A LARGE NUMBER of van drivers have been left in the lurch by the collapse of Setanta Insurance. Setanta had provided insurance to 75,000 vans.

By the end of this week all remaining Setanta van insurance policies will be cancelled and they will be on the road with no cover at all.

AA Roadwatch said that of the 75,000 people affected most have found alternative cover but that as many as 20,000 have not yet done so.

Director of Consumer Affairs Conor Faughnan said “The situation is totally unfair on the van drivers who have been let down” but he also warns that it’s no excuse not to have cover.

That won’t be an excuse if a driver is on the road with no insurance. You have to act now. We are calling on all of the affected drivers to find a new insurer immediately.

“You will not legally be able to drive your van from Monday and you will not have any cover in place if you are unlucky enough to have a claim.”

“Van drivers without cover will have to bear the cost of any loss themselves, apart from damage done to third parties which will be paid by the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland.

That in turn increases the financial exposure to the MIBI which could add to everyone’s insurance costs.

Worried 

The AA says that since Setanta’s collapse last month it has received a high volumes of calls from anxious customers.

Faughnan said: “We are still hearing from people who are not clear on the implications.”

“There are also delays getting essential paper-work, like proof of no-claims-bonus, from the remnants of Setanta.

“The AA is able to put these drivers on cover straight away and allow the paper-work to catch up but not all providers have this flexibility.”

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