1 September 2001: Over 40 per cent of Irish motorists may have changed their motor insurers in the last three years, and over a quarter plan to change at the beginning of their next insurance year. These are indications from an RAC Ireland survey, which also suggests that more than half of respondents have not made up their minds about whether to stick with their current insurer.

The survey, carried out in conjunction with IrishCar.Com, also showed that some 43 per cent of motorists feel they are getting 'poor' or 'very poor' service for their insurance premium, while only a third believe they're getting a 'moderate' service. Only 15% reported a 'good' service.

Of those who changed, more than two-thirds say they did so for straight bottom-line cost reasons, the balance because they were getting 'a better package'. Many respondents claim significant savings, with some 28% reporting a gain of between £50 and £100, and a similar proportion saying they saved between £300 and £500. Almost a quarter of those who did NOT change say they are probably 'losing out' by not doing so.

Of the respondents to the RAC Ireland/IrishCar.Com initiative, around a fifth reported premium increases in their last insurance renewal of between £50 and £100, while a similar percentage said they were being charged more than £200 extra. Some 4 per cent of contributors to the survey reported premium increases of between 50-100 per cent, while 3 per cent reported being hit with increases in excess of 100 per cent.

On the high cost of premiums in Ireland, 'high level of claims' and a 'small restricted market' each drew around a fifth of the comments on perceived reasons, while about a quarter were attributed to 'substantial profits' made by the insurance companies. "It is interesting that over one-third of motorists attribute our high premiums to ‘poor driving skills’ and ‘road conditions’", comments Robert Taylor of the RAC. "They have rightly recognised one more example of how the motorist – especially the younger motorist - is suffering at the hands of Government inactivity and lack of investment."

Editorial director of IrishCar.Com Brian Byrne said that while it should be remembered that respondents to an online survey are usually people who have strong opinions on the subject in question, the results of this survey could be seen as a 'wake-up' call to the insurance industry in terms of customer service and value for money. "The high rate of switching between companies should be noted by them," he says. "If other financial services companies come into the Irish insurance market, those currently operating here could find they have a very fickle and unhappy customer base."

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