Home and Contents Insurance Compare: Best Irish Sites & Tips
If you’re a homeowner or renter in Ireland, you’ve probably stared at a renewal letter and wondered if you’re paying too much. This guide walks you through the five main comparison platforms, explains what drives your premium, and flags the mistakes that can cost you.
Major Irish comparison sites: Bonkers, Chill, Switcher, CompareInsurance, QuoteDevil ·
Insurers on CompareInsurance.ie: 17 ·
Tesco home insurance availability: Online at Tesco.com
Quick snapshot
- Bonkers.ie offers direct quotes without broker fees (Bonkers.ie (Irish price comparison site))
- CompareInsurance.ie covers 17 insurance companies (CompareInsurance.ie (Irish aggregator))
- Tesco home insurance quotes are available online (Tesco home insurance page (UK/Ireland retailer))
- The top five organic results are all Irish comparison sites (Bonkers.ie)
- Average home insurance premium in Ireland – no official figure released
- Average contents value for a 3‑bedroom house – not provided by official sources
- Exact ranking of the “best” insurer – subjective and market-dependent
- Exact savings from switching – varies by property and risk profile
- Renewal window is the best moment to compare 17 insurers via CompareInsurance.ie (Irish aggregator)
- Quote Devil lets you retrieve previous quotes to track rate changes (Quote Devil (Irish insurance broker))
- Evaluate quotes from multiple sites, check accidental damage and new‑for‑old cover (Bonkers.ie (Irish price comparison site))
- Use no‑fee platforms like Bonkers.ie (Irish price comparison site) to avoid extra costs
The table below provides key statistics on Irish comparison platforms.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Leading Irish comparison platforms | 5 (Bonkers, Chill, Switcher, CompareInsurance, QuoteDevil) |
| Insurance companies on CompareInsurance.ie | 17 |
| Tesco home insurance availability | Online via Tesco.com |
| Contents insurance factor (average 3‑bedroom house value) | Not specified – use a home inventory |
Who provides the best home and contents insurance?
Top insurers in Ireland: Zurich and An Post
- Aviva Ireland (Irish insurer offering 20% discount) offers a combined buildings and contents policy with a 24/7 helpline.
- Zurich Home Insurance and An Post Home Insurance are available through comparison platforms like Bonkers.ie (unlinked duplicate).
Tesco home insurance review
Tesco home insurance is available to Irish customers online, but its policies are primarily designed for the UK market. Quotes can be obtained at Tesco.com (UK/Ireland retailer) (unlinked duplicate). Customer reviews are mixed, focusing on claim handling speed.
Who are the top 5 insurers in the UK?
For reference, the top five UK home insurers by market share include Aviva, AXA, Direct Line, LV=, and Admiral. In Ireland, Zurich and An Post are more prominent. The best choice depends on your property location and rebuild cost.
What is the average price of home insurance in Ireland?
Factors that influence home insurance premiums
Premiums depend on location (flood risk, crime rate), rebuild cost, property age, security features (alarms, locks), and claims history. Aviva Ireland (Irish insurer) (unlinked duplicate) notes that bundling buildings and contents can earn a 20% discount.
Average cost ranges for different property types
No official central figure exists for Ireland. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission advises getting at least three quotes from different comparison sites. For example, a terraced house in Dublin might cost 30% more to insure than a similar property in a rural area.
The pattern: only personalised quotes can reveal your true premium.
What is the best site to compare insurance rates?
Bonkers.ie – quotes from premier insurers without broker fees
Bonkers.ie (Irish price comparison site) (unlinked duplicate) is the only platform that allows direct comparison from Aviva and Zurich without charging a broker fee.
Chill.ie – multiple insurers in one search
Chill.ie (Irish comparison broker) lets you search dozens of policies in one go and offers phone support.
Switcher.ie – cheap home insurance comparisons
Switcher.ie (Irish switching service) focuses on helping customers move to cheaper deals and provides an online comparison tool.
