HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an insurance broker in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An insurance broker in Ireland costs €50–€200 per hour, typically around €100. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring an insurance broker in five steps
- Are you on the Central Bank's Register of Authorised Firms, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — ongoing Support — brokers provide ongoing support and advice to their clients, adjusting policies as business needs change.
- How does complexity of your business needs change the price?Custom work means measuring and checking at every step. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does types of coverage required change the price?A booked block of time costs less than the same hours spread out. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does broker's experience level change the price?A specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Policy Comparison — A key role of an insurance broker is to compare policies from various insurers to find the best coverage options for their clients — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a insurance broker job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
the Central Bank Register of Authorised Firms
TWO THINGS TO CHECK, NOT ONE. Being authorised is not the same as being appointed: a mortgage intermediary needs an authorisation and a letter of appointment from each lender whose products they place. The registers are searchable by name or partial name at registers.centralbank.ie — the Register of Mortgage Credit Intermediaries and the Insurance Distribution Register are the relevant ones. The register can LAG recent appointment changes, so if a broker says an appointment is new, ask for the lender to confirm it. Under the Consumer Credit Act it is an OFFENCE to engage in the business of being a mortgage intermediary without an authorisation AND at least one letter of appointment from a lender. An insurance intermediary must be registered to carry out insurance distribution, and it is an offence to do it unregistered.
Search the Central Bank's Register of Authorised Firms for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. registers.centralbank.ie →
Insurance
Expect professional indemnity insurance, which authorisation requires. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
Identity
Providers on Locufy prove who they are with photo ID before they can be booked; the ID-checked badge shows who has done it, and the document itself is deleted once the check is made. For a insurance broker coming into your home it is the cheapest check there is.
Look for the ID-checked badge on the card, before you message anyone.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — ongoing Support — brokers provide ongoing support and advice to their clients, adjusting policies as business needs change.
A good answer: Custom work means measuring and checking at every step. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A booked block of time costs less than the same hours spread out. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Policy Comparison — A key role of an insurance broker is to compare policies from various insurers to find the best coverage options for their clients — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a insurance broker job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect professional indemnity insurance, which authorisation requires — risk Assessment Services — insurance brokers conduct thorough risk assessments to identify potential liabilities and coverage needs for businesses.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the insurance broker starts, and an itemised invoice after — liability Insurance Broker — advises on liability insurance options to protect businesses and individuals from legal claims.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of your business needs — custom work means measuring and checking at every step.
- Types of coverage required — a booked block of time costs less than the same hours spread out.
- Broker's experience level — a specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours.
- Specific market conditions — an unexpected repair turns a short visit into a long one.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They are not on the Central Bank's Register of Authorised Firms, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- They will not talk about it: complexity of your business needs — custom work means measuring and checking at every step
- They will not talk about it: types of coverage required — a booked block of time costs less than the same hours spread out
- They will not talk about it: broker's experience level — a specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours
- A price for the insurance broker before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
What an insurance broker costs: €50–€200 per hour
Most insurance brokers quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Personal insurance broker and Commercial insurance broker each carry their own band. Insurance Broker price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Insurance brokers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
- Look firstComplexity of your business needs — custom work means measuring and checking at every step — that is what the insurance broker is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneTypes of coverage required — a booked block of time costs less than the same hours spread out — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfBroker's experience level — a specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSpecific market conditions — an unexpected repair turns a short visit into a long one — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the insurance broker is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, look for brokers with experience in your specific insurance needs or industry.
- Risk Assessment Services
- Insurance brokers conduct thorough risk assessments to identify potential liabilities and coverage needs for businesses.
- Policy Comparison
- A key role of an insurance broker is to compare policies from various insurers to find the best coverage options for their clients.
- Ongoing Support
- Brokers provide ongoing support and advice to their clients, adjusting policies as business needs change.
- Personal Insurance Broker
- Helps individuals find suitable personal insurance policies, including health, life, and home insurance.
- Commercial Insurance Broker
- Assists businesses in obtaining the right insurance coverage for their operations, including liability and property insurance.
- Health Insurance Broker
- Specialises in finding health insurance plans that meet the specific needs of individuals and families.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an insurance broker: questions people ask
The cost of hiring an insurance broker can vary based on the complexity of your business needs, the types of coverage required, and the broker's experience level. More specialised services or high-risk industries may incur higher fees.
The duration can vary, but it generally takes a few days to a couple of weeks to find the right insurance coverage. This includes assessing risks, comparing policies, and finalising details with insurers.
While a general insurance broker can handle most standard policies, specific industries may benefit from a specialist who understands unique risks. For example, brokers with expertise in construction or healthcare may offer better-suited advice.
Same-day service may be available, especially for urgent needs, but it depends on the broker's schedule and the complexity of your requirements. It's best to contact brokers directly to inquire about their availability.
Yes, many insurance brokers can assist with multiple types of insurance policies or related services, such as risk management consultations. This can often lead to bundled discounts.
Insurance brokers typically do not provide legal advice or handle claims disputes beyond initial assistance. For complex legal matters, clients may need to consult a legal professional.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in business & professional
Insurance brokers near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Central Bank — Register of Authorised Firms
- Central Bank — mortgage brokers and intermediaries
- Central Bank — insurance brokers and intermediaries
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — ACCOUNTANTS' SERVICES — Standard rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only