Young Driver Car Insurance Ireland
Car Insurance for Young Drivers, Learner Drivers & First-Time Drivers
Getting your first car on the road should be exciting. Finding affordable young driver car insurance in Ireland can be the difficult part.
At Dolmen Insurance, we help young and first-time drivers find suitable car insurance from our panel of insurers. Whether you’re 17 and learning to drive, buying your first car, moving from being a named driver to your own policy, or looking for a better option at renewal, our experienced motor team can help.
We now have more young driver insurance options available than before, including telematics car insurance, which can provide another route to cover for eligible young drivers.
Young Driver Insurance from Age 17
If you’re looking for car insurance at 17, 18, 19, 20 or into your early twenties, Dolmen can compare suitable options available from our panel.
Depending on the insurer and your individual circumstances, we can arrange cover for young drivers with:
- An Irish learner permit
- A full Irish driving licence
- An eligible EU driving licence
- Their first car
- Previous named driving experience
- An existing No Claims Bonus
Who Do I Talk to About Young Driver Car Insurance in Ireland?
Young driver insurance isn’t always straightforward. Your age is only one part of the quotation.
Your licence, driving experience, car, claims history, named driving experience and other circumstances can all affect the insurance options available.
Dolmen’s experienced Motor Team can take you through the quotation process, explain the options available from our insurer panel and help you understand the cover you’re purchasing.
And our support doesn’t stop when you take out the policy. We’re here throughout the term of your insurance if you need assistance with a change, question or claim.
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Personal Lines TEAM
Why not talk to Philip’s team about your insurance needs? With years of experience in personal lines insurance, Philip is here to make sure you get the right insurance coverage.
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Finding Car Insurance as a Young Driver Doesn't Have to Be Complicated
Young drivers can face higher insurance premiums and fewer options than more experienced motorists. And no two young drivers are exactly alike.
That’s where using an insurance broker can help.
Rather than offering just one young driver car insurance product, Dolmen works with a panel of insurers. Our motor team can look at the options available to us and help identify cover suitable for your circumstances.
Depending on your circumstances and the policy available, features may include:
- Cover for drivers from 17 years of age
- Options for learner and newly qualified drivers
- The opportunity to build your own No Claims Bonus
- Recognition of eligible named driving experience
- Comprehensive or Third Party, Fire & Theft options
- Flexible payment options
- Telematics insurance options
- Unlimited kilometre options on certain telematics policies
- Support from an experienced Irish-based insurance team
Policy features, eligibility and terms vary by insurer.
What Is Telematics Insurance for Young Drivers?
Telematics insurance is car insurance where a small telematics device is fitted to your car and records information about how the vehicle is driven.
Dolmen now has access to a telematics insurance option as part of our wider range of young driver insurance products.
With this type of policy, the telematics device can record information including speed, acceleration and braking, cornering, the time of day you drive, journey length, driving frequency and mileage. The driving data can then be used to assess driving behaviour.
For the telematics product currently available through Dolmen, the black box is fitted after the policy is purchased and unlimited kilometres are available from day one.
Is Telematics Insurance Limited by Mileage?
Not necessarily.
Some telematics insurance policies operate using kilometre limits. However, the telematics young driver policies available through Dolmen offers unlimited kilometres from day one.
That could make it particularly relevant for young drivers who regularly commute to work, college or training and don’t want to worry about a fixed annual kilometre allowance.
How Does Telematics Car Insurance Work?
Once an eligible telematics policy is purchased, a box is fitted to the insured car. With the AIG Boxclever product currently available through Dolmen, installation is arranged after purchase and the device is required to be fitted/activated within 14 days.
The device records driving information. Depending on the product, this can help with:
- Assessing driving behaviour
- Accident detection
- Providing additional information following an accident (for example, emergency contact information)
- Assisting with the claims process
- Locating the car if it is stolen
For this product, customers can also access their driving information through the AIG Rate My Driving portal.
Young Driver Insurance for Learner Drivers
Can I Get Car Insurance on a Learner Permit?
Yes. Dolmen has young driver insurance options that can cover eligible drivers with an Irish learner permit.
For example, one of the products available through our insurer panel accepts drivers aged 17 or over with a valid Irish learner permit, full Irish licence or eligible EU licence, subject to its underwriting criteria.
This means you don’t necessarily have to wait until you’ve passed your driving test to start your own car insurance policy.
Having insurance in your own name may also allow you to begin building your own insurance history and No Claims Bonus, subject to the terms of your policy.
Young Driver Insurance with Foreign & EU Licences
Hold a foreign or EU driving licence? Dolmen may still be able to help. We have insurance options that can accept drivers with certain EU and foreign licences, subject to insurer acceptance and underwriting criteria. Eligibility is considered on a case-by-case basis and will depend on your individual circumstances, including your licence, driving history and experience. Talk to our team and we can check the options available to you.
