Cork and Kerry see a huge rise in uninsured drivers between 2023 and 2024. Experts estimate 1 in 12 Irish drivers lack insurance.
Experts think 190,000 Irish drivers are uninsured, about one in twelve. High car costs may contribute to this, as Ireland is the EU’s priciest place for cars.
Garda data comparing 2024 to 2023 shows significant increases. Galway saw a 199% rise in uninsured drivers caught, while Dublin South Central had a 166% increase. Kerry’s increase was 115.7%, Cork County rose by 89.5%, and Cork City showed a 108.6% increase.
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, an MEP for Ireland South, will discuss Cork insurance costs in Europe. She wants action on rising uninsured drivers nationwide.
Ní Mhurchú finds these figures shocking and suggests high insurance costs may be the cause. However, she said this doesn’t excuse driving uninsured, as uninsured accidents raise everyone’s costs. Insurance rose over 11% yearly, more than general inflation.
France expects insurance to rise 4-6%, half of Ireland’s increase. Estonia’s insurance rose 22% in 2023 but remains low at €144. Rural Hungary has premiums as low as €130.
Ní Mhurchú will raise this issue in Europe and push for insurance reform at home. This reform was promised by the government before.