The percentage of uninsured private vehicles on Irish roads has nearly been cut in half following the launch of the new Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID), which is designed to help gardaà quickly identify uninsured drivers, reports RTE.
Research carried out by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) found that last year there were 101,881 uninsured private vehicles on the roads.
This number represented 4.2% of all private vehicles in Ireland and marked an almost 50% reduction compared to 2022, the last time similar research was done, reports RTE.
It indicates that the ratio of uninsured private vehicles has improved from one in every 12 in 2022 to one in every 25 last year.
Based on the MIBI’s 2022 findings, there were approximately 187,000 uninsured vehicles previously, a figure about four times higher than the average across the EU.
The MIBI has estimated that uninsured driver claims add around €35 to each motor insurance policy, reports RTE.
The IMID was introduced for the first time last year.
The database holds information such as policyholder details, vehicle registration numbers, and names of drivers authorised under each policy.
This information is supplied by insurers, brokers, fleet owners, and motor traders, and it is shared with the Department of Transport and An Garda SÃochána, reports RTE.
Additionally, driver numbers for every insured motorist are included.
The creation of the IMID has enabled the MIBI to, for the first time, analyze the number of uninsured commercial vehicles, reports RTE.
By law, details of these vehicles must be added to the national fleet database.
While the MIBI believes there should be about 425,000 fleet and motor trade vehicles listed, only 364,889 have been uploaded so far.
Commenting on the statistics, MIBI Chief Executive David Fitzgerald said: “It is very encouraging to see the impact that the new detection system is already having on the number of private uninsured vehicles on our roads, reports RTE.
“From early in its development, we believed IMID would represent a powerful weapon in the battle against uninsured driving and we can now see that theory being turned into reality.
“Following the introduction of this system, last year gardaà were able to seize 18,676 vehicles in 2024 and issue a further 26,094 summons and charges, reports RTE.
“This system allows Gardaà to see in seconds if a vehicle is uninsured or has not been added to the database, allowing them to act quickly in apprehending any offenders,” reports RTE.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Fitzgerald acknowledged that while the number of uninsured drivers has fallen, the fight against uninsured driving is not yet over.
He said every step towards reducing uninsured drivers benefits honest motorists and enhances road safety, reports RTE.
However, he noted that although the private car trend is positive, the situation with commercial vehicles is more concerning, with around 60,000 unaccounted for regarding insurance.
He explained that for small commercial policies, such as for “the man with the van,” tracking vehicles is straightforward, reports RTE.
But for businesses with larger fleets or motor traders, where vehicles are often exchanged, it is necessary to upload each vehicle’s information daily to the National Fleet Database.
This has been a legal obligation since November 2023, reports RTE.
He said: “We estimate that there should be 425,000 vehicles approximately in the National Fleet Database, we have 365,000 collected today. So we found that one in seven have either failed to upload their vehicles to the database or were uninsured,” reports RTE.
Regarding motor insurance premiums, Mr Fitzgerald pointed out that while the MIB does not set premiums, “we are funded by the honest motorist” and that their goal is to minimize uninsured driving.
Meanwhile, the Government has opened a public consultation on insurance reform.
Under the Programme for Government, there is a commitment to create a new action plan focusing on boosting market competition and working with stakeholders to improve transparency and affordability across all insurance types, reports RTE.
Submissions will be accepted over a three-week period.
The Government said it particularly wants feedback from consumers, industry representatives, and those working in the insurance sector, reports RTE.
The previous insurance reform program introduced judicial guidelines, revamped the Injuries Resolution Board, supported the creation of a Garda Insurance Fraud Coordination Office, and passed new legislation in July 2023 adjusting occupiers’ duty of care obligations.
The Alliance for Insurance Reform has welcomed the new public consultation, though its Chief Executive Brian Hanley said that despite past reforms, “it must be a source of growing frustration for politicians, as it is to policyholders, that the reforms to date have primarily benefited insurance company profit margins, rather than reducing the premiums people pay”, r r
He added: “the Alliance will be making a detailed submission and we encourage others to do likewise. Priorities must include attracting new entrants into the liability market as well as facilitating greater settlement volumes at the Injuries Resolution Board,” reports RTE.
He also emphasized that it is “vital” for the Government to avoid “undermining past achievements and future reform objectives by increasing personal injury awards by 17%, as is currently being considered. Such a step would reduce settlement volumes at the Injuries Board and inevitably lead to increased premiums”.
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