Your complete guide to car insurance

What if you’re driving someone else’s car?

If you want to drive someone else’s car, you’ll usually need to be added to their policy as a named driver. If you’re driving your partner’s car or learning in a parent’s car, ask them to add you before you get behind the wheel.

Some comprehensive policies include a ‘driving other cars’ extension, but it’s usually third-party only and may not cover a car owned by your partner or someone you live with, so don’t assume comprehensive cover lets you drive any car.

What about extra benefits?

Some benefits come as standard, while others cost extra, so it’s worth checking what’s already included before adding more cover.

Common benefits include:

• Breakdown rescue
• Legal expenses
• Replacement locks
• Key rescue
• Courtesy car
• Windscreen cover
• Personal injury
• European travel
• Protected no-claims discount
• Excess-free claims

Windscreen cover

Windscreen cover helps with the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged windscreen or car window, and some policies also cover scratches to your car caused by shattered glass.

A windscreen claim won’t usually affect your no-claims discount, but sunroofs, panoramic roofs and mirrors are often excluded.

Using your insurer’s approved repairer could give you more cover too, as some insurers pay the full repair or replacement cost through their approved network but set a much lower limit if you choose your own repairer.

Legal expenses

Motor legal protection can help with legal costs if you’re involved in an accident or a complicated claim.

If an accident wasn’t your fault, you could use it to recover costs your car insurance doesn’t cover, such as your excess, lost earnings or travel expenses. Some policies will also pay towards defending certain motoring prosecutions.

Some Irish policies cover up to €65,000 in legal costs, while others offer limits as high as €130,000.

What affects the price of car insurance cover?

Several things affect the cost of cover and every insurer will have its own pricing formula and rules.

Here’s the main factors:

• Your age and experience: Younger and less experienced drivers usually pay more because they’re more likely to make a claim. See our guides to young driver car insurance and learning to drive.
• Your location: Insurers look at local accident, theft and claims levels, as well as where your car is parked.
• Your job and class of use: Your occupation can affect the price, while your class of use tells the insurer whether you drive for social trips, commuting or business.
• Your mileage: Higher annual mileage means more time on the road and may push up your premium, while lower mileage could help bring it down.
• Your claims and driving record: Previous claims, penalty points and driving convictions can increase the price. One claim does not automatically remove your full no-claims bonus.
• Your car: Insurers look at its value, engine size, power, repair costs, safety, security and any modifications.
• Your cover: The type of car insurance, benefits and optional extras you choose will affect the quote. Compare all available options rather than assuming third-party cover will be the cheapest.
• Your excess: Choosing a higher voluntary excess may reduce the premium, but you’ll have to pay more if you claim.
• How you pay: Paying monthly can cost more if interest or finance charges are added.

Find out more about the factors affecting insurance costs and how insurers calculate your quote.

When should you insure a new car?

Arrange your insurance before collecting a new car, as you can’t drive it home without valid cover.

You can get quotes before buying, which also lets you check how much different makes, models and engine sizes could cost to insure.

Once you’ve chosen the car, give the insurer its registration and the date you want the policy to start. If you’re replacing your current car, don’t assume your existing cover will transfer automatically. Contact your insurer and wait for confirmation before collecting it.

How to compare car insurance quotes

Compare each quote on the same basis rather than choosing on price alone.

Check:

• The total annual price, including any charges for paying monthly
• The level of cover and policy benefits
• The compulsory and voluntary excess
• Breakdown assistance, windscreen cover and other extras
• No-claims bonus protection
• Mileage, driver or vehicle restrictions
• Important exclusions, cancellation fees and policy-change charges

Switcher’s quote link takes you to The AA’s secure website, where you can compare up to 13 policy quotes from a panel of eight insurers and arrange cover directly.

It isn’t a whole-of-market comparison, so it’s still worth checking other insurers or brokers.

Should you switch or renew your car insurance?

Your renewal quote won’t always be the best price, so compare a few alternatives before accepting it.

Your insurer must send your renewal notice and no-claims bonus certificate at least 20 working days before your policy ends, giving you time to shop around.

Insurers can’t charge you more simply because you stayed with them, but your renewal price can still rise because of claims costs, inflation or changes to your circumstances.

Compare the same cover, excess and benefits, and ask your current insurer if it can improve its offer. If you switch, make sure your new cover begins when the old policy ends and cancel any automatic renewal.