A significant increase in the seizure of uninsured cars will lead to a reduction in premiums over the long-term, a Minister in the Department of Transport has predicted.
New figures have revealed that 19,673 vehicles were seized by Gardaí because they were being driven without insurance.
On The Claire Byrne Show, Minister Seán Canney said the number seized in 2023 was a mere “11,000 odd”.
The difference, he believes, is because Gardaí now have the ability to check a car’s insurance through the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID).
While checking a car’s insurance status might once have required a painstaking investigation, now it takes a few seconds.
“It does show that technology and the use of technology is a great assistance to the Government in enforcing rules and regulations,” Minister Canney explained.
“And I think the message here is that people who has a car needs to have it insured.
“It's costing everybody else money if uninsured cars are on the road because of compensation claims and everybody's insurance gets a hike for that.”
A Garda checkpoint in Carrigaline, Cork. Picture by: David Creedon/Alamy Live News.Minister Canney continued that he hopes the detections and seizures send a “strong message” to those who believe they can drive without insurance.
“So basically, we have put in the regulation and the technologies to help us detect what is going on there,” he explained.
“There are still a number of further cars to be added to the database… So, the number will be increasing in terms of people who are on the register, which is a legal requirement.
“It's very good news, but it's also frightening to think that 20,000 cars on a road in 2025 without insurance.”
He added that any uninsured drivers are costing other, law-abiding drivers €35 each in higher costs, as they pick up the bills for any accidents.
It means that the reduction in uninsured drivers should eventually bring down insurance costs.
“It also helps them [insurance companies] reduce their premium overall in the long term as well,” he said.
“So, it's the thing to do.”
People caught driving uninsured risk a fine of €5,000 or a prison sentence of up to six months.
Main image: Garda traffic inspections. Picture by: Rolling News.ie.
