Expert answer

Hi Ray,

We got in touch with Aviva asking in general if there was an issue and we received this rather wishy-washy response:

"There are multiple factors that are taken into consideration by our motor insurance underwriters when providing quotes or determining cover for motor insurance.  Some of the factors that determine our acceptance criteria or the level of cover we provide include the driver’s details and experience, our own claims experience, the car (its make, model, engine size, age, brake horsepower, power to weight ratio etc.), to name a few.  
 
There are a small number of models from various manufacturers that we may not provide comprehensive cover on and this can be for a variety of reasons.  However, our risk appetite allows us to offer comprehensive cover for the vast majority of cars that are available to purchase in Ireland, which includes various Tesla models."

That doesn't really tell us much. I know that some people in other countries have been quoted high premiums as Teslas are supposedly expensive to repair, but this is the first time we've heard of someone with such a good driving history being refused comprehensive cover.

My advice would be to shop around for an alternative premium elsewhere. Insurers don't reward loyalty in any case so it's something to consider doing every year.

Best of luck with it.

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

You've not told us your budget at all, but a 2018 E-Class sounds like it would certainly fit the bill for your needs. There are several good diesel options, which I think would be best for your commute. That age of E-Class is really lovely.

A close competitor is, obviously, the BMW 5 Series. A 520d does it all, mixing great efficiency with comfort and a bit of sportiness when you want it. The 530d has more impressive performance, of course, but it isn't as economical.

I'd recommend you go test examples of those to see which you prefer.

Let us know how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

OK, at the very top of your list should be the Skoda Superb. It’s massive inside, hugely comfortable, has a huge boot, is well made and has an excellent 2.0-litre TDI 150hp diesel engine. It’s well worth checking out the 150hp TSI petrol too though — it's smoother, quieter and nearly as economical unless you're driving at motorway speed all day.

Next go and check out the Mazda6. Now, there’s no five-door fastback version, but there is a hugely handsome Touring estate model, and it’s very good to drive. Tremendous interior quality too. Only problem? Mazda has dropped diesel engines from its line-up, but the 2.0-litre petrol is an excellent unit, and surprisingly economical.

Finally, you could go for one, last Mondeo. It’s coming to the end of its production life right now, but it’s still a firm favourite of ours, and with it being on run-out, you’ll get some proper bargains if you want to buy one of the last ones. 

Read our Skoda Superb reviews

Read our Mazda6 reviews

Read our Ford Mondeo reviews

Expert answer

Hi Justina,

Start-stop issues are common with a lot of cars and we get many queries about it. If your car is not being used much right now, then the battery may not be in great condition and that's a leading reason for stop-start problems. It could be something else of course. Your car should still be under warranty if you want to talk to your Hyundai dealer about it.

In the meantime, read Why won't my car's stop-start system work? on the subject.

Expert answer

Hi Joe,

There aren’t any specific battery issues to look for, and the good thing about a plug-in hybrid is that you can’t fast-charge them, so there’s less likelihood of wear and tear on the battery cells from repeated rapid charges. Obviously, batteries do degrade a little over time, but you shouldn’t see more than a few percentage points wiped off the performance. Make sure you go for a fully-charged test drive first though, and if the range seems abruptly short (allowing for weather, traffic etc) then the battery might have been physically damaged at some point.

Other plug-in hybrids worth considering would be a BMW 530e, although that probably won’t squeeze into your budget, or a Volkswagen Passat GTE, which provides performance almost as good as that of the 330e, but for a much lower cost overall and it's more spacious. Don’t forget that the battery eats considerably into the 330e’s boot space, and it was never a big car inside to begin with. The updated Passat GTE (2020) was available as an estate, too...

BMW 330e review

Volkswagen Passat GTE review

Volkswagen Passat GTE Estate review

BMW 530e review

Expert answer

Hi Renato,

Yes, absolutely — you can register a Hilux for personal use, but just remember that you’ll have to tax it as a private vehicle, which means you’ll be taxing it on the engine capacity, not the CO₂ emissions. If it’s a 3.0-litre Hilux, that’s going to be pricey. Insurance can be an issue too, so get hold of a good broker to help you find the right policy.

Classic insurance is a non-runner, sadly. In Ireland, a car has to be more than 30 years old to qualify for classic status. 

Expert answer

Hi Anne,

It entirely depends on the type of driving you do. If a diesel engine isn't used regularly at higher speeds and loads (i.e. on the motorway), then its various components, including its Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) in the exhaust, don't get up to temperature and can't burn off desposits of soot etc. They eventually clog up and can cost a fortune to repair or replace. Along with that, diesel engines emit more NOx, which is a pollutant that is bad for human health. 

So, petrol is the sensible way to go in the Kamiq unless you rack up well over 20,000km a year at higher speeds in our opinions. 

Read our Skoda Kamiq reviews here

Expert answer

Hi Conor,

You say you’ve already taxed the Yeti privately, is that right? Once you’ve informed your local motor tax office of the change of status, that should be sufficient for any insurer. That said, Irish insurers will find any excuse in the book to either not quote you, or to give you some astronomical quote just to make you go away. Our advice is to find a good insurance broker who can help you navigate the ins and outs. 

Expert answer

Hi Adam,

OK, this is going to be an ‘as far as we can tell’ answer because the legislation regarding N-plates is not spectacularly well-worded. However, the key word here appears to be ‘first’ as in: "In the first two years after acquiring a full driving licence a driver must display N plates on all vehicles.” So, if you’ve displayed your N-plates for the first two years, then in theory, you won’t have to display them for another two, even if you’re re-sitting your test. However, it’s the re-sit that may throw a spanner in the works here, as the NDLS and RSA may well take the view that, in official terms you’re starting from scratch. You will almost certainly have to abide by the lower drink-drive limits and lower penalty point threshold for a ban that applies to N-plate drivers, too.

Expert answer

Hi Howard,

If I were you, I'd stick with diesel for now. Assuming that, with such high mileage, you won't have time to plug the car in to charge it up regularly, the 530e won't get near the 520d's average economy. Once the battery charge is used up, you're effectively driving a heavy petrol car. The fact you're VAT-registered and can claim back the VAT on the diesel is another reason to stick with it for now.

Yes, electrification is coming to all cars, but we don't believe it suits all motorists just yet. The beauty of you changing your car every 15 months is that you can react quite quickly to changes in taxation and new model launches.