Struggling to Get Motor Insurance? Five Things to Know About the Declined Cases Agreement

Most of us expect shopping around for motor insurance to mean comparing different prices and levels of cover. But what happens if an insurer tells you it cannot offer you a quote at all?

If you find yourself in that position, there are five things worth knowing about what happens next.

1. If an insurer refuses to quote, it should tell you why

If you are refused a motor insurance quote, you should be given a reason.

Under the Central Bank of Ireland’s Consumer Protection Code, an insurer must tell you within five working days that it has refused to quote and explain why. It must also tell you about the Declined Cases process and how you can refer a case if you continue to have difficulty obtaining cover.

Any refusal letter or email you receive is worth holding on to, as it may be needed if you later use the Declined Cases process.

2. Three refusals can bring the Declined Cases Agreement into play

If you approach at least three motor insurers and are unable to get cover in your own name, you may be able to use the Declined Cases Agreement (DCA).

The DCA is followed by all motor insurers in Ireland and provides a route for people unable to obtain motor insurance. Once its conditions are met, an insurer will generally be required to provide a quote.

You will need evidence of the three refusals, usually in the form of letters or emails from the insurers concerned.

If you used a broker, a general message saying they were unable to find cover is not normally enough, unless the broker was authorised to act on an insurer’s behalf.

3. Having had your own policy within the last three years can make a difference

If you currently hold, or have held, a motor insurance policy in your own name within the last three years, this can help when your case is considered under the DCA.

Once you have received the required three refusals, your previous insurer will generally be required to provide a quotation. It can also count as one of the three insurers that refused to quote.

The important distinction is that you must have actually held the policy in your own name. Simply receiving a quote, or being listed as a named driver on somebody else’s policy, does not count.

If this applies to you, you will need your previous insurer and policy number, your refusal letters or emails, and a brief explanation of why a quote was not available.

4. Keep track of who you contacted and when

If you have not held a motor insurance policy in your own name within the last three years, the order and timing of your enquiries become especially important.

Under the DCA, the first insurer you approached will generally be required to provide a quote. If it is not possible to establish who you contacted first, the Declined Cases Committee can allocate the case to an insurer instead.

Make sure you note the company, date and time of each enquiry as you go.

Refusal letters are valid for six months from the date they are issued, so make sure they are still in date when you submit your case.

5. The DCA can apply beyond a direct refusal for your own cover

The Declined Cases process is not limited to situations where an insurer simply refuses to provide you with motor insurance in your own name.

The Declined Cases Committee can also consider whether a quote is so high, or its conditions so severe, that it effectively amounts to a refusal. This does not mean a quote is treated as a refusal simply because it is more expensive than expected.

The DCA can also apply if you already have motor insurance but cannot get a quote to add another driver. In this situation, you do not need three separate refusal letters. Instead, you will need details of your policy and insurer, the reason a quote was not available, and the driver’s name and relationship to you.

When submitting a declined case, do not include personal information relating to medical conditions, road traffic offences, penalty points or criminal convictions.

A final thing to remember

While being unable to get a motor insurance quote can be frustrating, the Declined Cases Agreement provides a route for people who may otherwise struggle to obtain cover.

If you think the DCA may apply to you, you can find further information on the Agreement and how to submit a case through Insurance Ireland.

Need More Assistance?

If you have further questions, you can contact Insurance Ireland’s Information Services team:

Email: feedback@insuranceireland.eu
Tel: (01) 676 1820