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Car Insurance in Ireland

Ireland’s law requires that all drivers have car insurance in order to drive on public roads, but it’s also one of the biggest ongoing costs of owning a car. Not only will having the correct insurance policy help protect you financially should you be involved in an accident, damage occur to your vehicle, or a claim be made against you, but it will also provide peace of mind as well.

While every policy must meet Irish legal standards, car insurance policies can offer varying degrees of coverage based on pricing and the level of coverage provided by each individual provider. For example, two people with the same profile might get very different quotes. Each insurance company sees risk differently. So, they set excesses in various ways and may add optional features to their basic coverage.

By comparing car insurance policies side by side, you will be able to identify the differences in both pricing and the various features of the coverage that different insurance companies offer to their customers.

What Does Car Insurance Cover?

Even a minor accident could have a high price tag. Car insurance is designed to protect you financially in case you are liable for damages, injuries, or losses while driving. Insurance in Ireland may assist with the following (depending on the policy you pick):

Damages to other vehicles & property: Third party vehicle and property, including repairs or replacement, when you are responsible for a collision.

Injury claims & vehicle loss: Claims for injuries and legal expenses of other drivers that were injured in the accident.

Damage to your own car: Some policies cover the cost of repairing your car after an accident, depending on the level of cover you have and the terms of the policy.

Fire & theft protection: This covers you if your vehicle is stolen or is damaged due to fire.

Weather or environmental damage: Damage to your car from weather-related or environmental events like thunderstorms or hail.

Choosing The Right Car Insurance

In Ireland, there are three basic types of car insurance cover: Third Party Only, Third Party, Fire & Theft, and Comprehensive. The correct type of insurance cover will depend on your vehicle, your driving, your budget, and how much coverage you need.

Comprehensive Cover

Comprehensive Cover provides the most complete type of insurance coverage. It will provide you with an extensive amount of coverage, including your own vehicle should it need to be repaired due to an accident or other damage, as well as any damage caused to or injuries sustained by others. Newer cars or high-value vehicles are typically purchased with comprehensive insurance.

Third Party Only

Third Party Only (TPO) is the lowest level of insurance that is required to drive on the road in Ireland. If you purchase TPO insurance, you will be covered in case you damage someone else’s property or injure them; however, you will not be protected against damage to your own vehicle.

Third Party, Fire & Theft

Third Party, Fire and Theft. This type of insurance is generally recommended for older vehicles or for individuals who do not require all of the protections offered through Comprehensive insurance. This type of insurance provides you with coverage against third-party claims and also protects you if your vehicle is stolen or damaged by fire.

Car Insurance Additional Benefits & Optional Extras

Many Irish motor insurance policies include additional features beyond basic coverage, both standard and optional. The features included and their pricing will depend upon the specific insurance company and type of policy purchased.

Windscreen Cover

Insurance companies provide windscreen cover for glass damage. This includes repairing or replacing the damaged windscreen or glass. Most insurance companies include this in their standard comprehensive cover.

Breakdown Assistance

Breakdown assistance offers 24/7 roadside rescue and towing of your vehicle to a garage for repair. This is usually included with comprehensive cover or available as an add-on.

Fire Brigade Cover

Most insurance companies provide for the cost of charges levied by local authorities following an accident. However, there may be exclusions applied for certain circumstances.

Replacement Locks

If locks are damaged or keys stolen in an attempted theft of your car, their replacement value will be covered.

No Claims Discount Protection

If you have concerns about losing your no claims discount following an accident, you can purchase optional no claims discount protection.

Open Driving

This optional form of cover means that another driver (with a full licence and usually over 25) is covered to drive your car with your permission.

Expert Tip:

If you have comprehensive car insurance in your own name, you will usually be covered to drive other cars. This may be included as standard or may incur an additional charge, depending on the policy. This cover is usually limited to drivers over 25 and is often third party only, unless you’ve specifically arranged fully comprehensive cover for driving other cars.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Ireland (2026)?

