first ireland classic car insurance no longer cover classic as main car

w116 · 08-01-2026 05:58PM #1

hi all

i was just on to first ireland insurance, i have a classic policy with them and wanted to add a car to the policy, i have always been able to add a 15 year old car and have done so many times. the policy does not require me to have another modern car and the policy provided a no claims bonus.

i have been told that they are switching from aig to axa and they will no longer offer this option from policy renewal date, and that the policy will become like a regular classic ploicy ie i will have to have another car privately insured as well from renewal date and the classic can only be driven to shows etc.

anybody insured with first ireland on this type of policy? have ye heard anything? aware of these changes?

it was a great policy while it lasted

steinbock123 · 15-01-2026 11:39AM

I’ve had several classics insured over the years, (never with AIG though), and every time it was a requirement that I also had to have an everyday car insured.

On another tack, anyone notice a huge increase in the cost of insurance for classics over the last two years? Mine is heading towards the cost of my everyday car’s insurance this year.

w116 · 15-01-2026 08:45PM

hi

It is a policy that insured a classic as a main car and earned a no claims bonus. There were millage limits and I could have added another car 15 years old to the policy.

I've had the policy for about 14 years. I think there are others on here with simalar policies.

will wait and see what they offer on renewal date in june.

kdevitt · 16-01-2026 12:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124149116#Comment_124149116

Likewise, similarly I got one of the clubs I ran recognised by First Ireland for the purposes of their policy - at least 15 years ago - and at no stage did they not require a main car. They always requested the reg number of it too. They also only initially covered trips to from car shows back then - I switched to Autoline at the time for that reason as I had the occasional commute.

w124man · 16-01-2026 02:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124149116#Comment_124149116

No. My classic policy with AXA has averaged the same for the last 4 years and I've been chopping and changing as per usual. My daily driver policy has gone up though

ELM327 · 16-01-2026 02:45PM

I have never known that this option existed at all. All my classics are insured on classic policies that require a main driver.

_ptashek_ · 19-03-2026 05:46PM

Same here, with AXA via Carole Nash. The requirement is to have a main driver on another policy. But the classic policy allows for multiple cars on it, has a mileage limit specific for each car, and allows for normal use (social / domestic). There's no limitations as to "show use only".

But I won't be surprised if all of that changes suddenly on renewal this year. Car insurance in this country is the literal definition of insane - both from a price and conditions perspective. And for classic policies, there's really no competition at all, it's mostly brokers reselling the same stuff from FBD or AXA.

first ireland classic car insurance no longer cover classic as main car

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