Does moving to Ireland reset your no-claims bonus?

Short answer: the licence is not the problem — the paperwork proving your years is.

A common worry: “if I get an Irish licence I lose my no-claims bonus.” The licence itself has nothing to do with it. The bonus attaches to your insurance history, not your licence.

The real problem is proof. An Irish insurer wants a letter from your previous insurer, in English, stating how many years you were insured as the main driver and whether there were any claims.

• Ask for the letter before you leave. Getting it afterwards is much harder.
• The bonus has to be in your name as the main driver. Years as a named driver usually do not count.
• Insurers differ on how many foreign years they will accept. Ringing around genuinely changes the price.
• A break in cover of more than two years often wipes the bonus regardless of country.