AA Ireland has appealed to motorists to update their driver numbers on their car insurance policies as a legal requirement will take effect in the coming days.
Drivers who fail to provide their driver number by March 31st will be unable to renew their car insurance or purchase a new policy until the driver number is provided.
Under the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, all insurers and intermediaries acting on their behalf must ensure that they collect driver number data and validate it against the department’s national vehicle database.
The change is a legal requirement, and applies to all car insurance policies transacted in Ireland, regardless of insurance provider.
Failure to provide the driver number will mean motorists will be unable to renew their current car insurance.
Drivers will need to provide all driver numbers, including those of additional named drivers if they change insurers or adjust an existing policy such as adding a named driver.
Awareness of this change is still low, regardless of it coming into effect in a few days, Elena Leao, marketing and PR with AA Ireland said.
“Many drivers could find themselves unable to obtain or renew their car insurance simply because they were not properly informed.
“There is a real risk that motorists will be caught out at renewal time, something that could have serious consequences, including being unable to legally drive their vehicle,” she said.
The update must be done before the issue of an insurance policy and the date must then be transferred to the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID).
The main objective of the IMID is to keep uninsured drivers off Irish roads, according to AA Ireland.
An Garda Síochána will have access to the IMID through their mobility devices, enabling them to identify drivers without insurance.
The addition of driver numbers is aimed at further strengthening road safety initiatives in Ireland.
“This is an important step for road safety, but it is crucial that motorists act now. If you haven’t updated your driver number yet, don’t wait until renewal. Check your policy today to ensure you’re compliant before the deadline,” Leao added.
The driver number can be found in field 4d on the front of the Irish plastic card licence. It contains nine digits and no letters. Foreign driving licenses may vary in format and location.
If you do not have access to your physical driving licence and need your driver number, you can visit myroadsafety.rsa.ie where you can log in & retrieve it by clicking the 'My Licences' option on the menu.
Otherwise, you can contact the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) for assistance.
