from California. I am trying to get insurance to drive but the insurance companies are either flat out refusing to insure me or charging more than 2000 euro for the year (which is more than the car cost!). The problem according to these companies is that my license is not recognized here in Ireland. Although, I believe I have one full year to drive (I also have an international drivers permit). I have had my full license in California for four years. I was looking online at options I may have and came across something about exchanging my license for an Irish one. But I am not sure if this applies to me, being from the states and all...Does anyone have any information and/or advice?? Thanks so much!

Two friends of mine from Canada has very similar problem. They came here to work for 4 months, bought a car, and couldn't get insurance.

Eventually, they got it from Aviva, after presenting some documents of previous claims free driving from Canada.
Maybe try them.

loconnor1001

fuz3nes5 wrote: »

Hello, I am an au pair here from California. I am trying to get insurance to drive but the insurance companies are either flat out refusing to insure me or charging more than 2000 euro for the year (which is more than the car cost!). The problem according to these companies is that my license is not recognized here in Ireland. Although, I believe I have one full year to drive (I also have an international drivers permit). I have had my full license in California for four years. I was looking online at options I may have and came across something about exchanging my license for an Irish one. But I am not sure if this applies to me, being from the states and all...Does anyone have any information and/or advice?? Thanks so much!

Hey, Im from America as well, so had to figure out all this stuff too...you can't exchange your American license for an Irish one. That rule doesn't apply for American licenses. We had a hard time getting insured but ended up finding a broker that took our insurance from America towards a no claims discount here (not without about 10 different letters from my insurance agent in the States). Im surprised you got anyone to quote you period without a provisional Irish license. You are correct that you can legally drive for 1 year, but I was told it was basically a stop gap for getting your full license here. I don't know how long you are planning on staying, but if its for more than a few months, I would start that process ASAP, the theory test is simple.

guil

iirc you can drive for a year as long as you are a tourist, but if you live and work here your american licence is no good to you

fuz3nes5