Types of car insurance in Ireland and optional extras

Overview

• Ireland has three main types of car insurance: third-party only (the legal minimum), third-party, fire and theft, and comprehensive cover.
• Comprehensive is the only level that pays for damage to your own car when you're at fault, and it isn't always the most expensive option.
• Popular car insurance optional extras include breakdown assistance (also called roadside assistance), windscreen replacement insurance, full no-claims bonus protection, and legal expenses cover.
• Telematics (black box) cover can lower premiums for new or inexperienced drivers by tracking safe driving habits.
• The right policy depends on your car's value, your driving profile, and which extras you'd use.

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Car insurance is a legal requirement for every driver in Ireland, but the level of cover you choose, and the extras you add to it, are entirely up to you.

Whether you're new to driving or have years of experience, understanding the types of car insurance in Ireland puts you in control. You'll know exactly what you're paying for, from breakdown assistance to windscreen cover, and you can build a policy around what you'll actually use.

This guide breaks down the three main types of car insurance and the optional extras you can add, from breakdown assistance, roadside assistance, and windscreen replacement insurance, so you can choose the right policy for your car and your budget with confidence.

What are the main types of car insurance in Ireland?

Irish insurers generally offer three main tiers of cover. Understanding the difference between them is the first step to finding a better deal.

Third-party only

Third-party only cover is the legal minimum cover needed to drive on Irish roads. As the name suggests, it focuses entirely on the "third party": anyone else involved in an accident that you cause.

If you are at fault in a collision, this insurance covers the cost of injury to other people and damage to their vehicle or property. For example, if you drive into another car at a traffic light, your insurer will pay for their bumper repair and any medical costs they have.

The "only" part is crucial. This policy provides no financial support for damage to your own car, or for your own medical expenses if you're at fault. If your vehicle is a write-off, or even needs a minor repair, you’ll have to pay the cost yourself. It also doesn't cover you if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.

Many assume this is the lowest-cost option, but that isn’t always the case. Because it is often chosen by higher-risk drivers or those with low-value cars, some insurers price it higher than more comprehensive options. It generally suits those driving older or vintage vehicles where the cost of repairs might exceed the value of the car itself.

Third-party, fire and theft

This includes everything found in a third-party only policy, but adds extra protection for your own vehicle against fire and theft.

If your car is stolen, damaged during an attempted break-in, or damaged by fire, your insurer will cover the loss. This offers more peace of mind than the legal minimum, without the typically higher premiums of comprehensive cover.

It’s worth remembering that, like third-party only cover, it doesn’t protect you if you damage your own car in a crash that was your fault. If you accidentally reverse into a bollard, the repair bill is yours to pay. This policy type is popular among drivers with older cars who still want protection against total loss scenarios like theft.

Comprehensive cover

Fully comprehensive cover is the highest level of protection available and is the most popular choice for Irish drivers who want maximum security.

It includes everything in third-party, fire and theft. It also pays to repair your own car, even if the accident was your fault. Your insurer covers the costs (subject to your excess), whether you cause a multi-car collision or scratch your paintwork on a wall. It also covers damage from vandalism, bad weather, and animals.

Comprehensive policies are more likely to include ‘bundled’ benefits that cost extra on lower levels of cover. These include windscreen repair, breakdown assistance, and cover for personal belongings left in your car. Premiums are typically higher, but if you cause an accident, the savings can be big. That makes it the preferred choice for anyone with a newer or valuable car.

Telematics (black box) cover

While technically a subset of the covers listed above, telematics is worth its own mention, particularly for young or inexperienced drivers.

This involves installing a small tracking device or "black box" in your car. This device uses GPS, motion sensors, and on-board diagnostics to monitor your driving habits. It tracks how you brake, accelerate, corner, and the times of day you drive.

This data builds a profile of your risk level for your insurer. If you drive safely, you can get a much lower premium. It’s an excellent way for young drivers to prove they’re responsible, and to avoid the typically high costs that come with being new to driving. Our guide to black box (telematics) car insurance explains how it works in more detail.

Summary of cover types

Here is what each type of cover includes at a glance.

What optional extras can you add to car insurance?

Once you've chosen your main cover type, you'll likely see a menu of optional extras. These add-ons let you tailor your policy, though they also increase your premium. The extras on offer often depend on the type of cover you choose.

