Uninsured drivers push up cost of insurance

More than a quarter of us have had our car damaged by an unidentified driver at some stage and almost seven percent have had to deal with the damage left by an uninsured driver, an AA Motor Insurance poll of over 9,800 people has found, writes Trish Whelan.

"It's frustrating when someone damages your car and doesn't own up. It might be in a supermarket car park or on the road side, or even while you are driving, and is really unfair," says Conor Faughnan of the AA.

The issue of uninsured driving is even more serious. "There is a reckless minority of drivers out there that are willing to take the risk and break the law by driving without insurance. That irresponsible minority adds up to €40 to the cost that honest motorists pay for their cover, and this problem gets worse in recessionary times."

When an uninsured driver causes damage, compensation is paid by the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland which acts as the insurance company and pays the cost. But we all pick up the tab for it and it's pushing up the price for the 95 percent of us who pay for motor insurance every year.