Pressure to outlaw 'car insurance discrimination' that is costing motorists €167m  

The practice of discriminating against loyal customers — also called differential, dual, or discriminatory pricing — by car and home content insurers is a running sore in Ireland

Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said the top six insurers in Ireland  are among the leading insurers who will be banned from the discriminatory practices in Britain. Picture:Gareth Chaney/Collins

A decision by the British competition watchdog to outlaw car insurers penalising loyal customers has heaped pressure on the Government and Central Bank to ban the same practices that cost Irish motorists an estimated €167m a year, the Irish Examiner can reveal. 

The Financial Conduct Authority in the UK moved on Friday to ban insurance firms from discriminating against long-loyal existing customers by quoting premium renewals at vastly higher prices than they offer to entice new clients.