Longford motorist insurance costs now highest in country

Longford motorists are paying the highest car insurance premiums in the country, new figures reveal.

A survey carried out by Irish based insurer Chill found Longford was curently the most expensive county in the country when it comes to car insurance.

According to those findings, car owners living in Longford are paying on average €783 for insurance costs, more than €80 above second placed Louth and over €200 above the country's cheapest location for car insurance, Cork.

Among the chief reasons given by Chill for the price differential in car insurance premiums on a county by county basis included if there is a greater risk of crime and increased traffic where the motorist resides.

The other reason given for the higher premiums in some counties is the higher claim rate.

Details of the figures come after insurance companies were accused of “taking motorists for a ride” by increasing premiums despite massive drops in the costs for them of settling claims.

New judicial guidelines were rolled out by the Government in April 2021 which led to lower levels of damages for insurance claims.

That resulted in a 40 per cent drop in the average injury award being handed out and in turn putting the spotlight on insurers to cut premiums.

However, Director of the Alliance for Insurance Reform Peter Boland recently told the Irish Independent said insurance firms were failing to pass the reforms on to motor insurance policyholders.

“Irish liability insurers have ignored the massive reforms put in place by Government and continue to increase premiums, and there are early indications motor insurers may now be doing the same.

“If that turns out to be the case, then they are taking the Government and Irish motorists for a ride.”