How a No-Claims Bonus Works in Ireland
A no-claims bonus is the discount you build up for each year your policy runs without a claim. It...
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The three levels of car insurance cover
Third party is the legal minimum in Ireland and across the EU. If you cause an accident it pays for injury to other people, including your passengers, and damage to their property. It pays nothing towards your own car.
Third party, fire and theft adds cover for your own car if it is stolen or damaged by fire. It still pays nothing for damage to your car in an accident you cause. Our third party, fire and theft page, explains where it fits.
Comprehensive adds accidental damage to your own car, whoever is at fault. Extras such as windscreen cover, breakdown assistance, no-claims bonus protection and personal injury cover may be included or offered as options, and they differ from one policy to the next, so check what is in the price. See our comprehensive car insurance page.
Whatever the level, you must display a current insurance disc on the vehicle whenever it is driven. Driving without insurance is an offence that goes to court: on conviction you get 5 penalty points and a fine, and the court can disqualify you instead of imposing points.
What sets the price, and what you need to quote
Insurers price on how experienced you are and whether you hold a full licence or a learner permit, your record of claims, penalty points and convictions, your age, where you live, the car’s age, value and engine size, what you use it for, the level of cover and the excess you choose. Each insurer weighs these differently. Driving electric? Our guide to electric car insurance in Ireland covers what changes on the policy.
The no-claims bonus
Each claim-free year earns a discount on a rising scale, usually up to five years. The bonus is yours: it transfers from one insurer to another and from one car to the next, but it applies to one car at a time. If you go two or more years without insurance in your own name, many insurers will not reinstate it. Your renewal notice, which the insurer must issue at least 20 working days before your policy ends, includes the no-claims certificate you need to move insurer. An insurer cannot raise your premium because you stayed, but premiums do change at renewal, so compare before you renew.
Answering the questions
Under the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019 you must answer an insurer’s questions honestly and with reasonable care. Points, claims or convictions left off a proposal can affect what is paid on a claim. If you have points, our penalty points and car insurance page explains what is asked.
What to have ready
For the Quick Quote, the registration number and a few details about you are enough. To complete the policy you will need the driver number from your licence or learner permit for you and any named driver, your latest no-claims bonus letter, and the dates and details of any claims, points or convictions in the period the proposal asks about. Young or first-time driver? See our young drivers and first-time drivers pages. Licence from outside Ireland? See foreign licence driver insurance. Imported the car from Japan? See car insurance for Japanese imports.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 0818 92 92 42, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.
Sources: Citizens Information – motor insurance; Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019; Road Safety Authority (RSA) – penalty point offences. Last reviewed September 2026.
