🛡️ Claim or Pay Yourself?
Should I claim on my insurance or pay myself?
A claim pays the repair minus the excess — then costs you through the premium for years. This puts both sides in euro so you can see the repair cost where claiming starts to pay.
- Figures reviewed October 2026
- Free, no account needed
- Your figures stay in your browser
What this means
The break-even repair cost is the useful number. Below it, paying yourself keeps your record clean for less money. Above it, the claim pays for itself even after the premium rise. Close to it, the decision is about risk, not arithmetic.
Important assumptions
Every figure on this page rests on these. Where one does not match your situation, the answer moves — sometimes a great deal.
- The premium rise is your input, not an insurer’s figure — Irish insurers do not publish claim loadings. Ask your broker or insurer what a claim would do to your renewal.
- The rise tapers in a straight line to nothing over the years entered.
- Your base premium would otherwise stay flat; market-wide changes affect both options equally.
- No third party is involved. If one is, you are usually required to notify your insurer anyway.
Official sources
Where this tool applies a published rule, this is where the rule comes from. Check the source before acting on anything that matters.
- CCPC — Car insurance
How no-claims discounts and step-back rules work.
- Central Bank — Consumer Protection Code
Your right to clear information on how a claim affects your policy.
Common questions
Does an enquiry to my insurer count as a claim?
Ask the insurer to confirm in writing whether a call is being logged as a claim or a notification. Many policies require you to notify any incident, even one you pay yourself.
What is a step-back on no-claims discount?
Instead of losing your whole no-claims discount, some insurers reduce it by two years per claim. That loss is usually larger in euro than it looks — enter it in the advanced fields.
Related checks
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Compare two insurance quotes on expected cost, worst case and the break-even claim rate.
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What the renewal did against last year, what paying monthly costs you, and the checks to make before accepting it.
Car Insurance Renewal CheckNewWhat is my car actually costing me?
Depreciation, fuel, insurance, tax, servicing and tyres as one annual figure and a cost per kilometre.
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Compare Irish health insurers on cover, excess and premium, including lifetime loading.
Health Insurance ComparisonWhat to check next
Picked for what you just worked out — not a list of everything we make.
CheckIreland is independent and is not affiliated with the Irish Government or any public body. This tool is general information built on published rules and typical costs — it is not financial, tax or legal advice, and it does not account for your individual circumstances. Confirm anything that matters with the relevant body or a qualified adviser before acting on it.