Latest figures released by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) show that claims caused by uninsured and untraced vehicles remain worryingly high. A total of 2,758 claims were received by the MIBI in 2017 just under the 2,802 claims made in 2016. 

As may be expected the largest number of claims came from Dublin with 1,140 claims accounting for 41% of the total. Limerick and Cork also experienced a high level of claims. However, when taken on a per capita basis, counties such as Cavan and Longford were found to be claim hotspots.

The MIBI is a not for profit organisation which was established to compensate victims of road traffic accidents caused by uninsured and unidentified vehicles. Speaking about the figures, David Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of the MIBI said, “In 2016 we witnessed a significant step up in the number of claims the MIBI receives and that level was sustained in 2017.  When you compare the current level of claims to the approximately 2,400 to 2,500 claims range we experienced in the years up to and including 2015, you can see there has been a marked increase.”

David added, “There are a number of factors behind this increase, including the number of uninsured drivers operating on Irish roads.  As the MIBI outlined in late 2016, at that time there were over 151,000 uninsured private vehicles in the Republic of Ireland.  We are continuing to work with the Gardaí, the State and the rest of the motor insurance industry to bring forward measures that will help combat this problem.”

The MIBI has also outlined its determination to tackle fraudulent claims.  It estimates 1 in 8 of all claims received are suspicious. It is taking steps to make it much more difficult for claims of this type to succeed.