What's the news?
According to the Motor Insurer's Bureau of Ireland (MIBI), the number of drivers taking to the road without any insurance cover in place is on the rise. It claims that more than 151,000 uninsured vehicles could be on Irish roads now. Steep increases in motor insurance premiums are believed to be the primary contributory factor in taking the decision to risk driver without adequate cover.
Currently, the average cost for motor insurance is believed to be €900, but in many cases, consumers have reported figures many times higher. Consumers have also reported that annual premiums are rising despite having a clean insurance record. The insurance companies have previously cited rising legal costs and above average payouts for claims as some of the reasons for the rising cost of premiums.
Commenting on uninsured drivers, MIBI Chief Executive, David Fitzgerald, said: "They're risking their vehicles being seized by the side of the road by Gardaí, they face a mandatory court appearance with at least five penalty points and a substantial fine. If they do insure somebody, the MIBI will compensate the victims, but then we have the powers to pursue the uninsured drivers for the cost of the compensation that we pay."
Anything else?
It is believed that in 2011 the number of uninsured vehicles was 85,062. Due to the way that insurance cover is structured in Ireland, it isn't easy to get an exact figure as to how many cars are being used without cover as motor tax does not always run concurrently with cover.