Rising claims against drivers without insurance blamed for hikes

Motorists face the risk of more hikes in insurance premiums after the number of accident claims relating to uninsured and untraced drivers jumped by 17% so far this year.

Figures from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) confirm from January 1 to July 31, there were 1,644 claims relating to incidents involving non-insured or untraceable drivers. In the same period last year, a total of 1,409 cases had been lodged.

The largest number of claims were in the Dublin area which accounted for 42% of all uninsured or untraced driver claims. There were 688 claims in the capital, up 13% from 610 recorded in 2015. The next highest number of claims was in Cork which had 129 claims, up 16% from the 111 recorded in 2015. Galway came third with 92 claims, up 28% from the 72 claims in the corresponding period last year.