A TOTAL of 292 car insurance offences were recorded in Donegal in 2025, with 8,776 offences recorded on the county’s roads since 2003.
Analysis of new CSO stats by CompareInsurance.ie found there was one insurance offence for every 418 driving licences in Donegal last year – far below the national average of one in 363.
The study shows that Galway recorded the highest rate of offences last year, with one in every 242 drivers failing to produce or display insurance.
At the other end of the scale, Meath had the lowest rate at just one in every 694 drivers, followed by Wicklow (one in 690), Cork (one in 505) and Clare (one in 476).
The total number of insurance incidents recorded nationally last year was 9,749, with 305,469 recorded between 2003 and 2025.
Insurance offences include failures to have, produce or display valid insurance documentation, which means the offences do not necessarily mean uninsured driving.
James Dorrian of CompareInsurance.ie said the figures show that failure to produce or have valid car insurance is an ongoing issue, with a slight increase last year on the 9,230 incidents recorded in 2024.
“Car insurance compliance is not just a legal formality – it’s a crucial safeguard for all road users,” he said.
“Drivers should remember that failing to produce insurance or having invalid documentation can result in fines, penalty points, or even prosecution.
“In many cases, these incidents may be down to simple oversights like not properly displaying documentation or waiting for renewals.
“But as well as being illegal, not having valid motor insurance can also lead to significant problems if you’re involved in an accident.
“Taking a few minutes to make sure your insurance is valid and up to date could save you a lot of hassle. We also recommend setting a clear reminder each year before your insurance expires, to make sure you’re always up-to-date.”