Car Insurance For Young Drivers In Ireland: Learn Why You Might Be Overcharged Or Refused Insurance Cover Altogether

Irish equality laws prohibit discrimination against those buying goods or services on the basis of age, sex, race, religion, martial or family status, sexuality, disability, or lifestyle.

When it comes to car insurance, no insurance company can refuse to cover your or charge you extra on the basis of any of those reasons. However, when it comes to car insurance for young drivers, insurance companies plainly DO discriminate on the basis of the first two: age and sex, as many young drivers (and especially young male drivers) in Ireland can attest to.

However, they are not breaking the law by doing so, because a provision in Irish equality laws DOES allow for discrimination for any of the above reasons IF such a difference in treatment is shown to be justified and within reason. The prices you are charged by insurance companies are calculated by incorporating the aggregate history of people who are similar to you. What that means, is, if young males in general have a history of making more insurance claims (or being the cause of more insurance claims) in the past, then, if YOU are a young male, you are more likely (than people who aren't young males) to make claims in the future (and thus, be a greater risk from the insurance company's point-of-view).

If you are a young driver in Ireland, there's little you can do about your age (or sex, for that matter). You can, however, take other measures to reduce the amount of risk you represent to an insurance company (which will then reduce the amount they charge you). For example, if you don't already have a full driving licence, take more lessons and do your driving test. That seemingly-obvious course of action can do more than anything else to reduce your costs right now. Also, opt for a smaller car. It mightn't be what you want but it'll still get you to where you want to go without having to, as some young drivers do, pay more for insurance than you did for the car itself. Also, concentrate on building your no claims record. In the long run, that'll reduce your costs by anything up to 70%.

If you have been refused insurance cover altogether, make sure you ask the insurer for a written explanation of why. They are required to give you one (but only if you ask). If three, or more, insurers refuse (in writing) to give you a quotation, contact the Declined Cases Committee at the Irish Insurance Federation right away. They will review your case and get a quotation for you (usually from the first company you contacted yourself) unless there is a major public-safety reason why you should not be given insurance. However, you should be aware that the Declined Cases Committee can only get you a quotation for a policy. They can't do anything to lower what that policy will cost you.