Under the Road Traffic Acts it is an offence to use a vehicle in a public place unless the user of that vehicle is covered by insurance for third party liability.
Driving without insurance is generally punishable by a fine of up to €5,000, disqualification of one year or more for a first offence and two years or more for a second offence, and, at the discretion of the court, a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months.
In the case of a first offence of driving without insurance, the court may decide in special cases not to impose a period of disqualification or to impose a period of disqualification of less than a year. Since 1 June 2003, where the court decides not to impose a disqualification, drivers convicted of a first offence of driving without insurance will incur 5 penalty points on their licence record in addition to any other penalty imposed by the court. The commission of a second offence for driving without insurance leads to an automatic disqualification.
In addition, it should be noted that where a member of the Garda Síochána believes that a mechanically propelled vehicle being used in a public place, which is registered in the State, is being driven without insurance, the vehicle may be impounded.