Is it cheaper to go through a broker or direct?

There is no rule. A broker compares more than one insurer, so you see a range of prices instead of one; going direct shows you one. Compare like with like on cover, excess and extras, and ask any broker how they are paid.

Are insurance brokers regulated in Ireland?

Yes. Citizens Information notes that insurance brokers are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and links to a database of registered brokers; you can also check any firm on the Central Bank’s own register. GMIB.ie is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

How does a broker get paid?

By commission from the insurer on the policies it arranges, and sometimes a fee. GMIB.ie publishes its commission arrangements on its website as the Central Bank requires.

Can a broker help if I have been refused motor insurance?

Yes. A broker puts your details to insurers you have not tried, and Citizens Information explains that if at least three insurers refuse a motor quote in writing, the Declined Cases Committee of Insurance Ireland will get a quotation for you. Our refused car insurance page explains the steps.

What does an insurance broker do, and why use one?

2 November, 2023 Updated 1 September, 2026

An insurance broker puts your details to more than one insurer and advises you on what comes back. Citizens Information describes the role of a broker as providing advice to people and businesses buying insurance, notes that a broker may also negotiate with insurance companies on the client’s behalf, and notes that brokers are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

GMIB.ie is a Killarney brokerage regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, arranging insurance since 1986.

What a broker does that going direct does not

Going direct means one insurer’s price for one insurer’s policy. A broker compares. GMIB.ie puts car insurance details to 14 different insurers in one search, and where the form cannot give a price straight away, one of our agents reviews your details and calls you back with the options. Citizens Information advises getting quotes from a number of different companies, and lists experience, claims history, where you live, age, the car’s value, age and engine size, use, cover level and excess among the factors insurers consider.

The other half is advice. Which level of cover fits the car, whether a higher excess makes sense, which extras are worth paying for, how to declare points or a conviction, and what to do when an insurer refuses: those are questions a broker answers as part of the job. You can consult a broker when searching for the policy that meets your needs.

How a broker is paid

Brokers are paid by commission from the insurer on the policies they arrange, and may also charge a fee. GMIB.ie sets out its arrangements on its commission arrangements page, as the Central Bank requires. Ask any broker how they are paid before you buy.

Regulation and your protection

A regulated broker is bound by the Central Bank’s Consumer Protection Code, and a complaint about a regulated broker or an insurer that cannot be resolved with the firm can go to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman. Citizens Information links to a database of registered brokers, and you can check any firm on the Central Bank’s register before dealing with it.

Under the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019 you answer an insurer’s questions honestly and with reasonable care whether you buy direct or through a broker; a broker helps you understand what is being asked, but the answers are yours.

Sources: Citizens Information – motor insurance; Central Bank of Ireland – registers; Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman; Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019; GMIB.ie commission arrangements. Last reviewed September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to go through a broker or direct?
There is no rule. A broker compares more than one insurer, so you see a range of prices instead of one; going direct shows you one. Compare like with like on cover, excess and extras, and ask any broker how they are paid.
Are insurance brokers regulated in Ireland?
Yes. Citizens Information notes that insurance brokers are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and links to a database of registered brokers; you can also check any firm on the Central Bank’s own register. GMIB.ie is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
How does a broker get paid?
By commission from the insurer on the policies it arranges, and sometimes a fee. GMIB.ie publishes its commission arrangements on its website as the Central Bank requires.
Can a broker help if I have been refused motor insurance?
Yes. A broker puts your details to insurers you have not tried, and Citizens Information explains that if at least three insurers refuse a motor quote in writing, the Declined Cases Committee of Insurance Ireland will get a quotation for you. Our refused car insurance page explains the steps.