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No motor-cover policy without driver number

A measure included in the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 now means that anyone renewing or buying motor insurance must provide their driver number.

The move, aimed at enhancing road safety, comes into force on 31 March and the details will be needed for any named drivers on the policy.

This information will be added to the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID), which supports gardaí in roads policing.

This database already shows what insurance policies are in place for three million vehicles in Ireland and who the insured drivers are.

Offence

From the end of this month, it will be an offence for any insurer or broker to provide motor insurance in Ireland to anyone who does not provide driver-number information.

Many insurers have already begun collecting this legally required information.

Every motorist has their own unique driver number, which stays with them regardless of the vehicle they are using.

It is found under section 4(d) on a driver licence.

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland has said that the addition of the driver number – tied to each specific driver – will make it more difficult for drivers who act illegally on Irish roads to evade detection.