Electric Car Insurance in Ireland: What Changes When You Go Electric
Insuring an electric car in Ireland works the same way as insuring any other car: the same cover...
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Comprehensive car insurance: what it covers
Comprehensive cover is the same as third party, fire and theft plus the right to claim for accidental damage to your own vehicle no matter who is to blame in a collision. It generally covers damage to your vehicle and liability for injury or damage to others. Cover for your own injuries may be included or offered as an optional extra, as personal accident or medical cover, depending on the policy.
Citizens Information also notes that comprehensive is, in most cases, the most expensive cover available. Citizens Information lists the factors: your experience and licence type, claims history, where you live, your age, the car’s value, age and engine size, what you use it for and the excess you choose. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), the State’s consumer watchdog, describes the excess as the first part of any claim you pay yourself, and notes that a higher excess usually means a lower premium. An imported car is quoted on the same levels; see car insurance for Japanese imports for what the quote asks about an import.
What is standard, what is an extra, and when it is worth it
Extras vary. The CCPC notes that windscreen and glass cover, breakdown and recovery, driving other cars, driver personal accident cover and cover for personal belongings vary between insurers and are not all standard, even on comprehensive policies. Some quotes include them and some do not, so compare quotes that carry the same ones. On driving other cars, the CCPC notes that some insurers restrict it by the engine size of the other car and that it does not extend to cars owned by you or your partner; check the policy document. On an electric car the battery, charging cable and home charger are the extras to check; our guide to electric car insurance in Ireland takes each in turn.
No-claims bonus protection is, the CCPC says, an optional extra you can add to your policy. It advises checking the exclusions: some policies protect the bonus only for fire and theft claims or for a limited number of claims over a set period.
When it is worth it. The CCPC’s example is a driver who buys comprehensive because she could not afford to replace the car after an accident she caused. If you could, third party, fire and theft may be the better fit. Either way, how to choose the right car insurance covers what to check on every quote. To talk it through, call 0818 92 92 42, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.
Sources: Citizens Information – motor insurance; CCPC – car insurance. Last reviewed September 2026.
