Motor insurance directive
Under the 2009 motor insurance directive, anyone who holds a compulsory motor insurance policy in an EU country is covered to drive throughout the entire EU.
This directive
- obliges all motor vehicles in the EU to be covered by compulsory third party insurance
- abolishes border checks on insurance, so that vehicles can be driven as easily between EU countries as within one country
- specifies minimum third-party liability insurance cover in EU countries
- specifies exempt persons and authorities responsible for compensation
- introduces a mechanism to compensate local victims of accidents caused by vehicles from another EU country
- requires claims about accidents in an EU country other than the victim's country of residence to be settled quickly (so-called visiting victims)
- entitles policy holders to request a statement of any claims involving their vehicle, which were covered by their insurance contract, over the last 5 years
The directive does not regulate
- issues of civil liability and the calculation of compensation awards – these are decided by individual EU countries
- optional or so-called comprehensive cover (for physical injury of the driver, material damage to vehicles, vehicle theft, etc)
Review of the motor insurance directive
In May 2018 the European Commission presented a proposal to amend the motor insurance directive. Under the revamped rules, once adopted by the European Parliament and the Council,
- victims of motor vehicle accidents will receive the full compensation they are due, even when the insurer is insolvent
- drivers who have a previous claims history in another EU country will be treated equally to domestic policyholders, and will potentially benefit from better insurance conditions
The proposed amendment also makes it easier for authorities to combat uninsured driving, aligns the minimum levels of cover by motor insurance across the EU, and incorporates case law of the EU Court of Justice on the scope of the directive.
Documents
- Communication
- Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union
Periodic adjustment of minimum amounts to take account of inflation in Member States which benefitted from transition periods.
- Proposal for a decision
- Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union
Text of the proposal, impact assessment and related documents.
- Study
- Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
Study on third party liability insurance (M3PL), comprehensive motor insurance, home/household insurance.
- Report
- Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
Report on the compensation for victims of cross-border road traffic accidents in the EU
Basic information
Transposition by EU Member States
- Transposition status of the 2021 Motor Insurance Directive by EU Member States
- Transposition status of the 2021 Motor Insurance Directive by EU Member States concerning the designation of a competent authority
- Transposition history of the 2021 Motor Insurance Directive by EU Member States
Legislative history
- Press material for the legislative proposal for the 2021 Motor Insurance Directive
- Original legislative proposal for the 2021 Motor Insurance Directive
- Impact assessment accompanying the legislative proposal for the 2021 Motor Insurance Directive
- Executive summary of the impact assessment accompanying the legislative proposal for the 2021 Motor Insurance Directive
- History of the legislative initiative on the REFIT review of the Motor Insurance Directive
Basic information
- Text of the Motor Insurance Directive (2009/103/EC)
- Summary of the legislation: Civil liability insurance for motor vehicles
Delegated and implementing acts
Transposition by EU countries
The Motor Insurance Directive was transposed by all EU Member states into their national law.