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National Car Test

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 May 2018

Wednesday, 30 May 2018

Ceisteanna (210)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

210. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps being taken in relation to an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23978/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The National Car Test which was introduced to comply with an EU Roadworthiness Testing Directive, is aimed at helping to prevent avoidable accidents and improving road safety, and a car which passes this test may be driven on our roads. 

The Cost of Insurance Working Group, now chaired by Minister of State Michael D'Arcy at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure, examined the issue of the cost of motor insurance including an examination of the issue raised by you. The Report of that Group and subsequent updates can be found here - www.finance.gov.ie/what-we-do/insurance/the-cost-of-insurance-working-group/. 

The Cost of Insurance Working Group Report commented that an ‘older vehicle may have a greater risk of injury due to its lack of safety features compared to a modern vehicle’ (See Point 2.4 Underwriting Risks and Coverages, Section vii. Vehicle details on page 29 of the Report).  Research by the Road Safety Authority indicates that in the event of a collision, the level of personal injury to an individual in an older car can be significantly higher than if that person was driving a new car. Safety features on newer cars can include greater use of airbags, electronic stability, improved braking systems, roll-over protection, etc., all of which are designed to reduce the impact of a collision on the occupants.  A higher overall level of personal injury payout may be one factor that leads some insurance companies to consider older cars a higher risk in terms of potential payouts when underwriting a policy.

If a person is unable to obtain a quotation for motor insurance or feels that the premium proposed or the terms are so excessive that it amounts to a refusal to give them motor insurance, they should contact Insurance Ireland, 5 Harbourmaster Place, IFSC, Dublin 1 Postcode DO1 E7E8 quoting the Declined Cases Agreement email : declined@insuranceireland.eu Tel. 01.6761820. See www.insuranceireland.eu/consumer-information/general-non-life-insurance/declined-cases-agreement.  Under the Declined Cases Agreement, which all motor insurers must adhere to under the Central Bank’s ‘General Good Requirements for Insurance and Reinsurance Undertakings’, a Declined Cases Committee, including consumer representatives, deal with any cases of difficulty in obtaining motor insurance.

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