Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2017
619. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the reason vehicles that are over ten years old and pass the national car test can be refused insurance quotes from a large percentage of providers. [24181/17]
View answerThe provision of insurance cover and the price at which it is offered is a commercial matter for insurance companies, and is based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept and adequate provisioning to meet those risks. These are considered by insurance companies on a case by case basis, relying on a combination of rating factors such as age of the driver, claims record, driving experience, number of drivers, uses of the car, etc. Different insurance companies apply different ratings when deciding whether to quote for or to price insurance. Member States are expressly prohibited by the EU framework for Insurance from requiring insurance companies to obtain prior approval of the pricing or terms and conditions of insurance products.
The National Car Test was introduced to comply with EU Periodic Roadworthiness Testing requirements, and a car which passes the test may be driven on our roads. A valid NCT certificate only confirms that a vehicle is in a roadworthy condition at the time of the test.
There is a Declined Cases Agreement mechanism, which is used where a person has been refused motor insurance by a number of insurers. Under the Central Bank's 'General Good Requirements for Insurance and Reinsurance Undertakings', all motor insurers operating in the State must abide by the Declined Cases Agreement. If a person is unable to obtain a quotation for motor insurance, they should contact Insurance Ireland, 5 Harbourmaster Place, IFSC, Dublin 1, DO1 E7E8 quoting the Declined Cases Agreement email: declined@insuranceireland.eu Tel: 01 6761914. The Declined Cases Committee of Insurance Ireland deals with any cases of difficulty in obtaining motor insurance.
