Displaying Insuance Disc

fergiesfolly

I've just(yesterday) changed my insurer, but they told me I won't get the cert for a few days and my old Insurance expires on Monday. Can I drive the car without an up to date disc, even though I'm covered. I'm worried I'll come accross a Garda checkpoint and have no proof of insurance. The insurance company emailed the schedule etc, but I don't think that counts as a legal document.

Thoie

It is illegal to drive without displaying a current insurance disc. The fine for non-display of insurance is €60 iirc. (Edit: See Jo King's post below for more accurate information.)

Having said that, in your situation I'd go for it as long as I was sure I was insured, and carry a print-out of the schedule with me and hope for the best.

Avns1s

Bring the email that shows you're insured and you'll be fine unless you meet the thickest guard in the country who's having a real bad day. If you were stopped for insurance, you would have 10 days to bring it to the Garda Station anyway.

I always think the insurance thing is a farce. It might prove that there is an insurance policy associated with the particular car, but in what way does it prove that the driver is insured? Another daft idea, IMO.

Trampas

Avns1s wrote: »

Bring the email that shows you're insured and you'll be fine unless you meet the thickest guard in the country who's having a real bad day. If you were stopped for insurance, you would have 10 days to bring it to the Garda Station anyway.

I always think the insurance thing is a farce. It might prove that there is an insurance policy associated with the particular car, but in what way does it prove that the driver is insured? Another daft idea, IMO.

You are suppose to carry your cert which will have who is insured on the car

Thoie

Avns1s wrote: »

Bring the email that shows you're insured and you'll be fine unless you meet the thickest guard in the country who's having a real bad day. If you were stopped for insurance, you would have 10 days to bring it to the Garda Station anyway.

There are two different offences. One is not displaying the disc (fine €60). The other is not having insurance, which I believe is a lot more serious. While it is normal to be able to provide proof of insurance at a garda station in x days, there is no come back against displaying the disc. It's either there or not.

Most reasonable gardaí understand that discs have to be sent by post, and do not magic themselves onto your windscreen the second you switch insurance. They could argue that you could have arranged your insurance earlier.

coylemj

Trampas wrote: »

You are suppose to carry your cert which will have who is insured on the car

Not true, you are obliged to display a disc and be insured, there is no obligation to carry the cert. with you when driving but if a Garda at a checkpoint or investigating an accident demands it you have to produce the cert. at a Garda station nominated by you within 10 days.

Jo King

Thoie wrote: »

It is illegal to drive without displaying a current insurance disc.

Not true. There is only a requirement to display the disc 10 days after the insurance was arranged.

CiniO

Jo King wrote: »

Not true. There is only a requirement to display the disc 10 days after the insurance was arranged.

Sounds reasonalbe. But I've never heard about it.
Could we please any link to the apropriate part of law stating that?

johnb25

fergiesfolly wrote: »

I've just(yesterday) changed my insurer, but they told me I won't get the cert for a few days and my old Insurance expires on Monday. Can I drive the car without an up to date disc, even though I'm covered. I'm worried I'll come accross a Garda checkpoint and have no proof of insurance. The insurance company emailed the schedule etc, but I don't think that counts as a legal document.

I changed my car earlier this year, and it took an age for 123.ie to send out the new insurance disc and schedule; the previous owner's expired disc was still displayed. I was also late taxing it. Got stopped at a checkpoint, and just explained to the guard that I had just changed, and paperwork was still going through. He accepted it ok.

Jo King

S.I. No. 355/1984 -- Road Traffic (Insurance Disc) Regulations, 1984.

5. (1) When a vehicle is used in a public place the insurance disc for the vehicle shall be carried on the vehicle at all times after the expiry of 10 days from the date of authentication of the certificate of insurance.


http://www.bailii.org/ie/legis/num_reg/1984/0355.html

CiniO

Jo King wrote: »

S.I. No. 355/1984 -- Road Traffic (Insurance Disc) Regulations, 1984.

