Effective from March 31, 2025, all motorists in Ireland are legally required to provide their unique driver number, along with those of any named drivers listed on their policy, when purchasing or renewing car insurance.
This stems from changes to the Road Traffic Act 2023 aimed at improving road safety and reducing the number of uninsured drivers on Irish roads. The Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) estimates that there were close to 188,000 uninsured vehicles on roads across Ireland in 2022.
The driver number is a unique nine-digit identifier assigned to each licensed driver in Ireland, located under section 4(d) on the driver’s licence. It’s consistent throughout a driver’s lifetime, regardless of vehicle changes.
Insurance providers will be unable to issue or renew policies without this information. Therefore, motorists should provide their driver number and those of any named drivers to their insurers as soon as possible to maintain uninterrupted coverage.
The MIBI has stated that driver information will be added to the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID), which is used by An Garda Síochána to track insurance policies for over 3 million vehicles in Ireland.
By linking driver numbers to the database, An Garda Síochána can more easily detect uninsured drivers, and check if drivers have committed any road-traffic offences. The IMID is updated daily, ensuring the data is accurate and helps maintain road safety.
John Kennedy, Managing Director of KennCo Insurance, stated, “The introduction of mandatory driver numbers in insurance policies is a significant step toward ensuring all road users are properly insured. We encourage our customers to provide this information as quickly as possible to make sure they are properly covered and to contribute to safer roads across Ireland.“
KennCo Insurance remains committed to supporting road safety initiatives and facilitating compliance with new regulations. We advise all policyholders to review their driver details and update their information to ensure continuous insurance coverage.
About KennCo Insurance
KennCo Insurance, established in 2008, operates as a part of KennCo Underwriting Limited, which has risen to become one of Ireland’s largest underwriting agencies. Proudly based in Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin, we are committed to providing competitively priced insurance policies for car, van, travel and home.
KennCo Underwriting Ltd T/A KennCo Insurance is regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland.