Hello everyone
I wonder if any of you can help me? Today I was stopped at a garda checkpoint and was totally taken aback at being told my insurance was out of date. I was absolutely convinced that I would not have let my insurance lapse and thought I must have simply removed the insurance disc to take down my car registration number or insurance policy number or something like that for e.g. renewing car tax or something. I was told that I would have to produce evidence of insurance at my local garda station. I went home and looked high and low for a current certificate of insurance, but found neither a certificate nor any renewal notices coming up to the renewal date. The only communication I found was an email dated 14/2/17 stating that my insurance had not been renewed at that stage and asking me to contact my insurer. However, my insurance had expired on the 6/2/17. I had phoned the insurance company as soon as I got home to ask if I had renewed my insurance with them, but was told that I hadn't. When I asked if they had sent me out any renewal notices, I was told that they had sent out a notice on the 8/2/17 and on 14/2/17. It only struck me later that those dates were actually after the renewal date. On a citizens information site I noticed that there is a requirement for insurance companies to send out a renewal notice at least 15 days before the renewal date. I intend to phone the insurance company tomorrow to get confirmation of the dates they mentioned yesterday, but am wondering if a lack of provision of adequate notice for renewal of insurance would be taken into account when I am faced with a fine which apparently can be up to €5000 and 5 penalty points. I absolutely genuinely believed I had renewed my insurance whenever it was due, having no memory of not doing so. However, on checking my credit card statements I couldn't find any sign of a payment having been made, so can only assume that I had, inadvertently, let my insurance lapse. I was really upset to discover the level of penalties for which I now seem to be liable, plus an appearance in court - something I have never faced before. Any advice or information would be very welcome. Thank you
I wonder if any of you can help me? Today I was stopped at a garda checkpoint and was totally taken aback at being told my insurance was out of date. I was absolutely convinced that I would not have let my insurance lapse and thought I must have simply removed the insurance disc to take down my car registration number or insurance policy number or something like that for e.g. renewing car tax or something. I was told that I would have to produce evidence of insurance at my local garda station. I went home and looked high and low for a current certificate of insurance, but found neither a certificate nor any renewal notices coming up to the renewal date. The only communication I found was an email dated 14/2/17 stating that my insurance had not been renewed at that stage and asking me to contact my insurer. However, my insurance had expired on the 6/2/17. I had phoned the insurance company as soon as I got home to ask if I had renewed my insurance with them, but was told that I hadn't. When I asked if they had sent me out any renewal notices, I was told that they had sent out a notice on the 8/2/17 and on 14/2/17. It only struck me later that those dates were actually after the renewal date. On a citizens information site I noticed that there is a requirement for insurance companies to send out a renewal notice at least 15 days before the renewal date. I intend to phone the insurance company tomorrow to get confirmation of the dates they mentioned yesterday, but am wondering if a lack of provision of adequate notice for renewal of insurance would be taken into account when I am faced with a fine which apparently can be up to €5000 and 5 penalty points. I absolutely genuinely believed I had renewed my insurance whenever it was due, having no memory of not doing so. However, on checking my credit card statements I couldn't find any sign of a payment having been made, so can only assume that I had, inadvertently, let my insurance lapse. I was really upset to discover the level of penalties for which I now seem to be liable, plus an appearance in court - something I have never faced before. Any advice or information would be very welcome. Thank you