Getting car insurance in Ireland having moved here
To legally drive a car in public places in Ireland you need to be insured (and properly licensed). If you're new to Ireland, and driving with a foreign driver's license, you may have a few hoops to jump through to get insurance. The example I give below is from my experience of moving to Ireland from USA (with a Californian driver's license).
Having gone through the car buying process I needed to quickly get insured to be able to drive the car out of the dealership. The first insurance broker company I called took all my details (name, address, DOB, etc) and all the details of the car too (make, model, engine size, transmission type etc), and then finally asked me for my license info. At this point the conversation came to a halt. The broker did not work with any insurance agencies that would insure a driver with a US license! Bummer! A big waste of time, and a lesson learned - the next broker was going to get this information from me first. To save yourself time I suggest you offer this information up front.
The second insurance broker I called was satisfied that he'd be able to find me insurance while driving on a Californian license. When he called back later that day he had a quite favorable insurance price quote for me. I was happy to accept and sign up immediately. However, he needed more information from me first (previous insurance history, copy of license, payment info etc).
Top tip! If you are moving to Ireland and want to drive here, be sure to do the following before you leave for Ireland, or at least before you try to get insurance - ask your previous insurer for a letter (they called it a loss letter in my case) stating that you have been insured for whatever number of years, and get them to detail any claims you had (it's best if there are none). My USA insurer was AAA and this was not a problem for them. It just took a week or so to receive. This letter could end up saving you hundreds of euro/dollars in one year alone, and even more going forward. The insurance companies in Ireland give special discounts to drivers who have had no claims for 5 or more years. This is what's referred to as a "no claims bonus", and it has a HUGE impact on the cost of your car insurance. I was told the difference would be as much as double if I could not produce this letter! No need to tell me twice.
The insurance broker will also need other information from you e.g. a copy of your current drivers license and bank information to take payment from (if you choose direct debit).
Good luck! Any other tips re: getting car insurance in Ireland (for movers) are greatly appreciated. Please add your input in the comments below.
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“ask your previous insurer for a letter (they called it a loss letter in my case) stating that you have been insured for whatever number of years, and get them to detail any claims you had (it’s best if there are none)”
This is known a proof of “no claims” the more years without a claim the bigger the available discount..
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It might be useful to compile a list of Brokers who will give a quote to holders of Non Irish driving licenses?
Great point, Tony. For a start O’Learys in Cork (http://www.olearyinsurances.ie) were able to sort me out. I’ll ring around and see who else can help out foreign driver license holders. Liam
The other problem is that overseas driving licenses are only valid for a 12 months temporary visit so anyone staying here for longer than that should get an Irish license.
For EU citizens that’s simple but others outside given countries have to take the Theory and Practical Driving tests.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit.html
You’re correct, and what makes this even worse, is that depending on where your current license is issued from, you can’t just swap it for an Irish one. I have been licensed for over a decade in the states, and now I hear that to get an Irish license I’ll need to take lessons, do the theory and driving test. Whatever about taking the tests, forcing people to take lessons is (in my view) unfair. I think it’s an unnecessary financial burden to place on people.
I contacted O’Leary’s. They were helpful, and gave me a discount because of the Loss Letter. However, they can only insure if we have provisional driver’s licenses.
The insurance was about €1100 per year for an economy car.
Thanks for that update Linda.
For anyone looking for more info, here is a link to the learner permit page
https://www.ndls.ie/about-the-learner-permit#why-is-the-application-process-required-to-be-face-to-face
Don’t think lessons are actually required, although taking a couple might be informative.
Unfortunately for US licensed drivers it seems like 12 lessons are required. It’s called Essential Driver Training. http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Learner-Drivers/Driver-Training/Car-Training-EDT/
From their website….
EDT is a course of 12 one-hour lessons. These lessons are designed to cover certain critical driving skills and improve your practical driving skills.
As you complete each lesson, your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) will record your progress in a specially issued logbook.
Looks like consultants got the job of addressing the new driving legislation. It’s only recently that anyone cold drive on a learners permit for life (effectively) so some things had to be put in place but that is just daft for experienced overseas drivers?
Totally agree, Tony. I’m not sure if anything can be done about it, but I’m going to try. Imagine having ‘L’ signs (and ‘N’ now too) up on your car after 12 years of being fully licensed in another country. It seems like a license exchange program is in the works with Ontario due to the number of Irish emigrants there. I’m surprised there’s none with the US.
Looks like things are changing with Canadian Licenses
http://www.rsa.ie/en/Utility/News/2014/Ireland-agrees-driving-licence-exchange-deal-with-Ontario/
Hello, We plan to retire to Ireland from Canada, and have bought a house and car in Ireland in preparation and plan to ‘snowbird’ for one more winter, the car was insured last year and was very expensive and when we checked with Axa about no claims bonus for the renewal they said premiums had increased and the no claims bonus might not be offset. My husband will be 73 and I will be 62 would it be better if we insured under my name? would the premiums be cheaper, we’re not sure how it works. Would appreciate any comments.
@tony2phones any insight on this one, Tony?
Hi Christine,
Have you tried contacting a couple of brokers? They’ll do the legwork for you to find the best deal. They have contacts across multiple different insurance companies, and so would be a great starting point. Let me know if you need help with finding some to contact.
Hi Christine. For what its worth I have had the dubious pleasure of sorting insurance myself this month and have only named driver and the Camper (doesn’t count for anything) bonuses.
The best quotes I have had are with First Ireland on line. I would use yourself as the main driver as premiums rocket with age and 73 with 50+ years experience might as well be 17 with 50 minutes behind the wheel. Shop around but be aware that some companies won’t even quote you unless you have 3 years clear Irish driving.