I sincerely hope you are all not about to be subjected to the rape and pillage by the Insurance companies that we have all endured over here .
Premiums have all went crazy over the last 2 to 3 years with no valid ,credible or sensible reason being given. The successive weak and ineffectual governments have all but ignored the feeding frenzy leaving people no choice but to pay rises of AT LEAST 100-150%. It was announced this week that a significant sum would be made available to equip the Police with ANPR cameras to combat the massive increase in uninsured drivers. These are desperately needed as here in this little backward country the police are forbidden to ask an insurance company ( data protection and no national database) to confirm if an individual is ,or is not , insured. So as long as the antiquated disc is displayed on the windscreen ,even though the policy was cancelled after one month , the officer has no means of proving if it is valid. Smart eh !
My van insurance has risen by 103% this year and every other company I asked to quote were another €200 more . Last year the insurance industry mantra was " no insurance for vehicles over 15 years old " . After 12 years claim free cover the insurer of my Omega said that they would not be renewing my policy . I insisted on and actually have a letter from Zurich refusing to insure my '99 Omega as it is "too old " . The unwritten reason given was that fraudulent claims were more likely to come from vehicles of that age.
We changed my wifes car a few months ago for an almost new Yeti. Her insurance company refunded her €35 when the policy was changed from her previous car worth €8K to her new one worth €25 K . That was OK until they hiked this years premium by €270 .
Frankly it's a national disgrace that these enormous premiums are allowed to be charged without some kind of investigation and credible explanation being given to the nation , but then again , this is Ireland .....
I hasten to add that I have calculated that I have had approx. 88 annual mainly concurrent insurance policies spread across company, private,commercial and classic
vehicles with not one claim. When I tell any insurance company this they just laugh and tell me it means nothing ........
As I said , I hope the cartel of companies have not decided that they can do the same to UK.