Holiday Home Insurance Ireland: Compare Top Providers & Costs
If you own a second home in Ireland, you already know that insuring it is trickier than covering your primary residence. Holiday homes sit empty for weeks at a time, which means standard policies often fall short — and the price spread between providers can be substantial. In an April 2026 comparison for a Galway property, the cheapest quote came in at €638 while the priciest hit €926. This guide breaks down who offers what, which discounts are worth chasing, and how to get a competitive quote fast.
Top Providers: Aviva, Allianz, Zurich ·
Allianz Online Discount: 10% off ·
SERP Competitors: 5 insurer sites ·
Key Search Terms: Cheapest, Comparison, Cost
Quick snapshot
- Top providers from SERP: Aviva, Allianz, Zurich (Money Guide Ireland)
- Allianz 10% online discount (Allianz Ireland)
- Buildings and contents standard cover from most providers (Money Guide Ireland)
- Online quotes available from multiple sites (Money Guide Ireland)
- Exact 2026 holiday home-specific pricing from providers
- Whether holiday policies differ from standard home benchmarks
- Regional cost variations within Ireland
- Money Guide Ireland comparison: April 2026
- Zurich cheapest quote: €638 for Galway benchmark property
- Axa highest quote: €926 for same property
- Get at least three quotes before committing
- Factor in security discounts to lower premiums
- Use comparison sites to streamline the process
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Top Ranked Provider | Aviva.ie |
| Discount Highlight | Allianz 10% off |
| Common Cover | Buildings and contents |
| Quote Options | Online from multiple sites |
Cheapest holiday home insurance Ireland
For a real-world benchmark, Money Guide Ireland carried out a house insurance price comparison in April 2026 for a 4-bed detached house in Galway with a €375k rebuild cost and €37k contents. The cheapest quote came in at €638, the priciest at €926 — and most major providers fell somewhere between €684 and €750. These figures cover standard home insurance, but they give second-home owners a solid starting point for what to expect.
Factors affecting cost
- Property location and rebuild cost
- Security features (alarms, locks, monitored systems)
- Occupation patterns (let out, personal use, empty periods)
- Claims history
- Bundling buildings and contents together
Providers like An Post Insurance note that alarm discounts are commonly available. Allianz offers 10% off for online purchases, and RedClick advertises up to 35% savings plus a €40 retail voucher. Paying annually and combining buildings and contents also tend to bring premiums down.
Provider pricing signals
Zurich undercut Aviva by €46 and Axa by €288 in the same comparison — a meaningful gap for second-home owners watching their costs. But cheapest does not always mean best fit, especially if you need features specific to holiday lets or unoccupied periods.
In the April 2026 Money Guide Ireland comparison, Zurich via One Big Switch offered the cheapest home insurance quote at €638 for a Galway property with €375k rebuild cost and €37k contents. Aviva quoted €684 for the same property, AA €728, 123.ie €750, and Axa €926 (Money Guide Ireland). Boards.ie users have reported Allianz as competitive in the Irish market (Boards.ie).
Holiday home insurance Ireland comparison
Five providers cover the Irish holiday home market with their own angle on price and features. The table below shows how they stack up side by side.
| Provider | Buildings cover | Contents cover | Key extras | Notable discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviva | Yes | Yes | Holiday home specific | — |
| Allianz | Yes | Yes | Emergency assistance | 10% online |
| Zurich | Yes | Yes | Holiday home addon, unoccupied protection | — |
| An Post Insurance | Yes | Yes | No-claims discounts, Aviva/Allianz backing | Alarm discounts |
| Chill Insurance | Yes | Yes | Compares top insurers | — |
The comparison shows that most major Irish insurers bundle buildings and contents for holiday homes, but their approach to unoccupied periods and add-on features varies.
Coverage breakdowns
Holiday home insurance differs from regular home insurance because second homes often sit empty for extended periods. Standard policies may exclude unoccupied periods or load premiums when a property is not lived in for weeks at a time. Providers like Zurich specifically add holiday home riders that cover the property during those gaps, according to Comparethemarket.com.
