Adjustments to the law on compulsory motor third-party liability insurance adopted in the course of the Supreme Council meeting

Deputies of the Supreme Council at a plenary session, which was held via Skype conference, adopted amendments and additions to the law on compulsory motor third-party liability insurance in two readings at once. We are talking about the Law of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic "On Compulsory Civil Liability Insurance of Vehicle Owners" and the Code of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic on Administrative Offenses.

Compulsory motor third-party liability insurance policy – for an unlimited number of persons

The initiative to amend and supplement the law on compulsory motor third-party liability insurance belongs to the Government. By the second reading of the law-in-draft, the Committee on Agro-Industrial Complex, Industry, Transport, Construction and Natural Resources proposed 13 amendments. In particular, they provide for the exclusion from the legal framework of the compulsory motor third party liability insurance contract with the indication of a limited circle of persons admitted to driving a vehicle. That is, the changes are aimed at ensuring that the compulsory motor third party liability insurance policy covers an unlimited number of persons. This will eliminate situations where the culprit of an accident, not included in the policy, is forced to reimburse the insurer for the amount of the payment to the victim. Insurance for an unlimited number of drivers eliminates the need to make changes to the policy if driving of the vehicle is transferred to another driver. It will not be necessary to notify the insurance company in advance about each driver, which simplifies the process of transferring the car for use. In addition, the procedure for issuing a policy will be simplified: it will not be necessary to provide copies of the driver's license of the person admitted to driving the vehicle. The amendment of the Committee on Agro-Industrial Complex, Industry, Transport, Construction and Natural Resources affected paragraph 3 of Article 9 of the Law. The wording taking into account the amendment will look like this: "A compulsory motor third party liability insurance contract covers the risk of civil liability of any vehicle owner (including a person driving a vehicle without the owner's knowledge), regardless of whether it is concluded by individuals or legal entities, except for cases provided for by this law".

The law was adopted by parliament in two readings at once and will enter into force on May 1, 2025.

Fines will increase for the absence of a compulsory motor third party liability insurance policy

Another initiative of the Government is to tighten penalties for failure to comply with compulsory motor third party liability insurance requirements (amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses). Fines will increase for the absence of a Pridnestrovian policy. Currently, the Code of Administrative Offenses provides for sanctions in the amount of only 5 minimum wages for driving without a policy for an unlimited number of persons (92 rubles).

The amendments of the Committee on Agro-Industrial Complex, Industry, Transport, Construction and Natural Resources clarified the amount of the fine for the absence of an compulsory motor third party liability insurance policy: it will be equal to 20 minimum wages (368 rubles), which is approximately equal to the average cost of an compulsory motor third party liability insurance policy. 

The Supreme Council deputies supported the law-in-draft in two readings at once. The new rules will come into force 30 days after the official publication.