Consumer Financial Services: Stronger Insurance Rules to Protect Victims of Motor Vehicle Accidents
The
Today's proposal will ensure that victims of motor vehicle accidents receive the full compensation they are due, even when the insurer is insolvent.The revamped rules will also ensure that those who have a previous claims history in another EU Member State are treated equally to domestic policyholders, and potentially benefit from better insurance conditions.
The proposal to amend the Motor Insurance Directive will also make it easier for authorities to combat uninsured driving. It aligns the minimum levels of cover by motor insurance across the EU. Finally, it clarifies the scope of the Motor Insurance Directive following recent rulings of the
Proposed changes to the current EU motor insurance rules:
The Commission proposes the following changes:
* Insolvency of an insurer: If the insurer of the vehicle responsible for an accident is insolvent, victims will be rapidly and fully compensated in their Member State of residence. In cross-border situations, this will ensure that the ultimate financial responsibility is borne by the insurance sector of the home Member State of the insurer, while allowing for quick compensation to victims.
* Claims history statements: Insurers will have to treat claims history statements issued by an insurer in a different Member State equally to those issued domestically. This should ensure that citizens purchasing insurance abroad can benefit from more advantageous insurance premiums, on the same level as domestic consumers.
* Uninsured driving: Member States' powers to combat uninsured driving will be reinforced. This should help to tackle uninsured driving which increases premiums for honest motorists.
* Minimum amounts of cover: EU citizens will benefit from the same level of minimum protection when travelling in the EU. The proposal sets out harmonised minimum protection levels for personal injury and material damage across the EU, as current minimum levels differ slightly between Member States.
* Scope: To enhance legal certainty, the proposal incorporates recent case-law of the
Background
The first EU Directive on motor insurance was adopted in 1972, with the objectives of protecting victims of motor vehicle accidents and facilitating the free movement of motor vehicles between Member States. Subsequently, five motor insurance Directives progressively strengthened the protection of EU citizens. In 2009 those were consolidated into one EU Motor Insurance Directive (Directive 2009/103/EC).
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