More than 13 thousand Gardai ­ nationwide can now check a vehicle insurance status while on the roadside by checking its registration on the Garda Mobility App.

The new system for Gardai has been formally launched by the Justice Minister Helen McEntee.

So far the new system has led to the seizure of over 7 thousand vehicles since the start of the year, with nearly 2 thousand being seized in the month of April alone, relating to no insurance.

The Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland now provides gardai with insurance details of over 3 million vehicles that are currently on Irish roads via the Irish Motor Insurance Database.