Irish motorists have been warned about a significant change to insurance policies set to take effect later this year. Under the new legislation, drivers must provide their nine-digit driving licence number when taking out or renewing motor insurance. Failure to comply could result in an inability to renew insurance, potentially leading to licence revocation.
The new rule, effective from March 31, 2025, will require all policyholders to submit their driver number, as well as the numbers of any named drivers on their policy. This data will be shared with the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID), allowing An Garda Síochána to verify insurance details more efficiently.
The legislation, approved in November 2024 by former Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, is part of an effort to combat uninsured driving in Ireland. Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Paula Hilman, emphasized that this move would significantly strengthen Gardaí’s ability to enforce insurance laws.
“With access to the Irish Motor Insurance Database through Garda Mobility Devices, officers will be better equipped to detect uninsured drivers,” Hilman explained. “This additional feature will further enhance road safety by ensuring compliance with insurance laws.”
This change is just one of several new road safety measures coming into effect this year. Authorities urge all motorists to prepare for the transition by ensuring their driver numbers are readily available when renewing policies.
