Motor third-party liability — Bulgaria

What is MTPL (Civil Liability) insurance and who is required to have it?

Motor Third-Party Liability (MTPL) insurance, known in Bulgaria as „Гражданска отговорност“ (ГО), is a mandatory policy required by law for all registered motor vehicles under the Bulgarian Insurance Code. Every owner, keeper or user of a motor vehicle must hold a valid MTPL policy before driving on public roads. The policy covers damages you cause to third parties — not your own vehicle or your own injuries.

What are the mandatory minimum coverage limits for MTPL in Bulgaria?

Under Article 492 of the Bulgarian Insurance Code (effective 07.12.2018), the mandatory minimum limits are: €6,450,000 per event for bodily injury or death — regardless of the number of injured persons — and €1,300,000 per event for property damage — regardless of the number of damaged parties. All Bulgarian MTPL policies must meet these EU-aligned minimums.

What does MTPL insurance actually cover?

MTPL covers damages you cause to third parties with your motor vehicle. This includes: bodily injury, disability or death of pedestrians, occupants of other vehicles, cyclists or other road users; property damage to other vehicles, buildings or any third-party property; legal defence costs within the overall liability limit; and lost earnings and other consequential losses as a direct result of an injury. It does not cover damage to your own vehicle or your own injuries as the at-fault driver.

Are the at-fault driver's own damages covered?

No. Under Article 494 of the Bulgarian Insurance Code, damages suffered by the at-fault driver are explicitly excluded from MTPL coverage. If you cause an accident, you are not entitled to compensation for your own injuries or vehicle damage through the MTPL policy. To protect yourself, you need a separate Casco (comprehensive) insurance or a personal accident policy.

Are passengers in the at-fault vehicle covered?

Yes. Passengers in the insured vehicle who are injured in an accident caused by that vehicle's driver are covered as third parties under the MTPL bodily injury liability limit. However, MTPL provides compensation for their damages — not a personal accident benefit as such. For broader passenger protection, a voluntary Passenger Accident Insurance add-on is available from most Bulgarian MTPL insurers.

Is legal defence included in Bulgarian MTPL policies?

Yes. Legal defence costs — including court charges awarded against the insured and interest on late payments owed to the injured party — are covered within the overall liability limit of all Bulgarian MTPL policies. This is a mandatory inclusion under Bulgarian law and applies uniformly to all licensed MTPL insurers.

What is the Green Card and is it included with MTPL?

The Green Card is an international certificate of motor insurance under a multilateral agreement between national insurers bureaus. It proves your vehicle has valid MTPL coverage applicable in the visited country. Under the Bulgarian Insurance Code (effective 01.01.2016), the Green Card must be issued together with every MTPL policy at no additional cost. It covers all EU and EEA countries, plus non-EU Green Card members such as Turkey, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Switzerland, Ukraine, Morocco, Tunisia and Israel.

Which countries does Bulgarian MTPL insurance cover?

Bulgarian MTPL coverage extends to: the Republic of Bulgaria; all EU Member States (liability governed by local law); EEA countries — Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein; and third countries whose national insurers bureau is party to the multilateral Green Card agreement, including Switzerland, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel and Iran.

What must I do immediately after a road accident?

After an accident you must: stop immediately and secure the scene; call emergency services and the police where required by law; not leave the scene before the competent authorities arrive — except to seek urgent medical attention; not consume alcohol or narcotics until authorities arrive; collect the other driver's details, vehicle registration and insurer information; complete a European Accident Statement (blue form) when there are no personal injuries; and notify your insurer in writing within 7 working days of becoming aware of the event, providing all required documents.

Can I buy MTPL online and pay in installments?

Yes. All major Bulgarian MTPL insurers — Armeec, Lev Ins, Bulstrad, DZI, Euroins, Generali, Bulins and Uniqa — offer online purchase through their own portals and through brokers such as Boleron.bg. Payment in installments is permitted; coverage commences after the first installment is paid. If an installment is delayed by more than 15 days beyond the due date, coverage is automatically suspended until payment is made.