Your Guide To Third Party Car Insurance In Ireland

Third party car insurance is a legal requirement in Ireland. Find out more in this guide.

There are three types of car insurance covers to choose from:

1. Third party
2. Third party fire and theft
3. Comprehensive Car Insurance

Third party car insurance is the most basic form of cover you can get for your car in Ireland. It’s the bare minimum you need to drive your car legally. If you do not have it, you are committing an offence under the Road Traffic Act, of 1961.

A person (in this subsection referred to as the user) shall not use in a public place a mechanically propelled vehicle unless either a vehicle insurer, a vehicle guarantor, or an exempted person would be liable for injury caused by the negligent use of the vehicle by him at that time or there is in force.

This guide covers everything you need to know about third party car insurance, so read on to find out if this type of car insurance suits your needs!

Third Party Car Insurance in Ireland

Third party (only) car insurance covers the damage caused by you to someone else’s vehicle, as well as any injuries they might incur if you get into an accident that’s your fault. It will also cover damage to other people’s property. The policy will not cover repairs, damage, fire, or theft of your car.

Essentially, it includes:

1. Damage to other vehicles
   If you hit someone’s vehicle causing damage and you’re at fault, your insurer will pay for the repairs.
2. Personal injury claims if an accident is your fault
   If you’re involved in an accident where the other driver is injured, this policy would cover their medical costs as well as costs for anyone travelling with them.
3. Damage to other people’s property
   This policy would cover the expenses of repairing or replacing other’s property in case you accidentally cause damage to it.
4. Legal Costs
   You’ll be covered for any legal costs for any claims made against you.

You may also wish to consider various car insurance add-ons when selecting your policy.

What is not covered in third party car insurance?

You can think of Third party car insurance as a policy that protects others in the event of an accident, rather than yourself.

Essentially, it excludes:

1. Damage to your vehicle
   This policy doesn’t cover any damage to your car.
2. Fire or theft
   If, in the unfortunate event that your car was damaged by fire or gets stolen, your insurer won’t pay out.
3. Damage by an uninsured driver
   If you get hit by an uninsured driver, third party insurance won’t cover you, and you won’t be able to drive other people’s cars either.

Apart from considering the coverage, it is worth exploring other factors when making a decision to buy car insurance.

How are third-party only, third party fire and theft, and comprehensive car insurance policies different?

Benefits of getting third-party car insurance

This policy can be suitable for young drivers or drivers whose vehicles are worth less than €1,000.

How much does third party car insurance cost?

It can be presumed that third party car insurance would be the cheapest policy available, given that it is the most basic type of cover.

However, it more than likely isn’t. Third party car insurance is consistently more expensive than other types of policies. In December 2021, the average cost of TPO insurance was €1,000 a year.

Why is it so expensive?

• This type of cover is usually chosen by drivers who pose more of a risk on the road, in a bid to try and bring their premiums down.
• Offered by fewer insurers so it tends to be pricier as it’s not easily available.

Also, check out this guide about 6 tips to get cheaper car insurance.

How can I get cheap car insurance quotes in Ireland?

With Paddy Compare you can compare car insurance quotes in Ireland, in a matter of minutes! Simply follow these steps: