Number of motorists caught without insurance doubles

The number of motorists caught driving without insurance in the Meath/Westmeath garda division almost doubled between 2023 and 2024, new figures have shown.

In percentage terms, the number of detections rose by 84.6 per cent, the garda-sourced statistics have shown.

Significant as the hike may have been in the 12-month period in question – between Q2 of 2023 and Q2 of 2024 – it was nowhere near to being the worst area in the country: that is Sligo and Leitrim in which a 216% per cent increase in detections was recorded.

Other areas that have also seen large hikes are Galway (199%), Dublin South Central (166%) and Laois/Offaly (137.8%).

Ireland South MEP, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, a member of the EU Transport committee, who has described the figures as “shocking”, has theorised that high car insurance premiums may be the reason for the spike in motorists driving without insurance,

“It appears likely there is a correlation between the excessive cost of car insurance in Ireland and the spike in motorists driving without insurance,” Ms Ní Mhurchú said this week, stating that the cost of car insurance has risen by over 11% in a year according to CSO figures – well above the level of inflation.

“That in no way justifies a motorist driving without insurance and uninsured drivers involved in accidents only serve to further increase the average cost of premiums,” Ms Ní Mhurchú stressed, before stating she intends raising the issue in the EU Transport Committee and will lobby her colleagues in government to implement the Action Plan for Insurance Reform promised in the Programme for Government.