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Irish car news — VRT changes, motor tax updates, EV grants, recalls and the stories that hit Irish drivers’ wallets.
7 stories
Canney: tougher wrong-way penalties next week — and AI on the cameras already there
After a Fri meeting with Gardaí, TII and RSA, draft legislation is due next week (Transport + Justice), aimed at end-2026, with a tougher penalty than current rules. Also floating AI on the existing camera network. No new driver-facing rule is live yet.
Wrong-way motorway driving is up 32% this year — TII logged 62 detections by mid-August
TII cameras logged 62 contraflow detections Jan–mid-Aug vs 47 last year. GRA calls it “out of control.” Not a new rule — new numbers on top of Friday’s RSA advice.
Government scraps the 1 September fuel hike — +9c petrol / +10c diesel will not go ahead
Friday U-turn: +9c petrol / +10c diesel on 1 Sept, and the 1 Oct step, will not go ahead. Temporary 27c/32c cuts stay for now. Dáil to be recalled. Nov/Dec and carbon tax are not cancelled.
RSA publishes first official Irish advice if a car comes at you the wrong way on the motorway
After the M9 crash the RSA told The Journal it had none. It is up now: stay calm, make space, leave at the next safe exit, call 999/112. Wrong-way driver: hard shoulder, do not turn or reverse. Not a rule change.
Diesel jumps 19c in August as AA Ireland warns this is not the peak
AA survey: diesel €1.92/L (+19c), petrol €1.84/L (+9c). Excise did not change in August. The 1 Sept and 1 Oct restoration steps were later cancelled — see the 22 August follow-up.
A week after SIMI’s July figures, Ireland’s EV record looks like a deadline story
9,682 new BEVs in July — a monthly record — and 26.12% YTD new-car share. ICE2EV’s 2,000 grants were committed in 75 minutes on 1 July. The SEAI grant cap is €50,000 for applications after 31 July.
Zurich’s €337m RedClick deal still awaits clearance
Five months after the March sale, Spanish and CCPC approvals are still pending. What Irish RedClick car insurance customers should — and should not — do before a targeted 30 December transfer.
Insurance renewals sneak up. Reminders don't.
When ownership of an insurer changes, your current term usually transfers — your next renewal is where the price can move. odo.ie emails you before insurance, NCT and motor tax are due so you have time to shop around.
Insurance renewal reminders NCT + motor tax dates Solo free for one car