Believe it or not, car insurance is coming down... but only for ‘safe’ drivers, not for youngsters

Jonathan Hehir is the managing director of insuremyhouse.ie, insuremyvan.ie, insuremycars.ie, insuremyholiday.ie and other insurance sites. You insure houses, vans, holidays… all online. Surely people are better going to a broker for the personal touch and a nice cup of tea? Em, no! I don’t think people see going to their broker as a social activity. By doing it online we provide the best of both worlds – we allow people to conduct these transactions in the most efficient way possible – and they don’t have to go out of their way. But we do provide a personal service because we are a broker. We’re always at the end of the phone for our customers – or they can drop in to see us at any stage. This can help in the event of a claim; insurers can be difficult to deal with at times . But we’ll liaise with insurers on our client’s behalf, which saves them time and often worry. How much do people really save by going online? Buying from a supplier with access to a whole host of providers will get you a better deal. Going to a broker rather than a bank could save you anywhere from €100 to €350 on home insurance and shopping around for motor insurance could save you €200 to €1,000. Are older people becoming more internet-savvy? We’ve definitely noticed a marked increase in the age profile of people taking out home (insuremyhouse.ie) and travel insurance (insuremyholiday.ie) online. The Government seems to have cooled off on reining in costs of cover. Where are premium costs headed? Motor insurance costs have now peaked and the Consumer Price Index reports that they are falling. And this may well be the case for a lot of people – what insurers would consider low-risk drivers. But young drivers are still getting hammered. Insurers blame premium rises on courts and compo cases – the Personal Injury Assessment Board says it has things under control and they are exaggerating. Are there many fraudulent claims? Yes, fraud is a big issue. We need a confidential register, through which insurance claims managers could cross-reference the names and addresses of any individual that they suspect might be a serial offender in making fraudulent claims. The idea is still in its infancy but the issue is so serious that it needs to happen. Claimants’ entitlements to privacy should not be affected if the register is only made available to claims managers in insurance companies, and possibly the Irish courts. Where do we pay too much for insurance? In the motor insurance market we have come across people who have paid €1,000 over the odds, mainly because they didn’t shop around. But while sums might be smaller for home insurance, this is the area that gets the least attention from homeowners – people just tend to accept the renewal quote from an insurer year after year. They should reprice this policy annually – insurers don’t reward loyalty. You’re more likely to get a better rate as a new customer. What do you do in your spare time? My amazing wife Lorraine and I have five very active kids. So, spending time together, whether it is at the side of a football pitch or an Irish dance feis, is one of the great pleasures in my life That will earn you brownie points at home! What was your most expensive fun purchase? I work in the insurance industry: we are very boring. Fun purchases are not for us! Name three things you’d do if you were a minister tomorrow? I would introduce compulsory road safety courses in schools. What’s likely to be playing on your stereo? If I’m in the car in the morning or after work it’s always the radio – current affairs and drivetime shows. Music-wise it’s always a bit eclectic. I’m really enjoying Glen Hansard’s new music at the minute.