Insurers implement further MIAB changes

The Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) has announced further changes to insurance company practice to bring it into line with the recommendations of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board (MIAB) report.

The latest changes include recognition here of no-claims discounts by policyholders earned in other EU member-states. This will come into effect from September 1st.

There will also be a reduction in the number of refusals to quote required before the Declined Case Agreement applies. Under the agreement, a motorist declined a quote by five insurance firms can seek assistance from the Declined Cases Committee, and the first insurer approached is obliged to offer a quotation. Under the new rules, a motorist need only be declined by three firms before the committee intervenes.

The committee can also decide whether a quote is so high as to be tantamount to a refusal.

An independent observer from the insurance ombudsman's office will also be appointed to the committee, in line with MIAB recommendations.

The MIAB report contained 67 recommendations involving motor insurers, the Government, the legal and medical professions, and policyholders.

According to IIF spokesman Mr Martin Long, eight of the 10 recommendations that referred specifically to the insurance industry have now been agreed or implementation dates set.

Last month, the IIF announced that retirees who were covered on company vehicles would now receive no-claims discounts in their own names and get credit for previous insurance experience while insured by their employers. They also removed restrictions on cover for disabled drivers.

Mr Long estimates that the remaining changes will be announced by the end of the month.