Motor insurance: third-party liability, own damage and excesses

What does compulsory insurance protect?

Compulsory motor third-party liability insurance protects others against covered bodily injury and property damage, including passengers, except the driver responsible. It is not the cover intended to repair damage to your own vehicle in that situation.

The quotation may add own-damage covers. The everyday expression “all risks” should not be read as a guarantee that everything is covered: the policy identifies the risks, exclusions, sums insured and excesses.

Sources: ASF — Motor insurance ↗ · ASF — Own-damage cover information ↗

Compare situations, not just names

Ask for an answer for each relevant scenario: a collision for which you are responsible, theft, glass breakage or natural events. Confirm inclusion, the limit and what you pay.

Also assess how the vehicle’s value is established and the rules for total loss. ASF highlights the importance of this information in own-damage cover.

If the car is essential for work, add questions about towing, assistance and replacement vehicles. Ask for activation conditions, duration and limits instead of assuming that the presence of a service resolves every situation.

Sources: ASF — Own-damage cover information ↗

Read the excess in euros and under its terms

The excess is the share of damage borne by the policyholder or insured under the agreed terms. It may vary between covers, so looking for a single amount in the summary is not enough.

Fictional example: for a covered repair costing €1,800, a fixed excess of €300 would leave €1,500 payable by the insurer if there were no other limits or adjustments. This example does not automatically apply to percentage excesses or other types of claim.

Compare any premium difference with the amount you could afford following an incident. The choice should reflect that capacity and the intended protection.

Sources: ASF — Insurance contracts ↗

Accurate details today, fewer uncertainties tomorrow

Identify the regular driver, use and vehicle characteristics correctly. ASF states that relevant changes in risk, such as a different regular driver, should be reported to the insurer.

Before requesting a quotation, confirm the registration number, driving licence start date, desired insurance start date and covers to assess. Avoid copying old details without reviewing them.

Following an accident, the Declaração Amigável accident statement can help document the facts. Under certain conditions, the IDS and CIDS systems allow your own insurer to handle settlement; eligibility depends on the protocols and circumstances.

Organise the account of what happened and the information requested. Asking the intermediary for assistance does not determine liability or constitute acceptance of the claim.

Sources: ASF — Insurance contracts ↗ · APS — IDS and CIDS ↗