First Car Insurance for Young Drivers
Buying your first car is a big milestone. Before choosing the car, however, it’s worth considering the potential cost of insuring it.
The car you choose can have a significant impact on your insurance quotation. Your age, licence, driving experience, address, occupation, claims history and other underwriting factors can also affect the premium and whether a particular insurer can offer cover.
Because Dolmen is an insurance broker rather than a single insurer, we can consider suitable options available from our insurer panel rather than being limited to one young driver insurance product.
If you’re thinking about buying your first car, you can talk to our team about insurance before completing the purchase.
Named Driver to Your Own Insurance Policy
Have you spent time insured as a named driver on somebody else’s car?
When you’re ready for your own policy, eligible named driving experience may be relevant when looking for cover.
Our motor team can explain what documentation may be required and check the young driver insurance options available for your circumstances.
Starting a policy in your own name also gives you the opportunity to begin building your own No Claims Bonus, subject to the insurer’s terms.
What Does Young Driver Car Insurance Cover?
The cover available depends on the insurer and policy selected.
Young driver policies available through Dolmen may include Comprehensive and Third Party, Fire & Theft cover.
For example, one current product provides Third Party, Fire & Theft and Comprehensive options. Its Comprehensive cover includes accidental damage, while both levels provide cover for fire, theft or attempted theft and third-party liability, subject to policy terms.
Your Dolmen adviser can explain the cover, excesses and important conditions that apply to the particular quotation you receive.
What Does Young Driver Car Insurance Cover?
The cover available depends on the insurer and policy selected.
Young driver policies available through Dolmen may include Comprehensive and Third Party, Fire & Theft cover.
For example, one current product provides Third Party, Fire & Theft and Comprehensive options. Its Comprehensive cover includes accidental damage, while both levels provide cover for fire, theft or attempted theft and third-party liability, subject to policy terms.
Your Dolmen adviser can explain the cover, excesses and important conditions that apply to the particular quotation you receive.
Can Young Drivers Get Insurance to Drive in Europe?
European cover may be available depending on the young driver insurance policy you choose, and whether you have a full licence.
For example, one policy currently available through Dolmen automatically extends cover for up to 60 consecutive days when the insured car is used in specified European countries, including EU/EEA countries and Switzerland, subject to the policy terms. Longer trips or travel outside the specified territories require advance agreement.
If you’re planning to take your car abroad, tell our team when getting your quote so we can explain the cover applying to your particular policy.
Types of Young Driver Insurance We Offer
Depending on your circumstances and insurer eligibility, Dolmen can help with:
- Learner Driver Insurance – options for eligible drivers who haven't passed their test yet
- First Car Insurance – for young drivers taking out insurance on their own car
- Young Driver Car Insurance – including options for drivers from age 17
- Telematics Insurance – including an unlimited-kilometre option
- Named Driver to Own Policy – for drivers moving from named driving experience to insurance in their own name
- Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Third Party, Fire & Theft Car Insurance
Young Driver Car Insurance FAQs
What age can I get young driver insurance with Dolmen?
Dolmen has access to insurance options for eligible drivers from 17 years of age, subject to the insurer’s acceptance criteria. One of the products currently available accepts drivers aged 17+ with an Irish learner permit, full Irish licence or eligible EU licence.
Can a 17-year-old get car insurance in Ireland?
Yes. Insurance options are available for some 17-year-old drivers. The premium and availability of cover will depend on factors including the driver’s licence, vehicle and individual circumstances.
Can I get car insurance with a learner permit?
Yes. Dolmen has access to young driver insurance options that accept eligible drivers holding an Irish learner permit.
What is telematics insurance?
Telematics insurance uses a device fitted to the car to collect information about driving behaviour. Depending on the product, this can include speed, acceleration and braking, cornering, when you drive, journey length and mileage.
Does telematics insurance have a mileage limit?
Not always. One telematics policy currently available through Dolmen offers unlimited kilometres from day one.
Does Dolmen only offer telematics insurance to young drivers?
No. Dolmen is an insurance broker and offers young driver insurance options from its insurer panel. Telematics insurance is one of the options that may be available depending on your circumstances.
Can I build a No Claims Bonus as a young driver?
A policy in your own name can allow you to build your own No Claims Bonus. If you’ve previously been insured as a named driver, tell us about that experience when requesting your quote.
Can I get Comprehensive insurance as a young driver?
Comprehensive cover is available on some young driver products, subject to eligibility. For example, the telematics product described above offers both Comprehensive and Third Party, Fire & Theft cover.
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Young Driver Insurance You Can Rely On
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