The number of insurance claims in Cavan and Monaghan for accidents involving uninsured vehicles is higher than the national rate. Nationally, the number of claims against uninsured drivers was up by 11 per cent in 2023 compared to the year earlier.
In Cavan, the increase recorded is double that at 22 per cent and in Monaghan. it is even higher at 38 per cent. In 2023, there were a total of 28 claims relating to uninsured vehicles in Cavan compared to 23 in the year before. For Monaghan, the number of similar claims in 2023 was lower at 22 but, that is up from 16 from the year earlier.
David Fitzgerald is Chief Executive of MIBI. He told the Joe Finnegan Show earlier that with 188,000, or one in 12 vehicles here uninsured, Ireland ranks second in Europe for this worrying trend. Mr Fitzgerald also said it is those who take out and pay for insurance who end up paying for the accidents involving those who haven't paid: "What we do is we compensate the victims of accidents caused by uninsured or un-traced vehicles," Mr Fitzgerald said, "so, this 11 per cent growth is troubling because the compensation the victims get from us is funded by law-abiding motorists so, effectively, uninsured drivers are taking millions from the pockets of you and me and adding an average of €30-€35 to the cost of a motor insurance policy."
