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Over 90 per cent of Irish consumers who switched car insurance providers last year saved an average of more than €100 each, according to a study by the National Consumer Agency (NCA). The latest study carried out by the agency points to the value to be found by shopping around. It shows 85 per cent of people who switched products or service provider across a range of key categories saved money as a result. The agency said 95 per cent of those who switch car insurance company saved an average of €102, while 91 per cent of home insurance switchers found cheaper premiums elsewhere and were able to knock €84 off the cost of their policies. The research found that 13 per cent of consumers switched car insurance providers, 12 per cent changed their mobile phone provider while 10 per cent of consumers changed where they did their regular grocery shop last year. “The research indicates that real savings can be made by switching and we would advise consumers to continually review all their household bills, to compare the alternative options available and switch providers if a better deal is on offer,” the agency’s chief executive Ann Fitzgerald said. “The incentive for doing so is particularly strong in relation to car and home insurance with over nine in ten respondents making significant savings by switching in these areas,” she said. The research also looked at repeat switching for the same product or service over the past five years. The highest level of repeat switching was found in the car insurance sector, where 21 per cent of those asked said that they had switched provider more than once. Twenty per cent of mobile phone users switched operator on more than one occasion. A total of 84 per cent of those switching said they found the process easy, with 50 per cent saying they are receiving a better service with their new provider and just 2 per cent saying the service was worse. “Markets are constantly changing and providers are introducing new offers all the time so even if you have switched provider in the past, keep an eye out for better deals and avail of them, if you can,” Ms Fitzgerald concluded.

Drivers, especially ‘boy racers’, who modify their cars, should notify their insurance companies. A senior figure in the Insurance Federation warned some modifications could alter the performance of a vehicle and, as a consequence, change the insurance cover situation. Michael Horan, a non-life insurance manager, was replying to concerns raised by a councillor that boy racers — usually young drivers in modified cars — may not have proper insurance cover. Cllr Niall O’Callaghan, an independent town councillor in Killarney, also called for a garda crackdown on such drivers. He said they were a nuisance all around the country, creating hazards on the roads and keeping people awake all night. Mr Horan told the Irish Examiner if an insurance company had not been informed about modifications, it would be within its rights to turn down a claim for damages by the driver of the car. However, the rights of another person making a claim for personal injuries arising from an accident with a dangerously modified car would not be affected, he pointed out. "There is a need to provide details of modifications to the insurer. While some very minor modifications might not be relevant, other modifications that could affect the performance of a car are relevant," he said. Separately, three teenagers have been questioned by Tralee gardaí following an alleged incident involving boy racers at Ballymacelligott, Co Kerry. The youths were interviewed after a firework was allegedly discharged close to a number of homes. It is understood the driver of a car was also performing doughnuts — continuously rotating the rear of a car around its front wheels and causing circular skid marks — near a railway level crossing. Supt Jim O’Connor of Tralee said a file was being prepared for the DPP.

FAMILIES will be able to save almost €500 a year in private health insurance after all three providers offered to cover children for free for a year. Health insurers Aviva and Quinn have responded to the VHI by offering the same deal on children, in a desperate attempt to stop people giving up cover, the Irish Independent has learned. Healthcare experts said the move would go some way to countering the multiple price hikes being imposed by all three private medical insurers. Around 6,000 people a month are giving up health insurance. The move to try to attract families comes at a time of the year when around 850,000 people renew their cover. VHI kicked off the move. The state-owned insurer is offering free cover for children under the age of 18 on the One Plus and Parents & Kids plans for a year. A family with two children will save €460 a year on the Parents & Kids plan and €460 on the One Plus Plan, according to Dermot Goode of healthinsurancesavings.ie. However, the catch with VHI is that the offers only apply to those renewing, or switching to the VHI, between tomorrow and Friday, March 16. Mr Goode said VHI does not allow its customers to break out of or cancel their policies inside the 12-month period of the contract. Aviva and Quinn do allow customers to change their renewal dates, he said. Quinn is offering free cover for children and students on its Essential Select plan. This will save a family with two adults and two children €460 over a year. The offer runs from this Saturday until the bank holiday on March 19. Aviva is launching a new plan tomorrow called Family Value, with children under the age of 18 insured for free. Mr Goode said it was expected that the offer would remain open until Friday, March 16. Excesses Mr Goode said families should make sure that the plans with the free cover for children meet their needs. "They should note that each of these plans have excesses in private hospitals and in some cases, these excesses may exceed the savings made," he said. An excess is the amount of money you have to pay yourself before you get a payout on a claim. VHI Healthcare said two weeks ago that its prices were set to rise by up to 12.5pc next month. It is the third rise from the State-owned insurer in just over a year, and follows a similar number of rises from rivals Aviva and Quinn. Next month's rises will see families that have the VHI Parents & Kids plan having to shell out an additional €280 for cover. Since January 2011 the cost of this plan for a family of two adults and two children has shot up by more than €600. However, before the free cover for children, it was open to families to escape the hikes from all three insurers by opting for cheaper corporate plans that offer similar benefits. Families also save by opting to drop down to cheaper plans or by switching providers, Mr Goode said.