Car insurance is a thorny issue for the Irish driver. For the first time insurer, it can be the thing of nightmares, as you eye up that dream car. Over the years at Peter Hanley Motors we have assisted thousands of young drivers to get on the road, safely, legally and in a car that they love. We understand that the right insurance deal goes hand in hand with our excellent car deals.
When I think back to Spring 2000, the millennium year, and my own longing to get my driver’s licence and head out on the open road, it seems like a simpler time. I was 16 years old. I dreamt of cruising round Longford, with Springsteen blasting as I sat proud and delighted at the wheel. There were two options at the time. A provisional licence and first time insurance would get a 16 year old the privilege of driving a classy motorcycle or a not so classy tractor. For safety reasons, my parents were not too keen on a motorcycle. My father was, and still is, a teetotaller and the family deal was simple. If I was able to avoid the strong temptation of alcohol, my efforts would be rewarded with insurance and a tractor at 16, and after that, a car at 17. For me it was a no contest between the beer and the tractor. The road was everything. I joined the many other young lads, congregating around the village. A circle of purring tractors and lads having the craic! We were happy out. At 17, I got my first Honda Civic. It was such a big deal! That car was polished to a high sheen, and of course, everyone was suddenly your friend. A non-drinker with a car! The excitement and freedom that my first car brought to me is something I will never forget. This is why Peter Hanley Motors fully appreciate how important an occasion it is as when a young person comes in to purchase their first car. And, their first motor insurance policy.
It has never been simple or even cheap to get your first motor insurance cover. However, it has become more difficult and increasingly more complex in recent years. With the introduction of the theory test, the mandatory twelve lessons and the full test procedure, getting on the road safely and securely can be a very convoluted process. It’s not just the expense, but the criteria you need to fulfil for an insurance provider to even consider your application. In fact, it is probably near impossible to get first time auto insurance in your own name and with a provisional license. Most providers require a full 1 year drivers experience on a full license before they will even make a quote. And if you do get a quote, the average estimate can start at €2500 per annum.
Back when I was lovingly polishing up that Honda Civic, any old car that was deemed mechanically sound could be used as a starter car for the first time driver. This is no longer the case and the stipulation from insurance companies in recent years is that the car be no older than 10 years. As a result of this, the car is also more expensive to buy. There is no doubt that it is more difficult for young people to get on that insurance ladder and to enjoy the thrills of their first car ownership.
Some insurance providers are asking young drivers to use telemetry devices, or trackers or Speedometers. These are apps uploaded to a young person’s phone, which then record the driving speeds and sometimes ensure that a reduced mileage quota is adhered to. For example, the insurance policy might stipulate that the driver does no more than 8,000km a year and at a legal speed. The app records this evidence. Other insurance providers run Start-up Programmes for young drivers, where alongside their driving theory test, driving lessons and state test, they attend 8-10 classes overseen by the Insurance Company. There is an in-house certification issued for attendance. All this goes towards making the young hopeful more eligible for consideration for car insurance, but unfortunately it does not guarantee inclusion, nor is it reflected in a reduced price. We would estimate, considering the need for the car to be less than ten years old, and the various loadings, a young driver may expect to pay around €2,500 for insurance and €4,000 for a car. It all conspires to make cruising down the road, a pipe dream for many young people.
At Peter Hanley Motors, our years of experience and professional contacts can help us in finding the best offer for a first time insurance driver. Finding the best insurance deal can be time consuming and frustrating. We don’t always get there, but we always give it the best shot and thankfully, the customer appreciates our efforts. It has proved very valuable to liaise with a local broker to get the best deal possible. . A practical approach to buying and insuring your first car is a step we take together and often this means sorting the insurance deal, before the test drive takes place. In fact, it is part of our policy to try to sort all aspects of the car purchase under one roof, the finance, insurance etc. and direct debit options are outlined to make it a little more affordable.
At Peter Hanley Motors we value the first car buyer. We haven’t forgotten the thrill of our own first car twenty years ago. We have seen young buyers coming through the financial trials of expensive first time insurance to become experienced drivers. Most are thankfully, still customers, now with reasonable insurance policies, driving comfortable cars and with a trade in for the dream car possible every few years.
If we can take those first steps to motoring together with the best possible deal, on insurance and a car, then it’s a very good day for us!
Peter Hanley Motors is a registered
member of The Society of the Irish
Motor Industry
