Table of Contents:
Add-ons and Optional Extras
Car insurance add-ons are optional extras. You can add them to your policy to cover specific areas where standard protection is limited or missing.
Why Do Car Insurance Add-ons Exist?
Car insurance add-ons fill specific gaps in a standard policy. They do not replace it. Every motor insurance policy has limits and exclusions. This means some costs, issues, or situations might not be fully covered, even with comprehensive insurance. Add-ons help you boost protection in specific areas. They cover excess costs, offer breakdown help, or protect personal items. This way, you avoid the financial impact or hassle of a claim. These extras are optional. Choose them based on how you use your vehicle and if the cost of a loss is higher than the extra premium.
What Add-Ons Do (and Don’t) Change
Your Policy Type Stays The Same
- Add-ons do not upgrade your policy.
- Your insurance type stays the same.
- Limits of your base cover still apply.
Policy Exclusions Still Apply
- Add-ons do not remove exclusions.
- Invalid or undisclosed use is not covered.
- Declined claims stay declined.
Add-Ons Are Annual
- Customers buy add-ons annually.
- Renewal prices and availability can change.
- Some extras may be removed after a claim.
Claims Rules Still Apply
- Excess payments still apply.
- Claims follow normal policy rules.
- Add-ons can affect renewal pricing.
Additional Cover
Not all add-ons are available from every insurer, and availability can depend on your policy type, vehicle, and driving profile.
Roadside Assistance
Roadside assistance provides help if your vehicle breaks down at the side of the road. This add-on typically costs between €80 and €140 per year in Ireland when it is not already included.
Home Start Cover
Home start protection is similar to roadside assistance, but applies when your car fails to start at your home address. Home start cover generally costs €20 to €50 per year.
Nationwide Recovery
Nationwide recovery cover will allow you to call for assistance if your vehicle breaks down and needs to be towed anywhere in Ireland.
European Breakdown Assistance
If you experience a problem on the road while travelling in Europe, European breakdown assistance is an add-on that extends roadside assistance to other countries and may add €50+ to your premium.
Onward Travel Cover
Onward travel policies cover you if your car breaks down and you need to organise alternative travel to reach a destination, or accommodation if you become stranded.
Windscreen / Glass Cover
Windscreen or glass cover will allow you to replace or repair your windshield if it is cracked or smashed. Windscreen insurance cover usually costs €20 to €50 in Ireland, with zero or little excess.
Key Cover
Including key cover in your motor insurance allows you to replace a missing or stolen key, or repair your key if it is damaged.
Tyre Cover
If you have a punctured or damaged tyre, including tyre cover as an add-on to your insurance will allow you to replace or repair them with ease.
Misfuelling Cover
Misfuelling is uncommon – but it can happen to new drivers and even experienced drivers. If you accidentally put the wrong fuel into your vehicle, misfuelling cover will protect you financially for any damage caused.
Battery Cover
Battery cover applies to any problems you experience with your vehicle’s battery. This can include failure which requires a replacement.
No Claims Bonus (NCB) Protection
No claims bonus (NCB) protection preserves your no claims history and discount if you make an insurance claim.
Excess Protection
If you make a claim, you will usually still have to pay the excess, which is a fixed amount you put towards repairs or a replacement. Excess protection is an add-on which reimburses this excess, so that you are fully protected.
Agreed Value Cover
Agreed value cover guarantees a fixed payout, which is agreed between you and your insurer, if your car is written off. This might increase your premium by €30-€100 per year.
New Car Replacement
If your car is involved in an accident and is written off (i.e. repair costs exceed a percentage of its value), new car replacement cover will replace your written-off vehicle.
GAP Insurance (sometimes standalone)
Including a gap insurance extra in your insurance policy means that the gap between the finance you owe on your car and its value is covered by your insurer. This is sometimes a standalone add-on.
Motor Legal Expenses Cover
Motor legal expenses can be costly if you are involved in an accident. This add-on covers your legal costs if you are involved in a legal dispute related to your vehicle or an accident. This cover can cost as little as €15 with An Post.
Personal Accident Cover
Personal accident cover is offered by most insurers and provides a lump sum payment in the event of an injury or death to you or named drivers under your insurance policy.
Medical Expenses Cover
Insurers will cover medical expenses to you or passengers travelling in your car if you include this as an add-on to your motor insurance policy. Even standard comprehensive insurance cover may not automatically include full medical cover.
Income Protection / Loss of Earnings Cover
Income protection will cover you for any loss of income if you are involved in a motor accident and need time to recover.
Courtesy Car Cover
Courtesy car cover will provide you with a temporary vehicle while your car is being repaired.
Enhanced Courtesy Car
Enhanced courtesy car cover is similar to courtesy car coverage but you will receive a better make or model, and may be allowed to use the temporary vehicle for a longer period of time. Enhanced car cover will be slightly more expensive than courtesy car coverage.
Driving Other Cars Extension
For those who need to drive other cars from time to time, a driving other cars extension allows for third party cover if something goes wrong – as long as the owner of the car has given you permission to use it.
Named Driver Experience Protection
If you have a strong no claims history and want to maintain this even if another named driver is involved in an accident, named driver experience protection protects your NCB. This is useful for policies which include younger or inexperienced drivers.
Personal Belongings Cover
Personal belongings coverage covers damage, theft or loss of your personal items that are kept in your car, such as laptops, phones or other gadgets.
Child Seat Cover
If your child seat is damaged or broken after an accident, child car seat cover will replace the seat. Child seat cover is relatively inexpensive.
Pet Injury Cover
Veterinary costs are covered if your pet suffers an injury in a car accident with pet injury cover. Pet cover can cost €15-€40 and gives you peace of mind that you won’t have to fork out huge sums on vet bills.
Overseas Use Cover
Overseas use cover is useful for those who drive abroad. This will cover you for incidents that occur overseas in named countries on your policy.
Add-ons Insurance Cover FAQs
Possibly. Even with comprehensive insurance, policies have limits and exclusions. Add-ons may extend cover in specific areas where standard protection is limited or not included.
The value of an add-on depends on how likely you are to need it and the cost you would face without it. Common add-ons in Ireland are roadside assistance, legal expenses cover, and courtesy car cover. The value of these options depends on individual needs.
Choosing the right extras to include in your motor insurance policy will depend on how you use your vehicle. A good place to begin is to list every scenario for which you want to be covered, and then weigh up risk and costs before making a decision.
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