Insurance renewals for 2025

I would have brokered and checked these premiums elsewhere also.

Car

2024 - €310
2025 Renewal Invitation - €378.99

Renewed for €313.22 (same company but applied online again)

House

2024 - €520.34
2025 Renewal Invitation - €659.65 (included 20% increase in sums insured)

Renewed for €550.34 (same company but applied online again and included the 20% 'indexation' of sums insured)

Office

2024 - €318.46
2025 Renewal Invitation - €318.46

Renewed for €318.46 - Minimum premium was €276.10 in 2023, €318.46 in 2024 & 2025 but the increase in the minimum premiums by the company has eliminated the gain of 5% in year 1 and 10% NCD in year 2 on the policy. That's a 'minimum premium' wheeze that Ombudsman can do nothing about.

Term Insurance

Had a continuation/conversion on a life policy that I exercised. Had to run with the book rates because I couldn't avail of the 20% discount on the new premium by submitting a full new application.

Reason for not being able to get a discount? If you are mindful of your health, and go to a cardiologist, it's likely that there will be a calcium score test reading for plaque build up. It's natural with age, will probably be mild and more significant narrowing is unlikely. But, because you voluntarily did the test and there's now a reading, an underwriter will load a life assurance policy.

Moral of the story, buy your life insurance before you voluntarily go and get your heart checked out. But, having no continuation option could have cost circa 50% more for the same benefit.

Professional Indemnity

28% increase in premium from 2024.

Health Insurance

€20 more in 2025 but they have tweaked the benefits/reduced some of the cover.

Much the same experience here with regards to car and house insurance
But my health insurance went up €240 for the same policy as last year

I have renewed car and house insurance as a new quote for more than 10 years.

The new quotes have always been cheaper.

Even though the question regarding who the previous insurer was, is stated as the existing insurer, the new customer discount is usually still applied on the new quote.

In many cases, I renewed the insurance through onebigswitch and received an extra discount.

Car insurance quotes are usually cheaper if a spouse is included for cover, compared to a quote for one partner only.

I always experiment with adding larger car valuations and yearly mileage. If the online quote is not increased as a result of this, I include the larger figures.

If you include lower figures, you run the risk of being quoted for an extra premium of you need to increase these mid term.

If your quote is at the minimum premium level, try adding extra cover to see if the quote increases. If it does not increase include the extras. For car insuranc, extra no claims bonus protection could be included, or lower excess amount.

Car and home insurance went up a small bit (about €20), but business insurance dropped about 15% from about 1700 to 1434