Motor insurers in the slow lane on Brexit – Richmond

The motor insurance industry needs to step up its game in terms of Brexit and send green cards to their customers, according to Fine Gael Senator Neale Richmond.

“With just over three months to the Brexit deadline of October 31^st, it is high time the motor insurance industry stepped up its game on Brexit preparedness. I am calling on insurance companies to send green cards to their customers without delay.

“If a no deal Brexit takes place in October, Irish motorists using Irish registered vehicles will need a green card with them when they drive in Northern Ireland and the UK. This green card will ensure that their motor insurance policy is considered valid when driving out of the jurisdiction.

“In addition, if you live and drive in Ireland with a UK driver’s license, in the event of a no-deal, you must change this before the 31st of October 2019. The National Driver’s License Service are recommending you do this now, to avoid the delays predicted later in the year. The application only takes a few minutes and a license will be sent out within three weeks.

“This will of course particularly affect people living in border counties here as they may cross in and out of the North on a number of occasions in any given day.

“I am very concerned that some insurance companies are not well prepared at this juncture.

“The Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland have put out good information on this issue and they say that if you plan on driving your car in Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the UK in the days immediately after Brexit you should contact your insurance company or insurance broker as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for you to receive your Green Card.

“Despite this I have evidence of insurance companies adopting a wait and see approach and telling their customers that they don’t need a green card yet. Some insurers are even writing out to customers to inform them about the green card and inviting them to apply. If they are taking the trouble to write to customers anyway about this matter why not just send the green card with the letter? It would save the company a further costly mail out, avoid the hassle of applications and would ensure that motorists are Brexit ready.

“Of course we do not want to see a hard Brexit but we must prepare for all eventualities. The Irish Government has been preparing for Brexit since long before the vote took place.

“We have communicated to business and industry with all the information they need and encouraging them to take the right steps to fully prepare. I repeat the message that we want all businesses to register with Revenue for a customs number (EORI number). They also should contact their UK suppliers and check to see if other suppliers use the UK as a landbridge. It is important for businesses to review their supply chain and also check if they are relying on products or services that are certified for compliance with EU standards by a UK body.

“Finally businesses should avail of the Government’s range of advisory and financial supports about which they can find more information at gov.ie/Brexit.”