Major rise in claims for accidents caused by uninsured vehicles in mayo

The number of claims relating to accidents caused by uninsured or untraced vehicles grew by 80 percent in Mayo last year, according to new figures published by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). 

This was significantly ahead of the 11 percent rise experienced on a national basis and accounted for the highest percentage increase in the country. 

There were a total of 27 such claims in Mayo in 2023, up from the 15 that were submitted in 2022. 

Nationally, the MIBI received a total of 1,927 claims across the country.

This represented 187 additional claims from the 1,740 they received in 2022.  

Reacting to the growth, the MIBI said it ‘reaffirms the importance of the new law enforcement system to clamp down on uninsured driving’. 

Speaking about the level of claims received in 2023, David Fitzgerald, CEO of the MIBI said: “This jump in claims due to accidents caused by uninsured vehicles in Mayo should be a cause of concern for every law-abiding motorist in the county. It is illegal to drive without valid motor insurance, yet as these figures show there are still a significant number of people who are willingly flouting the law.”  

He continued: “Every one of the uninsured motorists behind these claims is effectively putting their hands in the pockets of law-abiding motorists in Mayo and around the country and taking their money. As they broke the law and drove without insurance cover, it becomes the responsibility of the MIBI to handle the compensation associated with these claims.

Since signing a data sharing agreement last November, the MIBI now provides the insurance details for 3 million vehicles on a daily basis to An Garda Síochána, meaning the Gardaí can now check the insurance status of any vehicle by scanning its registration plate. 

As the MIBI is a not for profit organisation that was established to compensate victims of road traffic accidents caused by uninsured and unidentified vehicles, effectively the expense of meeting these claims is borne by law-abiding motorists.

The average motorist will have contributed €30 - €35 at their most recent insurance renewal to cover the claims paid out by the MIBI in the last year. 

The number of claims relating to uninsured drivers grew in 14 of the 26 counties across the Republic, with the largest percentage increases occurring in Mayo, Meath and Kildare.

Mr Fitzgerald explained: “So if the Gardaí in Mayo scan your registration number they’ll know in seconds if there is valid insurance in place or not. We’re on record saying our expectation is that this will be a game changer for law enforcement in dealing with the scourge of uninsured driving. We hope that as this new weapon begins to bite, it won’t be long before the number of uninsured claims we receive also begins to fall for Mayo and all around the country.   

“That will be good for road safety on Mayo roads, Irish roads and also good for the pockets of law-abiding motorists across the country,” he concluded.  

The full list of claims relating to accidents caused by uninsured vehicles on a county by county basis is outlined in this table.