Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2024
131. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport if his Department and any relevant agency can update their records and databases to reflect the facts about a vehicle (details supplied) with which the owner is experiencing difficulties in insuring because of misinformation being associated with this vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9305/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraInsurers provide details of written-off vehicles, and my Department's National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) is updated with these particulars. Where written off instances are noted on the NVDF it results in the affected vehicles on the system being generally ‘locked down’ so that no further activity such as changes of vehicle ownership or renewal of motor tax can be recorded. ‘Write offs’ generally refer to vehicles that have been extensively damaged and designated by insurers as being totally or substantially destroyed (Category A and B).
According to the NVDF record, the vehicle in question is not recorded as a Category A or B vehicle, so there are no restrictions on the vehicle on the database itself. I understand that an error was made on the insurers own internal systems (from a previous incident involving the vehicle), where the vehicle status was recorded incorrectly as a Category B. This incident involved two insurance companies and my officials are liaising with both. They have indicated that this correction to the vehicle record will be made as a matter of urgency so that the vehicle owner can get it insured.
My officials have also be keeping the registered owner of the vehicle up to date on the matter, and will continue to do so.
