Kilkenny has recorded the highest increase in uninsured claims in the country

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) has received 82 claims relating to accidents caused by uninsured and untraced driving in Kilkenny over the last five years.

In 2022, there were a total of 17 claims in Kilkenny which was up by 70% on the comparison for 2021.

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That is the highest year-on-year increase recorded across the entire country.

After Kilkenny, Galway showed the second-highest increase (up 59%), followed by Clare (up 52%).

Over the five-year period analysed, the average Kilkenny motorist will have contributed between €150 - €175 to cover these costs through their own motor insurance policies, according to the MIBI.

On a county by county basis, over the last five years the highest total number of claims received were in Dublin (4,605), Cork (819) and Limerick (617).

However, using the Census 2022 data, the most claims per capita were in Dublin, Louth and Limerick.

The five year figures also show that the number of claims dropped over the course of the pandemic when fewer vehicles, including uninsured vehicles, were on the roads.

Nationally there were over 10,000 claims submitted to the MIBI during this period.

Earlier this year the MIBI published research showing there were almost 188,000 uninsured private vehicles on Irish roads last year and that the Republic of Ireland may now have the highest level of uninsured vehicles in the EU.

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They also predicted that the number of uninsured vehicles on Irish roads could pass 200,000 in the next 12 – 18 months if ‘significant action’ isn’t taken, especially the urgent enactment and full implementation of legislation that will give greater powers to gardaí to identify uninsured vehicles.