Call us today: 0818 92 92 42
Car insurance for young drivers in Ireland

Car insurance for young drivers in Ireland

Being young shouldn't price you off the road. We compare car insurance for young drivers from 14 different insurers in one search — including cheap telematics (black-box) options that price you on how you drive, not your age.

Students and young drivers could save up to 47% with our student car insurance offer. Start your quote online — it takes a couple of minutes — and when we follow up, just mention you're a student or young driver and we'll apply the discount from there. The amount you save depends on your own circumstances and the quotes available to you; 47% is the maximum saving seen under the offer so far, not a guarantee for every driver.

First-time drivers, learner permit holders and under-25s welcome. Enter your reg below and get your quotes in 60 seconds.

Quote Hunter
Excellent  4.6 out of 5  ·  5,637 reviews on ★ Trustpilot
Very polite and helpful staff who make…
Very polite and helpful staff who make your insurance policy easy and calm also very efficient.
Aidan Feehan · 2026-10-23
Good service from your staff
Good service from your staff
Mohamed · 2026-10-23
Great experience with customer service…
Great experience with customer service once approved for insurance and finance company within 3 days after acceptance, only downfall was the...
Evan Condron · 2026-10-23
Trustpilot
Car Insurance

How to find cheaper car insurance as a young driver in Ireland

Young drivers pay the highest car insurance premiums in Ireland — the Central Bank's National Claims Information Database consistently shows premiums falling steadily with age and driving experience. Insurers price on risk, and drivers under 25 statistically have more frequent and more expensive claims. You can't change your age, but you can change almost every other factor insurers price on:

Consider a telematics (black-box) policy. A small device or smartphone app monitors your driving habits, such as braking, speed and the times of day you drive. This allows insurers to calculate your premium based on your individual driving behaviour rather than on the claims statistics of your age group. For careful young drivers, telematics insurance can often be one of the most effective ways to reduce the cost of cover. See our telematics insurance page to learn more.

Ask about our student rate. If you're a student, mention it when we follow up on your quote and we'll apply our student discount — and if you've completed your EDT lessons, that's worth even more. Combined with the other savings here, some student customers have cut their premium by as much as 47%.

Choose your first car carefully. Insurers assess vehicles based on risk, so a smaller, popular model with a modest engine and no modifications is often less expensive to insure.

Use named-driver experience — but never "front". Years spent as a named driver on a parent's policy can earn you discounts with several insurers when you take out your own cover. But "fronting" — a parent insuring the car in their name when you're really the main driver — is insurance fraud. It can void the policy, leave you personally liable after an accident, and make future cover far harder to get.

Build your no-claims bonus from day one. Your own policy, even on a modest car, starts the clock on the discount that will cut your premium every claim-free year. Staying a named driver forever delays it.

Adjust the excess and pay annually if you can. A higher voluntary excess lowers the premium, and paying in one go avoids instalment charges. If paying monthly is the only option, we can arrange premium finance through Premium Credit.

Have your driver number ready. Since March 2025, insurers require the driver number from your licence or learner permit to quote — have it and your car registration to hand and the quote takes minutes.

Compare young driver insurance — why it pays to use a broker

Finding the right policy is about more than just price. Different insurers have different acceptance criteria, and the best option for you will depend on factors such as your age, licence type, driving experience and the vehicle you drive.

That's where using a broker can help. When you request a quote through GMIB.ie, we compare your details against our panel of 14 insurers and review the available options. Our team understands which insurers may be a better fit for a learner driver, a newly qualified driver or someone with named-driver experience, helping you find suitable cover at a competitive price. GMIB.ie is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much is car insurance for young drivers in Ireland?

    It varies more for young drivers than any other group — licence type, car, telematics and named-driver history all move the price substantially. The reliable way to find your price is to compare quotes across insurers — which is what we do, across 14 of them, in one search.

  • Can I get insured on my own car at 17 or 18?

    Yes. Several insurers on our panel cover 17- and 18-year-olds on their own policies, including on learner permits. Expect a higher premium and consider a telematics policy to bring it down.

  • What is black-box (telematics) insurance and will it save me money?

    A telematics policy uses a small device or app to measure how you drive. Drive well and you're priced on your record, not your age bracket — for careful young drivers it's usually cheaper than a standard policy, often significantly so.

  • What do I need to get a young driver quote?

    Your driver number (on your licence or learner permit — required by all insurers since March 2025), the car's registration, and a few minutes. Our quick quote takes about 60 seconds; one of our team then reviews it and calls you back.

  • Which insurance company is best for young drivers in Ireland?

    There's no single answer — and anyone who names one company is guessing. The best insurer for a young driver depends on your age, licence type, car and history, and insurers' appetite for young-driver business changes through the year. That's exactly where a broker adds value. Rather than checking insurers one by one, GMIB.ie compares your details against a panel of 14 insurers to help find the cover that offers the best value for your needs. We look beyond just the price, considering the level of cover, excess, benefits and your individual circumstances to help identify the most suitable option for you.

  • Can learner permit drivers get their own insurance?

    Several insurers offer cover for learner drivers insuring a car in their own name. The options available will depend on factors such as your age, vehicle, driving experience and licence type.

    It's important to remember that learner permit holders must be accompanied by a qualified driver at all times while driving. Driving unaccompanied can result in penalties and may affect your insurance cover. If you're a learner driver, simply enter your details for a quote and we'll help identify the insurers that may be the best fit for your circumstances.

  • Do students or young drivers get a discount on car insurance?

    Yes — GMIB.ie runs a student and young driver car insurance offer, with the potential to save up to 47% on your premium. Start your quote online, then mention you're a student or young driver when we follow up, and we'll apply the discount from there. The amount you save depends on your individual circumstances and the quotes available to you; 47% is the maximum potential saving under the offer, not guaranteed for every driver.

Related guides