13 May 2017
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
No one likes paying for insurance, but here in Ireland it is mandatory for motorists to have a privately purchased car insurance policy.
New figures show a dramatic surge in the number of consumers who had to avail of the Insurance Ireland ‘Declined Cases’ facility having failed to secure a motor insurance quote in the market.
So, if you cannot get a quote then, as Michael Jackson sang ‘you are not alone’.
A catchy song, isn’t it! but now back to serious news.
Can the Government legislate to make it easier to get car insurance?
Cork South Central TD Micheal McGrath is Fianna Fail’s spokesman on Finance. In relation to car insurance he has noted that “Following a 74% increase in 2015, the number of cases dealt with under the ‘Declined Cases’ agreement has surged a further 67% in 2016 to reach a new record high of 1,941.”
When you consider that the number of cases in 2012 was just 178, you get a sense of how dramatic and worrying this trend is.
Michael McGrath TD
“Given that consumers only apply under the Declined Cases agreement if they have failed to get a quote in the market, these figures are symptoms of a dysfunctional market at present. Insurance companies are becoming more and more selective in the profile of customers they want. Many older drivers, younger drivers, people with an open claim, taxi drivers, returning emigrants and motorists with older cars are among those who have fallen out of favour with many insurance companies.
“The figures released by Insurance Ireland only capture those cases that have been brought to their attention. It is inevitable there are many more cases where consumers have simply given up having failed to get a reasonable insurance quote or indeed any quote at all. In addition, we don’t know how many of the 1,941 consumers who brought their case in 2016 ended up with a quote that they could afford. It is likely many of them got a quote under the Agreement which was essentially out of reach and completely unaffordable.
“Dáil Éireann will next week debate a Fianna Fáil motion on the need for greater action to tackle the escalating insurance premiums faced by motorists but also the dramatic hikes many firms are facing for insurance cover for their business.”
