Here we take a look at how the Gardaí are able to find out if you’re driving with or without insurance.
Having a car insurance policy is a legal requirement to drive on Irish roads.
However, there is a growing number of motorists who are choosing to go without insurance. This is putting them at risk of gaining penalty points, a fine or jail time. If they are in an incident, they are putting themselves and others in danger of significant financial loss.
How many people in Ireland drive without car insurance?
According to the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI), 188,000 drivers were driving without car insurance in Ireland in 2022. This is the equivalent of 1 in every 12 drivers on Irish roads having no cover. The number of uninsured drivers increased by 15% between 2018 and 2021 which indicates that more and more drivers are opting to forgo car insurance.
This decision not only makes our roads more dangerous but increases the cost of premiums nationwide. It is estimated that an extra €30 to €35 is added to every motor insurance premium to compensate for incidents caused by uninsured drivers in Ireland.
Why are people driving without car insurance?
It is against the law to drive on Irish roads without car insurance. However, people may decide to drive without car insurance anyway for a variety of reasons such as:
- They think car insurance is too expensive
- They can not afford their premium
- They are banned from driving and therefore can not get insurance
- They do not have a driving licence
- Their latest policy has lapsed or ended
Could you believe that an Irish motorist narrowly avoided a jail term after being caught without car insurance for the 26th time in 2022!
How do the Gardaí know if you’re driving without insurance?
If you’re considering hedging your bets and driving without insurance, it might be best to think again. The Gardaí have developed advanced technology to pinpoint motorists that are driving illegally.
Using handheld devices, Gardaí scan car registration plates to detect whether you have a valid car insurance policy or not. Gardaí have been using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology for the last twelve years to read every car registration plate that passes them at a rate of six vehicles every second, driving up to 180 km an hour.
Once a driver’s number plate has been registered by this technology, the Gardaí will be able to see:
- The insurance company you’re with
- Who your previous insurer was
- If your tax is valid
- If your NCT is valid
- If you’re driving a stolen vehicle
- Other information
Gardaí can then access this data in either their vehicle or on their mobile phones. Gardaí also receive up-to-date data from the MIBI on an estimated 3 million vehicles and 5 million drivers daily. This extensive data outlines the insurance status and the details of the driver or drivers covered by each policy.
Setting up Garda checkpoints and visually checking to see if your vehicle has an in-date insurance disc displayed on your windshield is another method used to find insurance evaders.
What is an added benefit of the ANPR system?
According to the Dublin Regional Roads Policing Division, the ANPR system ensures that drivers are unable to fraud the insurance system.
A common practice amongst insurance dodgers sees them purchasing their car insurance policies by direct debit and then canceling this direct debit payment once they receive their car insurance disc. This means that although it appears that their vehicle is insured, it is not. As a result, these fraudsters were getting away with only paying 10% of their car insurance policy.
Thankfully, the introduction of the ANPR system means Gardaí can detect if your insurance policy has been cancelled or not.
What happens if you are caught without insurance?
According to Citizens Information, if a Garda asks you for your insurance certificate then you must provide it within 7 days. You will also be fined an initial fixed charge of €60 that rises to €90 after 28 days for failing to display an insurance disc on your car.
Any offences for driving without insurance are prosecuted in court. As an uninsured driver you could:
- Be fined up to €5000
- Receive 5 penalty points
- Go to jail for up to 6 months
- Get disqualified from driving
The severity of your punishment will depend on the judge and your history of driving/insurance offences.
How do you know if you are insured or not?
Typically car insurance policies last for one year.
Your car insurance provider is obligated to provide you with an insurance renewal notice at least 20 days before your current insurance policy expires which means that you won’t be left without cover unexpectedly.
Along with your renewal notice, your insurance provider must provide you with your no-claims discount certificate which you will need if you decide to take out a policy with a new provider.
You can renew your car insurance policy or take out a new one with a new provider either online, in person or over the phone. As the cost of car insurance premiums varies depending on the provider, we recommend that you shop around to find the best value policy to suit your needs every year.
Is it possible to have insurance but still be uninsured?
Yes.
Failing to provide the correct information about your car or driving history can result in your car insurance being invalid. You may have paid for your policy but if it is the wrong type of insurance for your car then you will not be able to make a claim or drive on the road legally because your policy is inaccurate.
For example, if you get any modifications done to your car, your policy may no longer protect you as these modifications are not covered in your policy.
Remember to always declare any modifications with your insurance provider to ensure you still have cover. However, it's important to be aware that many insurers refuse to provide insurance to cars that have undergone modifications.
Learn about the different reasons why you could be denied car insurance.
What should I do if I am in an incident with an uninsured driver in Ireland?
Before you do anything or approach the other driver, take a note of:
- the make of the other car
- the model of the other car
- the registration of the other car
Now, it is time to try to gain as many other pieces of information as possible. Attempt to get:
- the name of the other driver
- address of the other driver
- driver number of the other driver
- photographs of the scene as well as the damage to each vehicle
- the exact location of the incident
- note any cameras that may have captured it unfolding
- if anyone else was around to see the incident, take their information as witnesses
Uninsured drivers will sometimes try to flee the scene of an incident for obvious reasons. If that happens, be sure not to pursue them.
Gather the information that you can and call the Gardaí. You will have to make an official report with them. Provide all of the information and evidence that you could gather. They will provide official documentation of the accident which will be helpful later.
Can I get compensation for damage caused by an uninsured driver?
No matter who was at fault for the accident, you should call your insurance company to inform them of the incident and specify that it was with an uninsured driver. Provide them with all information and evidence that you have gathered.
If the uninsured driver was at fault, it is now time to get in touch with the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB). The MIB is a government backed organisation that provides compensation to victims of uninsured or untraced drivers on Irish roads.
Take all of your information and evidence, including the Garda report to the MIB and they will initiate a claim. If you are able to prove that the uninsured driver was at fault then you will receive payment for damages.
Can I take legal action against an uninsured driver?
In the meantime, the Gardaí will try to track down the uninsured driver and prosecute them. If they are found then you can try to take legal action against them.
However, be warned that often uninsured drivers will not have the means to pay compensation. It may be in your best interests to focus on obtaining damages from the MIB and recovering from the incident.
Summary
Incidents with uninsured drivers will continue to increase as more drivers opt to go without insurance. This leaves law abiding citizens vulnerable to unfair and unforeseen damages.
However, with some quick thinking and action you can mitigate risk and damages can be claimed regardless. The best thing that you can do is stay aware and be ready to collect as much information as possible.
Hopefully, the increased Garda effort to tackle this issue will begin to see results soon.
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