Number of uninsured vehicles on road almost halved under new detection system

Last year there were 101,881 uninsured private vehicles against an overall total of 2.4m; in 2022, this number was 187,803 against a total of 2.25m.

The number of uninsured vehicles on Irish roads has almost halved since the introduction of a new system to detect them, insurers have said.

The Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) said just over 4% of vehicles on the road were uninsured in 2024 compared to 8.3% of vehicles in 2022.

The data comes from the Irish Motor Insurance Database which collects information from insurers, brokers, fleet owners, and motor traders to compile details of policy holders, vehicle registration numbers, and the names of drivers permitted to drive that vehicle under the policy.

This data is then shared with the Department of Transport and An Garda Síochána. 

Gardaí can check a vehicle’s insurance status on the roadside and take action if a driver is uninsured.

“From early in its development, we believed [the database] would represent a powerful weapon in the battle against uninsured driving and we can now see that theory being turned into reality,” MIBI chief executive David Fitzgerald said.

“Following the introduction of this system last year, gardaí were able to seize 18,676 vehicles in 2024 and issue a further 26,094 summons and charges.”

This system allows gardaí to see in seconds if a vehicle is uninsured or has not been added to the database, allowing them to act quickly in apprehending any offenders. 

Last year, MIBI said there were 101,881 uninsured private vehicles against an overall total of 2.4m.

In 2022, this number was 187,803 against a total of 2.25m, meaning the number of uninsured private vehicles has dropped from one in every 12 to one in every 25.

Separately, it also looked at data around commercial vehicles which also need to be registered with the database. 

Fleet and motor trade policyholders who do not provide this data can be prosecuted and fined up to €500 per vehicle.

MIBI said there are around 425,000 that should be listed on this database but the details of just under 365,000 have been provided.

It estimated there could be as many as 108,671 uninsured commercial vehicles or vehicles that haven’t been properly registered, which translates to one in six of the commercial vehicles on Irish roads.

Mr Fitzgerald added: “Given these developments, we would encourage any fleet owners or motor traders who have yet to add all their vehicle details to the database to act now. 

"Otherwise they can expect to have their vehicles stopped and potentially seized by gardaí in the months ahead.”