5. (1) When a vehicle is used in a public place the insurance disc for the vehicle shall be carried on the vehicle at all times after the expiry of 10 days from the date of authentication of the certificate of insurance.


http://www.bailii.org/ie/legis/num_reg/1984/0355.html

So this is the final answer for OP's question.
I don't think there can be anything more said about this subject.

Thanks. I didn't know that.

fergiesfolly

Thanks for all the feedback lads, especially Jo King for the link. Puts my mind at ease. Would you believe that I asked a Garda last night who couldn't give me a definitive answer. Wouldn't have taken the car out tomorrow after that.

Jo King

fergiesfolly wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback lads, especially Jo King for the link. Puts my mind at ease. Would you believe that I asked a Garda last night who couldn't give me a definitive answer. Wouldn't have taken the car out tomorrow after that.

I wouldn't be at all surprised. Most charges of non display are struck out when there is proof of insurance on the day. People are occasionally charged by guards when they have done nothing wrong. Unless the person has a good lawyer they can end up convicted.

Silvera

Jo King wrote: »

I wouldn't be at all surprised. Most charges of non display are struck out when there is proof of insurance on the day. People are occasionally charged by guards when they have done nothing wrong. Unless the person has a good lawyer they can end up convicted.

Thats a very sweeping statement ?!
Have you any examples of ppl being charged when they have done nothing wrong?
If something is struck out in court, that doesnt mean the person charged 'has done nothing wrong in the first place'.

guil

Silvera wrote: »

Thats a very sweeping statement ?!
Have you any examples of ppl being charged when they have done nothing wrong?
If something is struck out in court, that doesnt mean the person charged 'has done nothing wrong in the first place'.

bit OT but i was summonsed for allegedly holding the phone, 3 days i had to go to court and the cop never showed anyday, on the 3rd day an inspector stood up and said he was instructed to withdraw the charge/summons

CiniO

Jo King wrote: »

I wouldn't be at all surprised. Most charges of non display are struck out when there is proof of insurance on the day. People are occasionally charged by guards when they have done nothing wrong. Unless the person has a good lawyer they can end up convicted.

Do you need a good lawyer if you have this part that you quoted earlier?

S.I. No. 355/1984 -- Road Traffic (Insurance Disc) Regulations, 1984.

5. (1) When a vehicle is used in a public place the insurance disc for the vehicle shall be carried on the vehicle at all times after the expiry of 10 days from the date of authentication of the certificate of insurance.

It's clear as blue sky.
I'd say even without a lawyer you could represent yourself and avoid conviction.

CiniO

fergiesfolly wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback lads, especially Jo King for the link. Puts my mind at ease. Would you believe that I asked a Garda last night who couldn't give me a definitive answer. Wouldn't have taken the car out tomorrow after that.

Hahahah.
Did you think that Gardai know all rules and regulations.
I'm not from Ireland, I don't live here very long so far, but any information that I got from Garda so far was not true.

I rememer once I was at Garda station asking about rules considering PSV licence (for taxi drivers). I don't remember know what it was, but after I did some research, it seemd that all info I got for Garda was not true.

I also remembered when I was there at the station (different one in bigger town) to get pictures for my daughters passport signed by them.
They told me what documents I need as well for application. I told them that I need more documents (I knew that already) as both me and my wife are not Irish. He said that it doesn't matter as child was born in Ireland. After I denied, he went to ask few fellow Garda, finally they gathered there together and started sharing they knowledge, even with some kind of boss (maybe station supervisor???, comendant)...
Anyway they came to me, and said that definitely if child was born in Ireland she is an Irish citizen, so I don't need any extra documentation.
I just agreed and went home, because I didn't want to spend more time discussing with Gardai.
First thing even on citizensinformation shows you, that this rules changed in 2005, and since then not every child born in Ireland is Irish citizen.

So pretty much I wouldn't trusty anything Garda is saying to me, unless I see it in Irish Statute book.

Silvera

guil wrote: »

bit OT but i was summonsed for allegedly holding the phone, 3 days i had to go to court and the cop never showed anyday, on the 3rd day an inspector stood up and said he was instructed to withdraw the charge/summons

were you holding the phone?
perhaps there was a bigger case he had to go to in another court.