Provider perks
Allianz offers emergency assistance as part of its holiday home policies and a 10% discount for online purchases. An Post Insurance, which underwrites Aviva and Allianz policies, provides alarm discounts and no-claims benefits for claims-free policyholders. RedClick goes further with up to 35% savings and a €40 retail voucher for new customers.
Zurich beat Aviva by €46 in the Galway benchmark, but Zurich may not offer the same breadth of holiday-home-specific features that Aviva provides through An Post Insurance. Price and coverage depth do not always move in the same direction — weigh both before signing.
Holiday home insurance Ireland cost
Understanding what drives your premium helps you negotiate better quotes — and spot when a deal really is a deal. The Money Guide Ireland comparison in April 2026 shows where the market sits for a typical Irish holiday home.
Average premiums
In the April 2026 comparison, a 4-bed detached house in Galway with €375k rebuild cost and €37k contents generated quotes ranging from €638 (Zurich) to €926 (Axa). Most major providers fell between €684 and €750 (Money Guide Ireland). These are benchmark figures for standard home insurance — holiday-specific policies may shift the number up or down depending on unoccupied periods and usage patterns.
What influences price
- Rebuild cost of the property
- Value of contents inside
- Property location (coastal areas typically cost more)
- Security features (alarms, deadbolts, monitored systems)
- How long the property sits empty between visits
- Claims history
The comparison shows location and rebuild cost heavily influence the final premium. Paying annually, combining buildings and contents, and improving security (alarms, better locks) can all reduce costs, according to Comparethemarket.com. My Holiday Home Insurance allows comparison of holiday home insurance for Irish properties from leading insurers without visiting multiple websites.
| Provider | Quote (April 2026) |
|---|---|
| Zurich | €638 |
| Aviva | €684 |
| AA | €728 |
| 123.ie | €750 |
| Axa | €926 |
The implication: a €288 spread between the cheapest and priciest quotes means second-home owners who skip comparison shopping may pay significantly more than necessary.
Holiday home insurance Ireland reviews
User feedback and ratings give a fuller picture beyond price and policy documents. Here is what Irish second-home owners are reporting.
User feedback trends
A Boards.ie forum user reported Allianz as competitive for home insurance in the Irish market (Boards.ie). UK market research rates Allianz and AA as frequently cheapest for home insurance starting under £15 per month, according to IamInsured.co.uk — though those figures apply to the UK market and should be used as directional context rather than hard Irish pricing.
Provider ratings
Established insurers like Aviva and Allianz have built reputations across the Irish market. Chill Insurance targets second homes with competitive holiday house policies, and An Post Insurance bundles Aviva and Allianz policies with no-claims discounts for claims-free policyholders. Chill Insurance offers cheap holiday home insurance by comparing Ireland’s top home insurers.
Customer review ratings and claims data for specific providers are not publicly available in detail. User forums like Boards.ie offer anecdotal sentiment, but they represent a small sample. Treat forum views as one input among several, not the deciding factor.
AXA holiday home insurance Ireland
AXA is a major player in the Irish market and appears in provider listings across comparison sites. Here is how it compares to the field.
AXA coverage details
AXA offers holiday home insurance as part of its home insurance range. In the April 2026 Money Guide Ireland comparison, AXA quoted €926 for the Galway property — the highest among the providers surveyed (Money Guide Ireland). CompareInsurance.ie lists AXA alongside other major Irish insurers including Allianz, Aviva, FBD, and Zurich.
Vs other providers
Compared to competitors, AXA’s €926 quote puts it at the higher end. Zurich (€638), Aviva (€684), and 123.ie (€750) all came in significantly cheaper for the same benchmark property. An Post Insurance offers Aviva and Allianz policies with competitive prices and no-claims discounts, making these accessible for holiday homes.
A higher quote does not necessarily mean worse coverage — it could reflect higher coverage limits or additional features. However, for the Galway benchmark, AXA’s premium significantly exceeded competitors, making it worth questioning whether the additional cost justifies the policy benefits for your specific property.
What this means: if you are already considering AXA, ask specifically what coverage you are paying for before committing.