The cost of car insurance in Ireland depends on factors such as your age, driving experience and history, e.g. penalty points, the car you drive, and where you live. Because insurers assess risk differently, prices can vary widely.

Average prices change over time, which is why comparing car insurance regularly is one of the most effective ways to find better value and avoid paying more than necessary.

Comprehensive Insurance vs Third Party, Fire, and Theft Cover

Feature Comprehensive Third Party, Fire & Theft
Level of cover Highest level of cover Basic level of cover
Your own car Covered Not covered
Third-party damage Covered Covered
Fire and theft Covered Covered
Typical cost Usually higher Often 15–20% cheaper
No claims discount Can reduce your quote Can reduce your quote

Types of Driver Insurance

Young Driver Insurance

Learner Driver Insurance

Over 50s Insurance

Disabled Driver Insurance

Convicted Driver Insurance

Delivery Driver Insurance

How To Choose The Right Car Insurance Policy

Choosing car insurance isn’t just about finding the lowest price. Looking at cover levels, excess amounts, and claims support can help ensure you’re properly protected if something goes wrong. While cost is important, the cheapest policy isn’t always the right choice, particularly if you drive a newer car or one with higher repair costs.

Additional Benefits 

Check the additional benefits that you require and check whether they come as standard or add-ons to your premium. For example, for driving other cars, full no claims protection, or cover for electric vehicles and charging ports is not always included as standard.

Claims Handling

How a claim is handled can make a big difference if something goes wrong. Easy and reliable claims handling with a 24/7 claims helpline or a dedicated claims handler will make claiming on your policy easier, especially in an emergency or if your claim is complex.

Excess

Be cautious about the excess in your policy. Some cheaper policies, especially for younger drivers, will offer a low premium in exchange for a high excess. You will need to pay the excess if you need to make a claim so don’t choose a policy where the excess is too high for your budget.

Types Of Vehicle Insurance

There are niche types of car insurance more suited to certain vehicles.

Classic Car Insurance

Classic car insurance is specifically for well maintained cars above a certain age for leisure driving or car event purposes only.

Electric Vehicles

Electric car insurance is specifically for electric cars, and hybrid cars depending on the insurer, and specifically covers the higher value batteries and parts in these vehicles.

High Performance Vehicles

Insurance for high performance vehicles protects cars which have high powered engines, usually designed for higher speeds or agility.

Modified Cars

Special insurance for cars that have been modified in some way so that their features are different to that of the standard factory model.

Imported Vehicles

Coverage for cars imported from other countries, taking into account parts availability, repair costs, and valuation differences.

Commercial Fleet

Insurance for businesses operating multiple vehicles, allowing fleet management, shared coverage, and simplified policy administration.

Who Offers Car Insurance in Ireland?

There are several insurers offering car insurance in Ireland, with prices and cover varying between providers.

AXA - Home Insurance
aviva
Allianz - Home Insurance
FBD - Home Insurance
AIG - Home Insurance

 (BoxClever)

(formerly Liberty Insurance)

123 insurance provider

Car Insurance FAQs

Find answers to common questions about Car Insurance

Yes, car insurance is a legal requirement to drive on a public road in Ireland with third party cover the legal minimum.

Your excess in your policy is the amount you have to pay out of pocket when you make a claim on your car insurance. You will pay a compulsory excess and may also pay an additional voluntary excess in exchange for a cheaper policy.

There are very limited options for standalone short term car insurance in Ireland. Many insurers will add an additional driver to an existing policy for a low additional premium or if you have your own car insurance, you may be able to drive other cars under this policy.

You will be covered for commuting to and from work under most car insurance policies which are intended for social, domestic, and pleasure purposes. If you need to drive as part of your job, this would not be covered.

It is now a legal requirement that you provide insurers with your driver number for yourself and any named drivers when purchasing insurance so that these can be checked against the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID). This is to check your driving history i.e.penalty points or driving bans, and in a bid to eliminate uninsured driving.

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