Insurance companies in Northern Ireland – your choice

Are you looking for insurance companies in Northern Ireland?

Maybe that question would have traditionally generated an ironic laugh in response because, well, we weren’t exactly spoilt for choice in that respect.

For many of us, insurance became something of a culture of being grateful for what we were being given rather than a true multi-opportunity commercial selection process.

Some of us may even have jealously watched the evolving insurance position in other countries, feeling that ever-increasing choice and price competitiveness was just something that happened to other folk.

Today the position isn’t perfect and the fact of the matter is that we still may not have the full range of choice that exists in other locations – but things are improving!

The good news is that looking around for insurance companies in Northern Ireland is now no longer the exercise in futility it once was. Many of the new entrants are listed on insurance directories that sit on Northern Ireland insurance reference sites and finding out more may save you significant sums of money if your insurance is up for renewal.

It’s also possibly the case that a lack of choice has perhaps led us to lose a little familiarity with the basics of how to evaluate one Northern Ireland motor insurance quote against another.

Try to keep in mind that insurance companies will typically offer incentives, in the shape of discounts, if you reduce the risks of a claim.

This includes things such as using additional anti-theft security devices, keeping your vehicle off the public highway at night and excluding very young drivers from your policy. Yes, they’re all obvious things but applying them may save you serious money on your insurance premiums.

So, now there are more insurance companies in Northern Ireland it’s becoming easier to participate in the compare-before-you-buy society. Joining in may help keep a smile on your bank manager’s face!

How to compare car insurance Northern Ireland style

Sometimes it can be so easy to let your motor insurance renew with your current provider automatically. Insurers make it so easy by sending you a fresh certificate of insurance and telling you that they will deduct the new premium by direct debit. But if you take a moment to compare car insurance Northern Ireland cover by shopping around, you could find a more suitable deal (eg. superior cover) and make savings on the cost too!

Getting ready

Shopping around can typically be quick and easy if you use a specialist NI car insurance website that allows you to access many providers.

So, what do you need to know when looking for a NI car insurance quote? Firstly, make sure that you have this information in front of you:

• Your personal information such as gender, date of birth etc, and whether you have any no claims discount;
• car make;
• age of your car;
• registration number; and
• details of any security fittings.

It is also worth reading through any renewal information that your current provider has sent. After all, you need to compare car insurance Northern Ireland policies on a like for like basis.

Providing information

Next, answer the online questions that insurers use to gauge how much to quote drivers as fully as possible. In particular, insurers will need information on the following:

• where you keep your car (garage or roadside);
• the mileage that you cover; and
• the purposes that you use it for (eg. business, commuting, leisure).

It’s essential that the answers you give are accurate. If they are not, an insurer could refuse to honour your claim on the basis that the cover was given on false information.

Comparing prices

If you are going to compare car insurance Northern Ireland cover, typically the different insurance providers will offer a variety of prices. Tempting as it may be to take the cheapest available, consider also how you want to pay for the policies. Do you need to spread the premium in monthly instalments, and if so is there an extra charge for being able to do this? Alternatively, do you want to pay by credit card and is this permitted?

Not only should you compare the price, but you should also compare the cover that is on offer. Are you looking for third party insurance, or cover that is fully comprehensive? Is hire car included in the cover, and is there any breakdown cover on offer?

Seeking discounts

The most obvious discount to look for is a no claims one. Otherwise known as a no claims bonus, proof of your entitlement to this can typically be found on your current car insurance renewal document. Providers vary in how much they will deduct for having a safe motoring history, so this could be a significant issue when you compare car insurance Northern Ireland companies.

Motor insurance in Northern Ireland – preparing the ground

While most of us enjoy our cars and don’t mind spending money on them (within reason!) it’s a fair bet that we feel less well disposed towards car insurance. Nobody enjoys paying for it and few people like insurance companies. The good news though is that with a bit of preparation, you could end up paying less for motor insurance in Northern Ireland than you may have done previously.

Risk and insurance

Insurance companies don’t like risk – which is odd given that if it didn’t exist, neither would they!

