Motor third-party liability — Finland

What is MTPL (Liikennevakuutus) in Finland and who is required to have it?

Motor Third-Party Liability (MTPL) insurance, known in Finland as Liikennevakuutus, is mandatory under the Liikennevakuutuslaki (17.6.2016/460, Traffic Insurance Act). Every keeper (haltija) or owner (omistaja) of a motor vehicle registered in Finland must hold a valid liikennevakuutus before the vehicle is used on public roads. The policy covers damages caused to third parties — including injuries to passengers in the insured vehicle — under the strict no-fault liability system that applies to road accidents in Finland.

What are the mandatory minimum coverage limits for liikennevakuutus in Finland?

Under the Liikennevakuutuslaki, bodily injury cover is UNLIMITED (no monetary cap) — Finland is one of the few EU Member States to require unlimited personal injury cover. For property damage the statutory minimum is €5,000,000 per accident, which is significantly higher than the EU floor of €1,300,000 set by Directive 2021/2118 (effective 23 December 2023). In practice all Finnish insurers — OP-Pohjola, LähiTapiola, If, Fennia, Pohjantähti, Turva — offer the statutory limits as standard and there is no need to purchase a higher property damage option.

What does Finnish liikennevakuutus actually cover?

Finnish liikennevakuutus operates on a strict (no-fault) liability basis and covers: bodily injury, disability, loss of earnings, medical care, rehabilitation and death of pedestrians, cyclists, occupants of other vehicles AND passengers in the insured vehicle (including unbelted passengers, although their compensation may be reduced for contributory negligence); property damage to other vehicles, buildings and any third-party property up to €5 million per accident; and indirect losses (e.g. towing, loss of use) flowing from a covered event. The system pays regardless of fault on the part of the insured driver. Damage to your own vehicle is not covered and requires a separate Kasko-vakuutus.

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

The at-fault driver's bodily injuries are covered by Finnish liikennevakuutus as one of the strongest features of the Finnish system — the policy compensates the driver's personal injury irrespective of fault, subject to reductions for gross negligence (e.g. drunk driving, racing) under Chapter 8 of the Liikennevakuutuslaki. The at-fault driver's OWN vehicle damage is NOT covered and requires a separate Kasko-vakuutus (Osakasko or Täyskasko). Finnish insurers offer Osakasko (partial casco — fire, theft, glass, animal collision) and Täyskasko (full casco — including collision damage to own vehicle).

Are passengers in the at-fault vehicle covered?

Yes — and this is one of the strongest passenger protections in Europe. Under Finnish liikennevakuutuslaki, passengers in any motor vehicle involved in a road accident, including the at-fault vehicle, are entitled to compensation for bodily injury, disability, rehabilitation, loss of earnings and death without any monetary limit and regardless of the driver's fault. Compensation may be reduced for the passenger's own gross negligence (e.g. knowingly travelling with a drunk driver). Property damage suffered by passengers — luggage, clothing — is not covered by liikennevakuutus and requires the passenger's own insurance.

What happens if the at-fault vehicle is uninsured or unidentified?

Claims against uninsured or unidentified vehicles (hit-and-run) in Finland are handled by the Liikennevakuutuskeskus (LVK), the Finnish Motor Insurance Centre established under the Liikennevakuutuslaki. LVK indemnifies bodily injury and property damage to the same standards as a normal liikennevakuutus policy, after which it pursues recourse against the uninsured keeper. Claims must be reported to LVK within three years of the accident. LVK also administers the Green Card system in Finland and acts as the national bureau under the Council of Bureaux multilateral agreement.

What is the Green Card and is it included with Finnish liikennevakuutus?

The Green Card (Vihreä kortti / International Motor Insurance Card) is issued by Finnish insurers free of charge as proof of insurance cover when driving outside the European Economic Area in Green Card system countries. Within the EEA, Switzerland, Andorra and Serbia, the Finnish registration plate is in itself sufficient proof of cover — a Green Card is not strictly required. For travel to other Green Card states — including the United Kingdom, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova, Israel, Iran, Morocco and Tunisia — the paper Green Card is required and is issued by your insurer on request typically within a few days.

Which countries does Finnish liikennevakuutus cover?

Finnish liikennevakuutus is automatically valid in: Finland (including Åland); all EU Member States and EEA countries — Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein; Switzerland, Andorra and Serbia (sufficient on registration plate alone); and other Green Card system states with a paper Green Card — including the United Kingdom, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova, Israel, Iran, Morocco and Tunisia. Cover is provided to the higher of the Finnish statutory cover and the local mandatory minimum of the country visited (per EU Directive 2009/103/EC). Trips outside the territorial scope require a separate Border Insurance (Rajavakuutus) purchased at the point of entry.

What must I do immediately after a road accident in Finland?

After an accident you must: stop immediately and secure the scene (warning triangle, hazard lights, reflective vest); render first aid and call the single European emergency number 112 where there are injuries; call the police (also via 112) where required by law — bodily injury, fatalities, hit-and-run, suspected drunk driving, damage to road infrastructure, or where one of the vehicles is foreign-registered; exchange insurance and contact details with the other party and complete a Vahinkoilmoitus (Finnish accident report form, the European Accident Statement is also accepted); photograph the scene and damage; and report the claim to your insurer (or via the LVK online portal) as soon as possible — under the Liikennevakuutuslaki the claim must be reported within three years to preserve compensation rights, but in practice insurers ask for notification within 7 days.

Can I buy Finnish liikennevakuutus online and pay in instalments?

Yes. All major Finnish insurers — OP-Pohjola, LähiTapiola, If, Fennia, Pohjantähti and Turva — offer online subscription through their own portals and mobile apps, and via licensed comparators. The liikennevakuutus is activated and the Vihreä kortti is issued electronically upon payment of the first premium. Instalments are standard: annual, half-yearly, quarterly and monthly direct debits are available, typically with a small instalment surcharge (1–5%). Finnish insurers operate a Bonus system (bonusprosentti) governed by the Liikennevakuutuslaki and the insurer's general terms — the bonus rises 5–10 percentage points per claim-free year, capped between 0% and a maximum 80% discount, with the at-fault claim penalty depending on the insurer's tariff.