AA warns of low public awareness of driver number legislation change

James Cox

AA Ireland has issued an appeal to motorists to update their driver numbers on their car insurance policies, as a legal requirement is set to take effect in just a few weeks.

Despite the significance of this change, there has been "very little media coverage to date", AA Ireland said.

Many drivers remain unaware that failure to provide their driver number in advance of their renewal date by March 31st will mean they cannot renew their car insurance.

Under the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, all insurers and intermediaries acting on their behalf must ensure that they collect driver number data and validate it against the Department’s national vehicle database.

This change is a legal requirement, and it applies to all car insurance policies transacted in Ireland, regardless of the insurance provider.

Failure to provide the driver number will mean motorists will not be able to renew their car insurance.

Drivers will need to provide all driver numbers, including those of additional named drivers, if they are changing insurers or adjusting an existing policy, such as adding a named driver.

Elena Leao, Marketing and PR, AA Ireland, said: “We are now just weeks away from this change coming into effect, yet awareness remains alarmingly low. Many drivers could find themselves unable to renew their car insurance simply because they were not properly informed. There is a real risk that motorists will be caught out at renewal time, something that could have serious consequences, including being unable to legally drive their vehicle.”

This update must be done before the issue of an insurance policy, and the data must then be transferred to the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID). The main objective of the IMID is to keep uninsured drivers off Irish roads.

An Garda Síochána can access the IMID through their mobility devices, enabling them to identify drivers without insurance.

“This is an important step for road safety, but it is crucial that motorists act now. If you haven’t updated your driver number yet, don’t wait until renewal. Check your policy today to ensure you’re compliant before the deadline,” Ms Leao added.

The driver number can be found in field 4d on the front of the Irish plastic card licence. It contains nine digits and no letters. Foreign driving licenses may vary in format and location.

AA Ireland customers can submit and update their Driver Number(s) on the AA website: www.theaa.ie.