The reality of insurance life is that the higher the risk then the more you’ll end up paying for your motor insurance. So, the consequence is that if you take steps to reduce your risks then the insurance company may like you just that little bit more and reward you with more competitively-priced premiums than you are used to!

Reducing risk with motor insurance in Northern Ireland

There are a few basic steps you can take that may end up with you keeping more of your money in your pocket as opposed to the insurer’s:

• park your vehicle off-road at night;
• keep your mileage (estimated and actual) down;
• don’t try and insure very young drivers or ‘any driver’ unless you absolutely have to;
• install approved security devices and alarms;
• try to avoid customising or modifying your vehicle – particularly the engine;
• go for standard models rather than sports cars or those with vast power-plants of an engine;
• join a recognised motoring organisation;
• take a higher excess on your policy;
• protect your no-claims bonus by avoiding lots of small claims.

Not all insurance companies offering cover for Northern Ireland will necessarily apply discounts for all of these things. You’ll need to check that on an insurance quotation by quotation basis.

Even so, by keeping these things in mind and being prepared to compromise on the type of vehicle you drive, how it’s driven and by whom, you may be able to keep your costs down.

Motor insurance in Northern Ireland doesn’t have to break the bank!

Insurance quotes for Northern Ireland

Getting the best out of insurance quotes for Northern Ireland sometimes takes a little pre-planning and understanding.

Why don’t all insurance companies cover Northern Ireland?

This is a legacy of past political uncertainties. Over recent years, more and more insurance companies are starting to offer their policies in Northern Ireland. This includes some of the larger UK mainland insurers.

You can access some of these companies on specialist Northern Ireland insurance websites.

Why are prices higher than for mainland UK insurance?

Well, in fact they may or may not be. The cost of insurance in Northern Ireland depends upon a large number of factors and not just location but in general, it’s true that prices may be slightly higher overall.

In part, this is again a legacy of the past and due to perceptions of risk. This situation may change as stability increases.

How can I get fast insurance quotes for Northern Ireland cover?

Today, many insurers offer excellent web based facilities including online quotations.

All you have to do is to enter some basic facts about yourself and the insurance risk you’re looking to cover, and typically you’ll get an immediate indication of your options and prices. You don’t even have to leave home!

Keep in mind though, making false declarations in an attempt to bring down the cost of your insurance may prove futile and could invalidate any future claim.

Can I get discounts?

You can reduce your overall costs in two main ways:

• avoid making claims for small amounts – this means your no-claims bonus(NCB) will grow over years to become a sizeable percentage (some policies may allow some limited claims without putting your NCB at risk);
• some insurers offer reduced prices for things such as extra locks, alarms, membership of motoring associations, reducing the number of drivers and so on – checking these out in advance could make a lot of difference to your final quote.

How do I claim?

The claims procedures vary from company to company. It will also depend to some extent upon the nature of the problem you’ve had or accident you’ve experienced.

When you’re getting insurance quotes for Northern Ireland through an internet site, typically the site will also give some outline of their claims procedures.

Thinking of how to compare insurance in Northern Ireland?

There are quite a few things you can do that will typically allow you to reduce your insurance costs. It’s often worth keeping these in mind if you’re looking to compare insurance in Northern Ireland.

More may cost more

This is important in the context of risk because the less risk you ask your insurance company to take, the lower they may be able to bring your premium.

Typically, they’ll see a number of factors as risk reducing including:

• the use of security devices, alarms and special locks;
• your voluntary acceptance of a higher amount of excess;
• in the case of motor vehicles, parking them in a secure location somewhere other than a public street.

Shopping around

One of the bigger changes in insurance in Northern Ireland has come about because of the increasing background political changes.

For many years, many major insurance companies did not offer their policies and products in Northern Ireland due to the risks involved. This meant that buyer choice was severely restricted.

Today that’s all changing. There are now more and more major companies that are offering insurance cover for Northern Ireland and this is benefiting potential purchasers by offering increased choice.

This is also being made easier by technology and the use of the internet. It’s no longer necessary to go slogging around the high street or spend an hour on the phone trying to find and compare insurance in Northern Ireland options. They’re all there – potentially right in your own home.

