The message of shopping around will be important this year with hints that motor insurance premia are set to increase. This has arisen following difficulties with the RSA motor insurance operations in Ireland, where the parent company has had to top-up the fund.

This situation may lead to other insurance companies jumping on the bandwagon and attempting to increase premium charges. For this reason it is important to shop around. If you have a complex insurance need, due to an illness or previous injury, it may be worth your while checking for the best rate through an insurance broker.

If your motoring needs are straightforward then you can often check out the best deals on the Internet. Be careful to compare like with like when getting an online quotation from the Internet. Make sure that you complete the proposal accurately and disclose whether or not you have penalty points, whether you have medical problems or have been involved in an accident.

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Failure to come clean on the proposal form where you get good value insurance could end up a big problem in the event of an accident during the period of cover.

Check the level of excess that you are being offered. It should not be more than €300 and if it is more than €300 of an excess per claim then you should be getting a better premium deal. Check the level of breakdown cover. This is often included and comes at a price.

For rural drivers, it can be important especially if you have to tow your car long distances. This is normally covered under the breakdown assistance part of the policy.