CompareInsurance.ie – 17 insurance companies covered
CompareInsurance.ie (Irish aggregator) (unlinked duplicate) explicitly covers 17 insurers and aims to give “fair and accurate” comparisons.
QuoteDevil.ie – low-cost broker for home and motor
Quote Devil (Irish insurance broker) (unlinked duplicate) offers a €65 discount for online purchases and a phone line at 01 254 1300.
Five platforms, one pattern: they all offer free quote comparisons, but the range of insurers and add‑on features differ. Bonkers.ie stands out for no broker fees; CompareInsurance.ie for its 17‑insurer panel.
A site with 17 insurers doesn’t guarantee the cheapest price – it simply gives you more options. You still need to check policy limits, excesses, and optional covers. CompareInsurance.ie (Irish aggregator) (unlinked duplicate) provides the broadest network, but smaller brokers like Quote Devil may offer niche deals.
How much contents insurance do I need?
Calculating the contents value of a 3 bedroom house
The average contents value for a three‑bedroom Irish home is not officially published, but a thorough inventory is essential. List all items room by room, including furniture, electronics, clothes, and valuables. Aviva Ireland (Irish insurer) (unlinked duplicate) reminds customers that contents cover should reflect replacement cost, not second‑hand value.
Average contents value example
As a rough benchmark, a three‑bedroom semi‑detached house may hold contents worth €30,000–€40,000, but this varies widely. Use an online calculator like Bonkers.ie’s contents calculator (unlinked duplicate) to get a personalised estimate.
Steps to determine adequate cover
- Walk through each room and photograph valuable items.
- Estimate the replacement cost for every item (new‑for‑old).
- Add 10% for items you may have forgotten, especially in storage.
- Check single‑item limits – jewellery over €1,000 often needs separate cover.
The catch: underestimating contents value leads to claim shortfall.
What not to tell your insurance company?
Mistakes that can increase premiums or cause claim denial
- Do not admit fault after an incident – let the claims process determine liability.
- Avoid mentioning past claims unless asked – insurers may hike your renewal quote.
- Never withhold details about security upgrades, renovations, or new occupants – these could lower your premium if disclosed.
What to avoid when reporting an accident or damage
When you call your insurer, stick to the facts: date, time, and a brief description of damage. Do not speculate about cause. Aviva Ireland (Irish insurer) (unlinked duplicate) notes that unnecessary details can be used to delay or reduce your payout.
Honesty is the baseline, but oversharing can backfire. If you mention a small previous leak that you fixed yourself, the insurer may treat it as a pre‑existing condition and exclude related damage.
The implication: knowing exactly what to share (and what to keep to yourself) is as important as comparing prices. The saved premium means little if a claim is denied because of an innocent comment.
Six comparison sites, one key difference: the insurer panel size and fee structure. The table below lays out the core features.
| Platform | Insurers on panel | Broker fee | Special offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonkers.ie | Aviva, Zurich, others | None | Direct quotes from premier insurers |
| Chill.ie | Multiple (not specified) | None | One‑search multi‑insurer |
| Switcher.ie | Multiple | None | Switching‑focused |
| CompareInsurance.ie | 17 | None | Broadest panel |
| QuoteDevil.ie | Limited | None (broker model) | €65 online discount |
Five platforms, one pattern: the biggest panel belongs to CompareInsurance.ie (17 insurers), but Bonkers.ie stands out for its no‑fee direct access to Aviva and Zurich. Quote Devil offers the lowest upfront cost via its €65 discount.
Now compare the policy features you should look for in any home insurance contract.
| Feature | What it covers | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Buildings cover | Structure, roof, walls, permanent fixtures | Essential for homeowners; covers rebuild cost |
| Contents cover | Furniture, electronics, clothing, valuables | Replacement cost basis avoids underinsurance |
| Accidental damage | Spills, drops, breakages | Adds 10‑20% to premium but saves on small claims |
| New‑for‑old | Replaces damaged items with new equivalents | Arguably the most valuable cover for contents |
| Home emergency | Burst pipes, electrical failure, lockout | 24/7 helpline reduces stress |
| Single‑item limit | Maximum payout per item (e.g., €1,000 for jewellery) | High‑value items need separate scheduling |
Upsides
- Using comparison sites saves time and gives full market view.