Saving time

Unfortunately, the insurance position isn’t fully comparable to the UK mainland and a number of companies are yet to make their products applicable to Northern Ireland.

While that continues, it can still be a little tedious trying to find companies that do. If you’re looking to compare insurance in Northern Ireland, you may find help through websites that give quick access to NI insurance companies offering their products in our area. They also have links to the sites concerned and they may prove very useful in helping you find offers and quotes etc.

Competitive insurance quotes in Northern Ireland

Residents of Northern Ireland are typically faced with the possibility of being turned down for cover based on the fact of where they live. This is mainly due to the many problems seen in the past when rioters sometimes stole cars to set them alight and use them as barricades. Things have now settled down a great deal, however still some insurance providers fail to offer insurance protection. If you want to find competitive insurance quotes in Northern Ireland, you may wish to choose protection using a specialist website that finds insurance providers on your behalf.

Car insurance is one of the types of insurance that often residents struggle to find when it comes to competitive quotes. There are ways that those living in Northern Ireland may be able to keep the cost of their car insurance premiums down by taking preventative measures. Your insurer may reward you for taking these measures by offering discounted premiums Even if they don’t, it makes sense to secure your vehicle as much as possible:

• one way is to boost the security of their car. For instance, installing a tracking device may help to recover the car if it is stolen. A quality alarm system, steering wheel lock or gearstick lock may all help to improve the safety of your vehicle;
• if possible do not leave your car by the side of the road when not in use. When at the roadside it may become accidentally damaged from passing vehicles. It may also be a target for thieves and vandals and of course, it is stood out in all types of weather. If you are able to park it in a garage that is securely locked or if not possible under a carport at the side of the house this may keep it safer;
• consider taking out limited mileage protection if you are insuring a car that is not used all the time. You protect the car for up to so many miles on the road each year and typically pay less in insurance.

Considerations may be taken into account such as the above for virtually any type of insurance you need when looking for competitive insurance quotes in Northern Ireland.

A brief guide to direct insurance Northern Ireland

Direct insurance for Northern Ireland residents is fast becoming the boon it has proved to many consumers in the mainland UK and elsewhere. It’s called “direct” because it is possible to buy directly from the insurance provider without going through a high street broker or other expensively-maintained “shop”. Typically, the savings in operating costs of those who are selling direct to the consumer are then passed on by way of cheaper premiums for the insurance cover bought.

The range of insurance products now being offered in this way in the province is beginning to match that provided on the UK mainland – with prices steadily becoming almost as competitive. Here is just a glimpse of some of the products already available for direct sale to customers:

• Motor insurance – one of the biggest bugbears, perhaps, has been the extra premium paid by Northern Ireland drivers for insuring their cars, compared with those on the mainland (insurers blamed the uncertain security situation in the province as the reason for an increased risk and, therefore, higher premiums). Greater competition – and a considerably improved security situation – however, has been largely responsible for tumbling prices and a full range of products that cover cars, vans, motorcycles and even bicycles. There are insurers who specialise in motor policies for women drivers and those who offer cover for breakdowns and roadside emergencies;
• Home insurance – whether it’s the building itself or the contents that need covering, direct insurance in Northern Ireland offers a range of products to choose from, including special packages for students (living at home or in student accommodation);
• Pet insurance – whether it’s simple cover for the family pet or insurance for a horse (or horses, of course) there are competitively priced policies specifically written for Northern Ireland residents;
• Health insurance and life insurance – if you are looking for health cover for you or your family or considering life insurance to ensure they are adequately provided for in the event of your death, direct insurance might provide the most cost-effective option for you;
• Business insurance – small business insurance to cover the wide range of liabilities to which your livelihood might well be exposed is also now widely available in the form of direct insurance, Northern Ireland.

Choosing direct insurance in Northern Ireland

When looking for direct insurance when living in Northern Ireland you may have found it hard to get competitively priced cover or found that insurance premiums are generally higher than those who live in the UK. There are numerous reasons why this may be with one of them relating back to problems seen many years ago in NI. If you want direct insurance in Northern Ireland without paying over the odds there are things that you may be able to do to help to keep down the cost of your insurance premiums.