Upsides
- Buildings and contents combined cover from most providers
- Online discounts available (Allianz 10% off, RedClick up to 35% savings)
- Unoccupied property protection included with some policies
- No-claims discounts from An Post Insurance
- Multiple comparison sites simplify quote gathering
Downsides
- Limited exact 2026 holiday home-specific pricing data
- Unoccupied periods may reduce or limit coverage
- AXA quotes significantly higher than competitors for benchmark property
- UK-based insurers may use English policy wordings
- Exact policy terms require individual quotes from each provider
What We Know and What We Do Not
Confirmed facts
- Money Guide Ireland comparison April 2026: Zurich €638, Aviva €684, AA €728, 123.ie €750, Axa €926
- Top providers from SERP: Aviva, Allianz, Zurich
- Allianz offers 10% online discount
- RedClick offers up to 35% savings plus €40 voucher
- An Post Insurance provides Aviva and Allianz policies
What’s unclear
- Exact premium costs without individual quotes
- Whether holiday home policies differ significantly from standard home insurance benchmarks
- Regional variations within Ireland (coastal vs inland)
- Customer review ratings or claims data for specific providers
What People Say
I found Allianz to be leagues ahead of all other companies this year with home insurance.
— Boards.ie forum poster (Boards.ie)
We carried out a House Insurance Price Comparison in April 2026.
— Money Guide Ireland (Money Guide Ireland)
The Bottom Line
For Irish second-home owners, the holiday home insurance market offers real choices — but the price spread is wider than many expect. Zurich posted the cheapest published quote at €638 for the Galway benchmark, with Aviva, Allianz, and AA close behind. Allianz sweetens the deal with a 10% online discount, and An Post Insurance layers in no-claims benefits for claims-free policyholders.
The catch is that most published benchmarks reflect standard home insurance, not holiday-specific policies. Exact 2026 pricing for holiday homes remains unclear without individual quotes — but the competitive pressure among providers means second-home owners who shop around are well placed to find a good deal. Get at least three quotes from Zurich, Aviva, and Allianz, factor in security discounts, and compare the policy details — not just the premium — before signing.
Related reading: House for Rent Dublin · Mullery O’Gara Estate Agents: Reviews, Properties & Regulations
For second home owners in Ireland, exploring general house insurance comparison Ireland often reveals competitive quotes from the same providers like Aviva and Allianz.
Frequently asked questions
What is holiday home insurance in Ireland?
Holiday home insurance covers a second property used intermittently by the owner or let out seasonally. It typically includes buildings and contents cover, with specific provisions for unoccupied periods — something standard home insurance may not provide.
Does holiday home insurance cover contents?
Yes, most holiday home insurance policies include contents cover. This covers furniture, appliances, and personal belongings inside the property. Coverage limits vary by provider — Intasure offers building cover up to £1 million and public liability up to £5 million for Irish properties.
Can I insure a holiday home abroad from Ireland?
Some UK-based providers like Intasure and My Holiday Home Insurance offer policies for Irish properties. These use English policy wordings and may suit Irish second-home owners seeking cover through UK insurers.
What makes holiday home insurance different from standard home insurance?
Holiday home insurance specifically covers properties that are periodically unoccupied. Standard home insurance may exclude or limit coverage when a property sits empty for extended periods. Providers like Zurich include holiday home riders that address this gap.
How often should I review my holiday home insurance?
Review your policy annually or when circumstances change — for example, if you add security features, renovate the property, or change how you use it. Annual reviews help ensure you are not overpaying and that coverage remains adequate.
Are there restrictions on unoccupied holiday homes?
Yes, many policies restrict coverage when a property is unoccupied for more than a specified period, often 30 to 60 days. Zurich’s holiday home addon includes protection when the property is unoccupied, making it a relevant option for second homes that sit empty for part of the year.
What documents are needed for holiday home insurance quotes?
You will typically need the property address, rebuild cost estimate, details of security features (alarms, locks), information about occupation patterns, and any relevant claims history. An Post Insurance provides online or phone quotes with these details — emergency lines are 091 501 698 for Aviva policies and 01 613 3990 (option 3) for Allianz policies.
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