The Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland has called for sweeping changes to Ireland’s motor insurance system, warning that the number of uninsured vehicles on the roads remains stubbornly high despite enforcement efforts by authorities.
New research from the organisation estimates that the number of uninsured private vehicles rose by 3.5% between 2024 and 2025, reaching 105,429. It also found that in 2025 there were approximately 105,942 non-private vehicles either uninsured or not properly registered on the National Fleet Database.
The bureau is urging the Government to introduce a system known as Continuous Vehicle Coverage (CVC), already in place in 25 European countries. Under this model, vehicle owners would be legally required to maintain insurance at all times from the moment they take ownership, unless the vehicle is formally declared off the road.
The system would allow authorities to directly match vehicle registrations with insurance records, making uninsured vehicles easier to identify and act upon. The MIBI points to the United Kingdom as an example, where uninsured vehicles reportedly fell from around 6% to 2.5% after the system was introduced. In that model, owners receive notices after 28 days of non-insurance, followed by penalties at 56 days and potential prosecution if no action is taken within six months.
At present in Ireland, enforcement relies on detecting drivers operating vehicles without insurance, placing the burden largely on gardaí.
Chief Executive David Fitzgerald said the current approach is no longer sufficient. He said progress in reducing uninsured driving has “flatlined” and that further measures are needed to bring Ireland closer to European standards.
According to Fitzgerald, Ireland’s uninsured vehicle rate remains around 6.5%, compared with an EU average of 2.4% and 2.5% in the UK. He said most comparable countries already operate continuous insurance systems that reduce reliance on roadside enforcement.
Ireland has made some progress in recent years. The number of uninsured vehicles has fallen from an estimated 187,000 in 2022, supported by the introduction of the Irish Motor Insurance Database, which allows gardaí to check insurance status in seconds using automatic number plate recognition technology.
Despite this, enforcement activity remains high, with more than 19,000 vehicles seized in 2025 and over 25,000 charges and summons issued for insurance-related offences.
The MIBI, which compensates victims of crashes involving uninsured or unidentified drivers, estimates that uninsured driving adds around €30 to every motor insurance policy in Ireland.
Fitzgerald said a shift to Continuous Vehicle Coverage would reduce pressure on law enforcement and help lower costs for motorists, while improving road safety by ensuring all vehicles remain insured unless formally taken off the road.