Security is of course one of the major issues with any insurance company. If your car has little by way of security measures then of course it poses a bigger risk than an individual who has installed security measures. Here are some of the security measures you may want to consider to help keep your insurance premiums down.

• A good quality car alarm
• A tracking device
• An immobiliser
• A wheel clamp
• Parking your vehicle in a locked garage when not in use
• Ensure your valuables cannot be seen in the car
• Remove any sat-nav equipment, DVD or CD player if possible

Alarms, tracking devices, immobiliser and wheel clamp may of course put thieves off from breaking into your car. Thieves are attracted to personal belongings such as your handbag, purse and expensive jackets and coats left in the car so always hide these well out of sight from burglars.

Thieves also target sat nav equipment and other electronic equipment so if possible take these with you when you leave your car or lock them in the glove compartment or boot. If you leave your vehicle by the side of the road overnight then it is at more risk of being vandalised or broken into than if it were in a garage. There is also a bigger risk of it being hit by passing vehicles and of course you car is out in all weather where it may be damaged during a storm for example. When looking for direct insurance in Northern Ireland you may keep your quotes down if you park it under lock and key in a garage or even put the car under a carport by the side of your home.

Are you having trouble finding insurance companies in Ireland?

If you are a resident of Northern Ireland and have looked for insurance on the internet you may have come across nothing but frustration. Many times, it is not until you get to the end of a long insurance form that you find you cannot continue and take advantage of competitively priced insurance premiums, due to the fact of where you live. If you have come across this brick wall, you may want to consider finding insurance companies in Ireland with a specialist motoring website that searches around on your behalf.

Why do residents of Northern Ireland have so much trouble finding insurance? The problems arose mainly due to the unrest that was seen in Northern Ireland until recent years. This you may be able to understand as theft and damage to cars was a huge problem and caused claims on insurance. However, these problems have now passed but some insurance providers have still not changed with the times. Therefore, you may want to take advantage of a specialist website for your quotes.

The cost of car insurance
What goes towards determining the cost of your insurance premiums and how might you be able to keep insurance premiums down?

• The safety and security of your car is a big issue with insurance providers, no matter where you live. Therefore, if you install security measures such as a steering wheel lock, an immobiliser or a tracking device you may be able to save on your insurance premiums.
• Where you park your car, may make a difference to how much you pay for your insurance. For instance if you leave it on the side of the road it may be at risk of being vandalised, or of being hit by passing cars. Of course, there is also the risk of it being stolen; all of these might be avoided if you leave it under lock and key in a garage when not in use.
• If you are looking for a new or used car bear in mind that the larger the engine and the more powerful the car, the dearer the premiums with insurance companies in Ireland. While it might feel good to own and drive a sports car, your bank balance may be better off if you buy a small family model.

Insurance companies in Ireland – choices for insurance

Shopping on the high street with insurance companies in Ireland is fine, but often this might not be the best way to get access to the most competitive premiums around. Some insurance providers offer what seems to be great deals on their policies, with big savings, however often if you live in NI you are exempt from applying. In some cases, you do not find this out until you have wading through to the end of a very lengthy insurance form. Individuals often come across this based on the many years of unrest that occurred in Northern Ireland during troubled times. While times have changed for the better, insurance providers often fail to notice this, which leaves residents of NI struggling to find cover.

There are insurance brokers online who specifically find the best deals for those living in Northern Ireland and this is where you may be able to get the best deal and get access to competitive quotes on your insurance policy. Whether you are looking for car, caravan, motorbike or home insurance, and live in NI, there are ways that you may be able to help yourself save money on your insurance policy.

Insurance companies in Ireland, as do any providers, ask that you pay out a certain amount of excess. This is what you are expected to find out of your own pocket in the event of you having to make a claim on the policy. While there is always a minimum amount that you have to pay, by offering to pay more you may be able to keep down the cost of the premiums for the policy. You may also want to consider boosting up the security of your vehicle or home in order to keep down the cost of the insurance. Choosing to install security measures such as alarms, window and door locks, steering locks or an immobiliser all go towards you making savings on the cost of your insurance.