Compare Car Insurance in Ireland

This page explains how car insurance comparison works in Ireland, how insurers differ behind the scenes, and how to interpret policy features when assessing providers.

Comparing car insurance in Ireland is about more than price. Insurers vary in how they set up cover, manage claims, apply excesses, and include or exclude policy features.

Understanding these differences is essential before choosing a provider.

Loyalty & Car Insurance Pricing in Ireland

Insurers have traditionally used different pricing for new and renewing customers (called price walking).

Regulatory changes in Ireland now prevent insurers from charging renewing customers more than new customers for the same policy.

Regulation does not standardise how insurers create policies, assess risk, or update underwriting rules. Providers are still likely to adjust the eligibility criteria, revise the cover limits, and change the structure of optional and standard features that they offer you.

Comparing car insurance is important. It helps you see if your provider still matches your risk profile, cover needs, and claims expectations.

Coverage Differences

A fully comprehensive car insurance policy could be priced similarly by two or more insurers, but the benefits provided by the policies themselves could vary drastically. From differing levels of minimum excess, to standard features being classified as paid extras, getting the full picture of what’s available elsewhere is very important.

Coverage differences often reflect how insurers prioritise risk management, claims cost control, and customer servicing rather than headline pricing alone.

Who Offers Vehicle Insurance in Ireland?

At first glance, the car insurance market in Ireland can feel overwhelming, so it helps to break down the key players into different categories: underwriters and white-label brands:

These are the actual insurance companies, the ones that provide the money, set the prices and handle the claims. Most other brands that you see on the market are simply selling a version of a policy offered by one or more of these companies:

Underwriter Origin Notable Differentiator
AXA Insurance DAC France Protects your ‘No Claims Discount’ if you’re hit by an uninsured driver
Allianz plc Germany Will replace new cars less than months old if the repair cost exceeds 60% of the market value
Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC UK Includes 24/7 breakdown assistance as standard, covering both Ireland and the UK
FBD Insurance plc Ireland Fire brigade charge cover of up to €2,000 as standard on their ‘CarProtect’ comprehensive policies
Zurich Insurance Europe AG Switzerland  Offers fully comprehensive insurance while driving other cars, not just third-party
AIG Europe S.A. USA Policyholders Includes access to Virtual Medical Care, providing 24/7 access to Irish-registered GPs for online consultations
Intact Insurance Ireland Canada Offers ‘Keycare’ cover up to €1,500 for lost or stolen car and house keys via 123.ie
RedClick Italy Offers professional draining and cleaning of your tank if the wrong fuel is used
OUTsurance DAC South Africa Offers an ‘OUTbonus’ scheme that provides 10% cashback on total premiums after three years claims-free

These are household names that don’t actually insure the cars themselves. Instead, they partner with an underwriter to offer a branded product:

Brand Underwriter
An Post Insurance Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC, AIG Europe S.A., FBD Insurance plc and Allianz plc
AIB Insurance AXA Insurance DAC
Bank of Ireland Insurance Intact Insurance Ireland
SuperValu Insurance AXA Insurance DAC

Compare Car Insurance Providers

To understand the range of benefits that can exist under a single policy type, let’s take a look at an example, demonstrating how standard fully comprehensive car insurance policies prices can differ between insurers:

Feature AXA Allianz Aviva Zurich FBD
Courtesy Car (Accident) Duration of Repair Up to 7 Days Up to 7 Days Up to 7 Days Up to 7 Days
Replacement Locks Up to €750 Up to €1,525 Up to €1,000 Up to €800 Up to €750
Driving Other Cars Third Party Only Third Party Only Third Party Only Third Party Only Third Party Only
Fire Brigade Charges Included (No Cap) Up to €2,025 Up to €1,000 Up to €2,000 Up to €2,000
Misfuelling Cover Up to €350 Optional Extra Not Standard Included Not Standard
New Car Replace 12 Months 12 Months 13 Months 12 Months 12 Months
Breakdown Assist Standard Standard Standard Standard Optional Extra
Personal Effects Up to €750 Up to €775 Up to €500 Up to €500 Up to €400

What Affects the Cost of Car Insurance?

The cost of car insurance is influenced by a combination of things like the driver, the vehicle and other usage factors.

While these factors apply across all policy types, insurers weigh them differently based on claims data, repair costs, and internal underwriting models.

Car Insurance Incentives and Bundling

Some insurers give incentives for bundling policies or household plans. This means you can hold multiple policies with the same provider. These incentives differ a lot among insurers. They are shaped by eligibility rules and each company’s pricing structure.

When you compare providers, it’s key to see how incentives affect the policy. Bundled arrangements can sometimes impact cover limits, renewal terms, or policy pricing from year to year. We should view incentives as part of the whole policy structure. They do not replace comparing cover, excesses, and claims handling.

Types of Vehicle Insurance Policies Available

You’ll find three main policy structures when comparing insurers in the Irish market. What differs is how each insurer applies excesses, limits, and standard features within these structures.

When reviewing providers, consider things like:

  • What is included as standard versus optional?
  • Excess levels and claims limits.
  • How does the provider handle and support claims?
  • Whether the policy aligns with how and where you are using your vehicle.

How to Compare Car Insurance Policies

Effective comparison means understanding how insurers organise cover, define exclusions, and manage claims. It’s not just about the pricing offer.

Get the lay of the land

Review offerings from multiple providers to understand how policy structures and benefits compare.  This will allow you to shop around for the policy that best aligns with your needs at the most competitive price. Multi-policy discounts and new customer discounts should be factored into your assessment.

Know what’s included

It can be tempting to jump at the policy that offers the lowest premium. Make sure to take the time to see what is and isn’t included in the insurer’s policy as standard. In many cases, paying a slightly higher premium may unlock a wider range of benefits that far outweigh the additional cost.

Understand the claims process

The claims process is the only time you’ll actually use the product you’re paying for, so it’s important that your insurer gets it right. Check online for customer reviews of how the insurer has handled claims in the past, focusing on recurring feedback (positive or negative).

What Information is Needed to Compare Vehicle Insurance?

Before you go searching for quotes, have the following information at hand in order to ensure complete and accurate comparisons:

  • Driver number, license type and driving history (i.e. any penalty points or convictions).

  • Registration number and/or car make, model and year of manufacturing.

  • Claims history.

  • Estimated car value.

  • Address where the car will be kept.

  • Personal details.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are pros and cons to each. Going directly to the underwriter can remove broker fees, but it makes comparisons trickier. A broker can provide unbiased advice and assist in the claims process, but it comes at a cost. A comparison website shows you the underwriters’ prices side by side, but may only display insurers with whom they have a commercial relationship.

With step-back NCD protection, if you claim, your NCD drops partially. For example, it might go from 5 years to 2 or 3 years, instead of being lost completely. Full NCD protection lets you make a set number of claims, usually one or two over three years, without losing your NCD.

Driving Other Cars (DOC) usually comes with a fully comprehensive car insurance policy. However, it’s often available only as third party only (TPO).

Yes, switching car insurance is now quick and easy. It takes about 15 minutes to finish.

Data show that the best prices are available 3-4 weeks before your policy ends, but not more than 30 days ahead. You can switch mid-policy, but watch for cancellation fees. The savings should outweigh those costs. Other ideas are to set a renewal date in January and skip busy times, like bank holidays.