Young driver car insurance in Ireland

Why young drivers pay more

Insurers price on risk, and both age and experience count. Citizens Information puts it plainly: "The young and the old are considered by insurance companies to represent high-risk categories of driver" (checked 9 November 2026).

• Experience. Citizens Information says the less experience you have, the higher your premium is likely to be.
• Licence type. On a learner permit you can expect to pay "hundreds of euro extra", Citizens Information says. The CCPC also says you will be charged more on a provisional licence.
• Higher excess. Some policies charge a bigger excess for young drivers. FBD's car policy booklet (March 2026 edition) says higher excess amounts apply to accidental damage claims while the car is driven by a learner permit holder or a driver under 25.
• No claims bonus. A new driver starts with none, so there is no discount to bring the price down.

We looked for an official average premium by age. The Central Bank's NCID Private Motor Report 8, published 20 October 2026, reports market-wide averages only. It does not break premiums down by driver age.

One published price for a young driver

AIG publishes a "from" price for its BoxClever black box policy, with the example driver spelled out (checked 9 November 2026):

A 17-year-old on a learner permit, or a driver in a bigger car, would see a different price. Our guide to how much car insurance costs in Ireland explains what moves the number.

Named driver experience

Many young drivers start as a named driver on a parent's policy. Citizens Information says this helps you build a safety record and may reduce your premium later. Some insurers give a discount to people who were named drivers when they take a policy in their own name.

Being named does not earn a no claims bonus. The CCPC says the bonus only applies to the policyholder, not to named drivers. What you build instead is "named driver experience".

Rules differ by insurer. Aviva says it can apply a discount of up to 50% for named driver experience (checked 9 November 2026). To qualify with Aviva:

• you must not have held a policy in your own name in the last two years;
• you need at least one full year of consecutive named driving, with no gaps;
• you must be named on a private car policy now, in the Republic of Ireland;
• the policyholder must be your spouse, partner or parent.

Aviva also says insurers do not issue named driver letters automatically. Ask each insurer you were named with for one.

Do not front. Fronting is when a parent is listed as the main driver of a car that the young person mostly drives. Citizens Information says it is illegal and can lead to a cancelled policy or a fraud conviction. Allianz warns that a policy could be voided if it is detected.

Black box (telematics) policies

A black box policy uses a device in the car to record how you drive. Two insurers describe theirs on their own websites (checked 9 November 2026).

AIG BoxClever

• Designed for young and first-time drivers with 0 years no claims bonus.
• You estimate your kilometres. AIG says fewer kilometres means a lower price, but if you go over your limit you pay extra to add more.
• Installation is included in the premium. Safe driving can lead to cheaper renewal quotes, AIG says.
• Learner permit holders can get it, and the policy continues when you pass your test.

Aviva telematics

• For drivers on a learner permit or a full licence with zero no claims bonus.
• For learner permit holders, the car's engine can be up to 1.4 litres.
• The box records speed, braking, acceleration, cornering, GPS location and trip times. You get a score from 0 to 100, based mostly on the last 90 days.
• Aviva says the score is one of the factors in your renewal price. A low score may push the price up.
• Aviva says excessive speeding can lead to the policy being cancelled.

A black box will not suit everyone. Before you sign, ask the insurer:

• What is the kilometre limit, and what does extra cover cost?
• What counts as unsafe driving, and can it cancel the policy?
• What location data is kept, and for how long?

Building a no claims bonus

Once you hold a policy in your own name, every claim-free year earns a discount. The CCPC says most insurers reach the maximum after five or six years. Citizens Information says the ceiling is usually around 60%.

A claim can reduce or wipe out the bonus, even if you were not at fault, the CCPC says. Aviva says learners can start building a bonus too, if the policy is in their own name.

Keep your licence clean. The CCPC says penalty points can increase your premium. Citizens Information says the disqualification threshold is 7 penalty points on a learner permit and for the first 2 years of your first full licence, not the usual 12.

What to check before you buy

• Who is the main driver. The person who drives the car most should be the main driver.
• The excess for young drivers. Look for a separate, higher excess for under-25s or learners in the schedule.
• Driver numbers. The CCPC says that since 31 March 2025 you must give your driver number, and the driver number of every named driver.
• Paying monthly. The CCPC says monthly direct debit usually carries interest, which adds to the total cost.
• Driving other cars. The CCPC says this benefit does not cover damage to the car you borrow, and some insurers limit it by engine size.

Comprehensive cover is not always worth it. The CCPC says that if your car is older or low in value, you may decide comprehensive is not worth the extra cost. For a first car worth a few thousand euro, ask for a third-party, fire and theft quote too.

If you are still on a learner permit, read our guide to learner driver insurance. If this is your first policy, see car insurance for first-time drivers. Hiring a car abroad under 25 has its own surcharges, covered in car hire excess insurance. For an overview, see our car insurance guide.

Sources

• Central Bank of Ireland: NCID Private Motor Insurance Report 8, published 20 October 2026 (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Citizens Information: Motor insurance (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Citizens Information: Penalty points for driving offences (accessed 9 November 2026)
• CCPC: Car insurance (accessed 9 November 2026)
• CCPC: Choosing your car insurance policy (accessed 9 November 2026)
• AIG Ireland: BoxClever young and first-time driver insurance page (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Aviva Ireland: Telematics car insurance page and Named driving experience page (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Allianz Ireland: A guide to learner driver insurance on parents' cars, August 2025 (accessed 9 November 2026)
• FBD Insurance: Your Car Insurance Policy Booklet, edition P2 PD 2026 03 (accessed 9 November 2026)