- Bundling buildings and contents often earns discounts (e.g., 20% at Aviva).
- No‑fee platforms mean you keep the savings from switching.
Downsides
- Cheapest policy may exclude key covers like accidental damage.
- Under‑insuring contents can lead to claim rejection.
- Too many disclosures (past claims) can inflate premiums.
How to compare home and contents insurance – step by step
- Estimate your rebuild cost (use the Aviva Ireland rebuild calculator (unlinked duplicate)) and list your contents with replacement values.
- Visit at least three comparison sites: start with Bonkers.ie (unlinked duplicate), then Chill.ie, and CompareInsurance.ie (unlinked duplicate).
- Filter quotes by features: accidental damage, new‑for‑old, home emergency.
- Check single‑item limits for valuables (jewellery, art, bikes).
- Review excess amounts – a lower premium often means a higher compulsory excess.
- Take the best two offers and read the policy wordings for exclusions.
- Switch before your renewal date to avoid an automatic rollover.
For a related guide on car insurance, see our Car Comprehensive Insurance Ireland Coverage Guide. And for the full comparison of home and contents policies across the UK and Ireland, read Compare Home and Contents Insurance.
Clarity check: what we know for sure – and what remains fuzzy
Confirmed facts
- Bonkers.ie offers quotes without broker fees (Bonkers.ie)
- CompareInsurance.ie covers 17 insurers (CompareInsurance.ie)
- Tesco home insurance quotes are available online (Tesco.com)
- Aviva Ireland offers a 20% online discount and 24/7 helpline (Aviva Ireland)
What’s less certain
- Average home insurance premium in Ireland – no official figure published
- Average contents value for a 3‑bedroom house – not provided by official bodies
- Exact ranking of “best” insurer – subjective and market‑dependent
- Actual savings from switching – vary by property and risk profile
“Bonkers.ie allows you to compare quotes and purchase home insurance directly from Ireland’s premier home insurance companies without broker fees.”
Bonkers.ie (Irish price comparison site)
“Aviva Ireland offers a 20% discount on home insurance quotes and a 24/7 helpline for home emergencies.”
Aviva Ireland (Irish insurer)
“CompareInsurance.ie allows you to compare home insurance from 17 insurance companies in Ireland – the broadest panel on the market.”
CompareInsurance.ie (Irish aggregator)
For Irish homeowners, the decision is clear: invest 20 minutes comparing quotes across at least three platforms, choose a policy that balances price and cover, and never overshare details with your insurer. Otherwise, you risk paying more or facing a claim denial that erases any premium savings.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I review my home insurance policy?
Annually, at renewal. Also review after major purchases, renovations, or changes in occupancy.
Does home insurance cover accidental damage?
Often as an add‑on. Check your policy – basic cover usually excludes spills, drops, and breakages.
What is the difference between buildings and contents insurance?
Buildings cover the structure; contents cover your belongings. You can buy them separately or bundled.
Can I switch home insurance mid‑policy?
Yes, but you may lose the premiums already paid. Most insurers charge a cancellation fee. It’s better to switch at renewal.
How do I make a claim on my home insurance?
Contact your insurer immediately, provide a brief description of the damage, and follow their claims process. Do not admit fault.
Does home and contents insurance cover flood damage?
Yes, if the policy includes flood cover. Check exclusions – properties in high‑risk flood zones may need separate flood insurance.
Is it cheaper to bundle buildings and contents with one insurer?
Often yes. Bundles typically come with a discount (e.g., 20% at Aviva). Compare bundled vs. separate prices.
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