THE NUMBER OF claims relating to accidents caused by drivers who were uninsured or untraced grew by 11% last year. 

That’s according to new figures published by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI).

Last year, the MIBI received a total of 1,927 claims. This represented 187 additional claims from the 1,740 they received in 2022.

The number of claims relating to uninsured drivers rose in 14 of the 26 counties across the Republic.

The largest percentage increases occured in Mayo (up 80%), Meath (up 55%) and Kildare (up 42%).

Nine counties recorded a drop in the number of claims, with the largest percentage decreases coming in Leitrim (down 55%), Offaly (down 29%) and Sligo (down 21%).

Three counties also recorded the exact same number of claims as 2022.

The largest number of claims relating to uninsured driving came in Dublin (822), followed by Cork (141), Limerick (112), Kildare (102) and Galway (91).   

Reacting to the growth in claims the MIBI said it “reaffirms the importance of the new law enforcement system to clamp down on uninsured driving”.

The MIBI signed a data sharing agreement last November and now provides the insurance details for 3 million vehicles using Irish roads on a daily basis to An Garda Síochána.

This means that the gardaí can now check the insurance status of any vehicle simply by scanning its registration plate.

The MIBI is a not for profit organisation that was established to compensate victims of road traffic accidents caused by uninsured and unidentified vehicles.

It noted that the expense of meeting these claims is borne by law abiding motorists. The average motorist will have contributed €30 to €35 at their most recent insurance renewal to cover the claims paid out by the MIBI in the last year, it said.