How To Get Cheap Car Insurance In Ireland

Updated March 2026

Quick Answer

The cheapest car insurance in Ireland is found by comparing providers, increasing voluntary excess, maintaining a no claims bonus, adding an experienced driver, and choosing a low-risk vehicle.

Top Ways To Get Cheap Car Insurance In Ireland

Summary: Practical ways to lower your premium, including excess, mileage, and no claims bonus.

Increase Your Voluntary Excess

Choosing a higher excess means you pay more in a claim, but insurers reward this with cheaper annual premiums.

Build And Protect Your No Claims Bonus

If you drive for a year without making a claim, you are eligible for a no claims bonus, which can see you insurance premiums fall dramatically the following year. You can add no claims discount protection for an additional fee too, which protects you in the event of a potential claim.

Accurately Estimate Your Annual Mileage

Estimated mileage can impact insurance prices, and you may need to provide an estimated mileage to your potential provider. Make sure you take the time to accurately predict your mileage, as throwing a random number down way above what you’ll hit can see your insurance premium skyrocket.

Improve Vehicle Security

Insurers ask where the car will be kept, and parking in a well-lit area can help reduce the risk of vehicle theft and higher premiums. Additionally, consider vehicle safety measures like a steering wheel lock and cameras. The safety of your vehicle has a direct impact on how much your car insurance will cost.

Buy Car Insurance Online For Discounts

Buying online presents the opportunity to use comparison sites, which can help you find a competitive deal. Many insurers offer online discounts of up to €300 or 10–15% for new customers.

Negotiate At Renewal

Don’t be afraid to negotiate when renewal comes around. Many insurance providers rely on your loyalty, but if pushed can offer up discounts. Check price comparison sites before negotiating, in order to best prepare yourself.

Choose The Right Level Of Cover

The level of cover you choose has a direct impact on how much you pay for car insurance in Ireland. While comprehensive insurance offers the most protection, it isn’t always the cheapest option. For older or lower-value cars, third-party, fire and theft (TPFT) can sometimes reduce costs. However, this isn’t guaranteed, as insurers may price risk differently depending on the driver and vehicle.

Compare Car Insurance Providers

Use comparison websites or brokers to compare quotes from multiple insurers. Prices can vary significantly between providers, so checking multiple options is one of the most effective ways to reduce your premium. You can compare quotes using brokers or comparison websites, many of which access insurers that don’t sell directly to the public.

Add An Experienced Driver To Your Policy

Adding an experienced driver to your policy can bring down costs massively. To an insurance company, having an experienced driver on your policy makes you more trustworthy as a driver and someone who’s less likely to have incidents on the road. Of course, adding someone to your policy will cost money, but you will save on premiums overall.

Consider Black Box Car Insurance

Adding a black box can bring down your costs massively. A black box is like a virtual assessor that monitors your driving. This helps lower your premiums as it allows the insurance provider to monitor your driving and shows you as an open and honest driver.

How Is Car Insurance Calculated?

Summary: Car insurance costs in Ireland are calculated based on risk factors such as age, driving history, vehicle type, and occupation.

There are plenty of factors that come together to work out how much car insurance you pay. Here are some of the main factors:

• Your age: the older you are, the lower your car insurance tends to be.
• Driving experience: the more experienced you are, the lower your car insurance.
• Your car: if you choose a car that’s been in plenty of crashes historically, your premiums will be higher.
• Job title: the line of work you are in has an effect.
• Driving history: if you have a clean driving record, your insurance should be lower.

Car Insurance: The Numbers

Summary: Average car insurance costs in Ireland vary by location, age, and experience, with younger drivers typically paying the highest premiums.

These figures have been provided by Chill Insurance, a car insurance company in Ireland.

Car insurance can range anywhere from €540 to €915 in Ireland per year. In terms of area, the most expensive province to live in is Leinster (€700 a year), and the cheapest is Connacht (€638 a year). The cheapest county in Ireland is Kilkenny (€541 a year), and the most expensive is Longford (€915 a year). As you can see, the area you live in has a massive effect on how much insurance you pay. Previous incidents in each area helps contribute to how much insurance costs there. Areas with less collisions and accidents tend to have lower insurance premiums.

This isn’t the only factor, as mentioned earlier, and your age can have a big impact on your premiums. As you can expect, the most expensive age group is under 19, where you can pay upwards of €1884 a year. At the other end of the spectrum, the 60-69 age bracket is the cheapest, at an average of €445 a year. This is largely based on driving experience, with older people seen as having more experience on the road. This is backed up by the figures, which show that new drivers pay on average €1322 for car insurance, vs only €487 for drivers of more than 30 years.

The type of car you choose is important, too (down emoji).