Breakdown assistance and roadside assistance

Breakdown assistance, sometimes marketed as roadside assistance, makes sure you aren't left stranded. If your car suffers a mechanical or electrical breakdown, or can’t be driven after an accident, fire, or theft, this cover ensures help is sent to you.

Breakdown assistance is often included in comprehensive policies, and you can usually add it to lower levels of cover for a small fee.

Most policies require you to be more than 2km from your home address to use this cover. If the roadside technician can’t fix your car on the spot, your insurer arranges a tow to a nearby garage or one of your choice. Some policies also pay for overnight accommodation or a replacement hire car, so check your policy terms.

Home start assistance

It is a common misconception that standard breakdown cover helps if your car won't start in your own driveway on a frosty morning. Usually, it doesn't. For that, you need "home start" (sometimes called driveway assistance).

This is an extension of standard breakdown cover. It helps if your car breaks down at home or very close by. Common uses include fixing flat batteries or flat tyres before you’ve even left the house. Some insurers also include lost keys, fire, and malicious damage, so check what's covered. While some premium comprehensive policies bundle this in, it is often sold as a separate add-on.

Windscreen replacement insurance

This is one of the most practical extras available. Windscreen replacement insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing the front windscreen, back windows, and side windows of your car.

A simple stone chip can crack a windscreen and lead to a National Car Test (NCT) failure, so this cover can be very valuable. Most insurers let you make a windscreen claim without it affecting your overall no-claims bonus (the discount you earn for each claim-free year), provided you use an approved repairer.

Many policies don’t cover sunroofs, glass roofs, or panoramic roofs under windscreen protection. If your car has one, check your policy document carefully.

Driving other cars

This lets you drive someone else’s car occasionally, or in an emergency, if you're not a named driver on their policy. This cover is for emergencies, not regular use of a partner’s or friend’s car. Regular use could affect you if you make a claim.

Depending on the insurer, this extra may cover third-party only, or third-party, fire and theft. Some insurers let you upgrade to comprehensive cover. If your cover is third-party only and you crash your friend's car, your insurance will cover the other driver, but your friend will be left with the bill for their own vehicle repairs.

Personal accident and extended protection

Personal accident cover pays a fixed amount if you or your spouse or partner are seriously injured or die while travelling in your car. This typically covers serious injuries, like losing your sight or limbs. If you claim, your insurer pays the benefit shown on your policy schedule within a set time after the injury, for example three months. There’s a limit on the amount you can claim, so check your policy documents to see which injuries are covered.

"Extended personal protection" allows you to increase these benefit amounts and may also offer higher limits for personal items (like handbags or electronics) stolen from the vehicle.

Legal expenses protection

It helps you recover ‘uninsured losses’: costs your standard policy doesn’t cover, like lost earnings after an injury or a hire car while yours is being repaired. It also gives you access to legal advice for defending motoring convictions or disputes about the sale of your vehicle. Check your policy documents for exactly what's covered.

No-claims bonus protection

By adding this to your policy, the no-claims discount you’ve built up on a yearly basis will be preserved in the event you make a claim.

There may be limitations or exceptions to this protection, so we’d advise you to check with the insurer before adding this to make sure it’s worthwhile. It is possible that your insurer will only cover your no claims up to a certain amount or for a set number of claims each year. If you exceed this amount then you may lose your no claims discount.

Some insurers will only make this available to drivers who have had a no claims discount for a certain period of time, e.g. five years.

How to choose the right car insurance policy

Getting the best value on Irish car insurance means matching your policy to your actual needs, not choosing the lowest-priced quote. Get quotes for every cover type, as the price difference between levels is sometimes smaller than you think.

Match your cover to your car's value, too. If you're driving a car worth €1,000, paying extra for comprehensive cover might not make sense. If your car is valuable, a higher level of cover is usually worth the cost.

Finally, review the extras carefully. If you already have breakdown assistance through a manufacturer's warranty or a separate club membership, you don't need to pay for it again on your insurance. Raising your voluntary excess can also lower your premium, but only choose an amount you can afford to pay.

At bonkers.ie, we make it simple to get quotes from leading Irish insurers and switch to the best value cover.

Conclusion

Once you understand the difference between the three main types of car insurance cover, choosing the right level of protection is much easier.

For optional extras like windscreen replacement insurance or breakdown assistance, weigh up the cost of the add-on against what it would cost you to fix the problem yourself. The best policy is the one that gives you the right protection for your circumstances, not necessarily the lowest price.

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