What is a third-party claim?

Why it is called "third party"

An insurance policy is a deal between two parties: the insurer and its customer. Anyone else who is affected, such as the driver they crashed into, is the third party. So when you claim against the other driver's insurer, you are making a third-party claim.

Can I do it in Ireland?

Yes. You can make a claim directly from the other driver's insurance company. Because your own policy is not used, you do not pay your excess and your no-claims bonus is not used.

Source: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, "Making a car insurance claim": "You can make a claim directly from the other person's insurance company."

What you need

• The other driver's name, registration and insurer.
• Your photos of the damage and the scene.
• Any witness names, dashcam footage, and the Garda details if a Garda attended.
• A written figure for the damage. We have an independent assessor, who is not the repairer, put one on it.

Can someone make it for me?

Yes. You can appoint someone to deal with the other driver's insurer for you. Once you ask the insurer in writing, it must engage with the person you appointed. That is what we do: the calls, the letters and the chasing come to us.

Source: Central Bank of Ireland, Consumer Protection Code 2025 (an insurer must engage with a claimant's appointed representative on the claimant's written request).

When it is not the right route

A third-party claim works when the other driver is identified, insured and at fault. If they had no insurance or drove off, the route is different. If anyone was hurt, the injury side goes its own way.