The Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 currently before the Oireachtas provides for an amendment to the Part 2 Written-off Vehicle provisions contained within the 2016 Road Traffic Act. Once the current Road Traffic and Roads Bill makes its way through the Oireachtas to enactment, Part 2 of the 2016 Act will be commenced soon thereafter.
Part 2 of the Road Traffic Act 2016 will make it mandatory for insurance companies providing insurance for Irish registered vehicles, to notify the Department within a specified timeframe, when an Irish registered vehicle is categorised as a written-off vehicle upon inspection by the insurance company.
Once enacted, when a Category A or B written-off vehicle is notified to the Department, the vehicle will have its record locked. It will then not be possible to tax such a vehicle or to complete a Change of Vehicle Ownership process. These measures are key to ensuring that unsuspecting buyers do not purchase such vehicles. Category A and B vehicles are deemed not suitable to be repaired and the vehicle cannot go back on the road (End-of-life vehicle).
Further information in relation to Written-Off Vehicles is available at: www.rsa.ie/road-safety/road-users/car-drivers/resources/written-off-vehicles.
While I understand that the UK Code of Practice for insurance companies you refer to, is a voluntary code, there are currently no proposals at present to introduce such a code in this State.
The registration of vehicles in the State and any documentation required is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners.