Our latest research examines the impact that choosing a telematics car insurance policy can have on reducing car insurance costs for younger drivers and those who are new to Ireland.
Published: October 2026
Research by: bonkers.ie
Key research findings
- Young drivers can save hundreds, if not thousands of euro, on car insurance by choosing a telematics or “black box” policy over conventional cover, according to research from bonkers.ie.
- A 20-year-old driver with a full licence was quoted just €570 for fully comprehensive telematics cover, compared with almost €3,900 for a standard policy — a saving of over €3,300.
- Even learner drivers can find competitive cover, with a 23-year-old driver with three penalty points quoted €968 for third-party, fire and theft telematics cover, compared with over €2,800 for a standard policy.
- Telematics can also offer significant savings for first-time drivers and those new to Ireland, who can often face particularly high premiums.
- The findings come as new Central Bank data shows that the average car insurance premium in Ireland increased by 4% in 2025 to €655, with separate CSO data showing premiums rose by 2.8% in September alone.
What our research found
Young drivers and those new to Ireland can save substantial sums on their car insurance by opting for telematics, or “black box”, cover.
Research from bonkers.ie shows that choosing a telematics policy over conventional car insurance can save drivers hundreds, if not thousands, of euro. In some cases, young drivers in their early twenties, even those without a full licence, can get car insurance for well under €1,000 by choosing a telematics policy.
Our research showed a 20-year-old driver with a full licence was able to get fully comprehensive cover with a telematics policy for just €570.08, whereas the best quote for a standard fully comprehensive policy was almost €3,900 — a saving of over €3,300.
In another case, a 23-year-old driver still on a learner permit who had three penalty points was able to get third-party fire and theft cover for just €968.31, whereas the quote for a standard third-party fire and theft policy was over €2,800.
Telematics or “black box” car insurance uses smart technology to track a driver’s habits. A small device, or in some cases a smartphone app, is installed in the insured’s vehicle and monitors metrics such as speed, braking, acceleration, and cornering. The information is shared with the insurer. Safe drivers are then rewarded with lower premiums, meaning it’s particularly useful for young or first-time drivers, or those new to Ireland who are often hit with high premiums.
Methodology
The research was carried out on bonkers.ie using quotes from leading insurers AIG, Aviva, Zurich and Fastnet within the past six months.
Quotes are based on full upfront payment.
An individual's quote for car insurance will depend on several factors such as the insured’s age, address, occupation, driving history, car make, and licence type
|
Quote |
Driver |
Engine size |
Telematics quote |
Lowest non-telematics quote for same level of cover |
Difference in € |
Difference in % |
|
|
1 |
20-year old, full licence, 0 penalty points |
1-litre |
€570.08 (fully comp) |
€3,899.92 |
+€3,329.84 |
+584% |
|
|
2 |
20-year old, full licence, 3 penalty points |
1.25 |
€855.97 (fully comp) |
€4,070.26 |
+€3,214.29 |
+376% |
|
|
3 |
20-year old, full licence, 0 penalty points |
0.9 litre |
€997.44 (fully comp) |
€4,064.54 |
+€3,067.10 |
+307% |
|
|
4 |
24-year-old, full licence, 3 penalty points |
1.2-litre |
€816.20 (fully comp) |
€3,367.05 |
+€2,550.85 |
+313% |
|
|
5 |
21-year-old, full licence, 0 penalty points |
1.5 litre |
€1,343.26 (fully comp) |
€4,263.15 |
+€2,919.89 |
+217% |
|
|
6 |
24-year-old, learner permit, 0 penalty points |
0.9-litre |
€719.32 (fully comp) |
€1,200.98 |
+€481.66 |
+67% |
|
|
7 |
20-year-old, full licence, 0 penalty points |
1.2 litre |
€589.77 (fully comp) |
€1,373.56 |
+€783.79 |
+133% |
|
|
8 |
23-year-old, full licence, 0 penalty points |
1.6 litre |
€789.51 (fully comp) |
€1,483.07 |
+€693.56 |
+88% |
|
|
9 |
28-year-old, full licence, 0 penalty points |
1.4 litre |
€816.66 (fully comp) |
€1,178.95 |
+€362.29 |
+44% |
|
|
10 |
23-year-old, full licence, 0 penalty points |
1.6 litre |
€688 (fully comp) |
€1,194.73 |
+€506.73 |
+74% |
|
|
11 |
22-year-old, learner permit, 0 penalty points |
1.2 litre |
€981.22 (fully comp) |
€1,662.45 |
€681.23 |
+69% |
|
|
12 |
23-year-old, learner permit, 3 penalty points |
1.4-litre |
€968.31 (TPFT) |
€2,854.39 |
+€1,886.08 |
+195% |
|
|
13 |
35-year-old, learner permit, 0 penalty points |
1.2 litre |
€914.39 (TPFT) |
€1,195.64 |
+€281.25 |
+31% |
|
|
14 |
27-year-old, full licence, 0 penalty points |
1.4 litre |
€836.92 (TPFT) |
€1,007.95 |
+€171.03 |
+20% |
|
|
15 |
25-year-old, full licence, 0 penalty points |
1.25 litre |
€570.08 (TPFT) |
€2,377.27 |
+€1,807.19 |
+317% |
|
|
16 |
23-year-old, full licence, 3 penalty points |
1.4 litre |
€971.44 (TPFT) |
€1,728.18 |
€756.74 |
+78% |
|
|
17 |
20-year-old, learner permit, 0 penalty points |
1.3 litre |
€939.76 (TPFT) |
€1,891.52 |
€951.76 |
+101% |
