Having three penalty points on your driving license could push up your motor insurance premium by 10%, new analysis shows.
The data from Peopl Insurance reveals that nearly half a million drivers across the country are paying hundreds, and in some cases over €1,000 more than they need to due to poor driving habits.
It reveals that a driver with ten penalty points could pay more than twice as much for insurance as a driver with none.
With road fatalities now almost 20% higher than they were this time last year, the company is urging drivers to change their habits to make Irish roads safer, and to save money.
More than half a million people have penalty points on their licence, of which 492,244 have three penalty points or more.
Paul Walsh, spokesman for Peopl Insurance said insurance companies typically raise premiums for drivers with three or more penalty points, though this limit can differ between providers.
"Many drivers don't realise how easily they can accrue three points," he said.
"The top penalty point offences include speeding, holding a mobile phone while driving, failure to obey traffic lights, driving without reasonable consideration, and driving as an unaccompanied learner drivers or without a valid NCT," he added.
He said most of these offences carry a penalty of three penalty points, with the only exceptions being driving without reasonable consideration or driving as an unaccompanied driver, where the number of penalty points incurred is two.
"Offences like not displaying an 'L’ or ‘N’ plate as a learner or novice driver can earn you two points, with just one more needed to reach the critical three points," he explained.
Peopl Insurance is also highlighting how difficult it can be to obtain car insurance quotes if you accumulate penalty points on your licence.
"Drivers who gather 12 points within three years face automatic disqualification from driving," Mr Walsh said.
"You will struggle to get an insurer to cover you if you have been disqualified from driving or have a driving conviction.
"Some Irish insurers may refuse to quote drivers that have been disqualified in the last seven years while some insurers may not quote for drivers with a disqualification unless they are a current or previous customer," he added.