The top five cheapest car brands to insure are:

• Dacia (€537)
• Kia (€576)
• Hyundai (€603)
• Skoda (€608)
• Nissan (€626)

How Your Job Title Impacts Your Car Insurance

Summary: Your job title can influence your car insurance premium, as insurers assess different occupations as higher or lower risk.

Believe it or not, the job title you hold can also impact your insurance premiums. The cheapest job titles for car insurance in Ireland are as follows:

• Prison Officer (€413)
• Book Keeper (€461)
• Retired (€474)
• Medical Secretary (€486)
• Garda (€503)

Tips For Different Drivers

Summary: Different types of drivers can reduce car insurance costs in different ways depending on experience, age, and risk profile.

Young Drivers

Summary: Young drivers can lower insurance costs by reducing perceived risk through telematics, named drivers, and careful car choice.

Young drivers typically face the highest insurance premiums in Ireland due to limited driving history and higher accident risk. To reduce costs, consider using a black box (telematics) policy, which rewards safe driving with lower premiums. Adding an experienced named driver, such as a parent, can also help bring prices down. Choosing a smaller engine car in a lower insurance group is another effective way to reduce costs.

Cars in lower insurance groups are also typically cheaper to insure due to lower repair costs and risk.

New Drivers

Summary: New drivers can save money by building a no claims bonus and accurately representing their driving habits.

If you’ve recently passed your test, insurers will assess you as higher risk. Building a no claims bonus over time is one of the most effective ways to reduce your premium. It’s also important to provide accurate information when applying, including your estimated mileage and main driver status, as incorrect details can invalidate your policy or increase costs later.

Older Drivers

Summary: Older drivers may benefit from lower premiums due to experience but should still compare policies to find the best deal.

Drivers with many years of experience often benefit from lower insurance premiums, especially if they have a strong no claims history. However, prices can still vary significantly between insurers, so it’s important to shop around and compare quotes regularly. Some insurers may also offer better rates for drivers approaching or in retirement.

High-Risk Drivers (Points or Claims History)

Summary: Drivers with points or previous claims can still reduce costs by comparing specialist insurers and adjusting policy details.

If you have penalty points or a history of claims, your insurance may be more expensive. However, you can still reduce costs by comparing multiple providers, including specialist insurers. Increasing your voluntary excess, improving vehicle security, and choosing a lower-risk car can also help offset higher premiums.

The Most Popular Car Insurance Companies In Ireland

Summary: A range of insurers and brokers in Ireland offer car insurance, with prices and features varying between providers.

There are plenty of car insurance companies to choose from in Ireland, ensuring you have the best chance of getting a great deal. Here are some of the most popular car insurance companies in Ireland:

• Chill Insurance
• Aviva
• Axa
• Allianz
• AIG
• 123 Car Insurance
• Liberty Car Insurance

How To Get Cheap Car Insurance

Getting the best deal on your car insurance is a priority for many, so we’ve put together our top tips to get a deal that suits you. Put our advice into action and hopefully save some pennies on your next insurance payment.

Add An Experienced Driver To Your Policy

Adding an experienced driver to your policy can bring down costs massively. To an insurance company, having an experienced driver on your policy makes you more trustworthy as a driver and someone who’s less likely to have incidents on the road. Of course, adding someone to your policy will cost money, but you will save on premiums overall.

Consider Black Box Car Insurance

Adding a black box can bring down your costs massively. A black box is like a virtual assessor that monitors your driving. This helps lower your premiums as it allows the insurance provider to monitor your driving and shows you as an open and honest driver.

Shop Around For The Best Deal

With the ability to get car insurance online, you can avoid the awkward rejection you previously would have to deal to a service provider. This puts the power completely in your hands, where you can visit multiple sites and compare quotes to get the best deal for you. Sites like GoCompare are fantastic for this and can help you find the cheapest deal. Don’t be afraid to get multiple quotes and compare what each offers vs the overall price and make an informed insurance decision that suits you.

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Insuring A Car If You Are Entering Ireland

If you hold a UK driving licence, you will have third-party cover in Ireland. If you have a comprehensive policy, it’s best to check what stays or remains when you drive in Ireland. Comprehensive insurance can be a good idea if you want to guard against any potential issues, albeit at a greater financial cost. What this cost does do, though, is protect you in a potential future incident.

Sounding Off On Car Insurance

Car insurance is a big cost, and one that you should try and save on as best you can. As we explored, there are plenty of factors that impact car insurance premiums and plenty of ways to save on your next renewal. Follow our advice and potentially bring down your costs.

Ready to Drive Your Savings Even Further?

Finding ways to save on car insurance is a smart move, but why stop there? At LM Operations, we make car ownership more affordable with tailored car finance solutions designed just for you. Whether you’re upgrading to a more economical car or simply need flexible financing options, we’re here to help you hit the road with confidence.

Take the first step toward your next car today—apply for car finance now.