Balcia
Balcia is a motor third-party liability insurance for the LV market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
Under the optional 'Atlīdzība pie Balcia' (Indemnity from Balcia) add-on, Balcia settles vehicle damage claims directly with the policyholder's own insurer instead of requiring the claimant to approach the at-fault party's insurer. Balcia will either pay repair costs directly to the repair shop or pay compensation in cash based on an expert assessment. This add-on is only valid for accidents in Latvia, Estonia, or Lithuania where the insured driver is not at fault.
Geographic scope
LV
Valid in all EEA countries, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, Montenegro, Serbia, and the United Kingdom. Green Card required for Albania, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Moldova, Tunisia, Turkey, North Macedonia, and Ukraine.
Unique selling points
- Optional 'Atlīdzība pie Balcia' direct settlement add-on lets you claim vehicle damage from your own insurer (Balcia) instead of the at-fault party's insurer, with a decision issued within 5 business days.
- Round-the-clock roadside assistance available as an add-on both in Latvia and throughout Europe, including automated 24/7 assistance flow via the Balcia mobile app.
- MTPL policy purchasable and manageable entirely online or via the Balcia app in minutes, with flexible payment terms including splitting into up to 12 instalments at no extra cost.
- Electric vehicle and scooter coverage explicitly included; EV drivers can select an electric replacement vehicle option when purchasing the policy.
- Claims can be submitted 24/7 via the Balcia app, website, or phone, with real-time claim tracking available through the app.
Coverage limits
Bodily Injury Liability
Covered
Covers compensation for damages caused to persons (bodily injury or death) in a road traffic accident up to EUR 6,450,000 regardless of the number of injured persons, as set by Latvian MTPL law (OCTA Law, Article 15).
Property Damage Liability
Covered
Covers compensation for damages caused to property in a road traffic accident up to EUR 1,300,000 regardless of the number of third parties, as set by Latvian MTPL law (OCTA Law, Article 15).
Legal Defence
Not offered
Legal defence coverage is not included in the standard Balcia OCTA product. It is not referenced in the policy terms or the Balcia MTPL product page.
Green Card (International Motor Insurance Certificate)
Covered
The standard OCTA policy is valid in all EEA countries and certain others; Balcia issues the Green Card (International Motor Insurance Certificate) as evidence of this cover free of charge. For travel to countries outside the standard territorial scope (e.g. Albania, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Moldova, Tunisia, Turkey, North Macedonia, Ukraine), a coverage extension may be required, but the Green Card document itself is always issued at no cost.
24/7 Roadside Assistance
Optional
Available as an optional add-on to the Balcia OCTA policy. Governed by Balcia 24/7 Roadside Assistance Terms and Conditions Nr. LV-18/04 valid from 15.09.2023. Provides round-the-clock technical assistance on the road, both in Latvia and throughout Europe.
Driver Accident Insurance
Optional
Available as an optional add-on to the Balcia OCTA policy. Governed by Accident Insurance Terms and Conditions for the Driver and Passengers of a Land Vehicle Nr. LV-01/04-02 valid from 15.09.2023. Covers the driver's medical expenses and compensation in case of disability or death resulting from a traffic accident not covered under MTPL liability rules.
Passenger Accident Insurance
Optional
Available as an optional add-on to the Balcia OCTA policy under the same Accident Insurance Terms and Conditions for the Driver and Passengers of a Land Vehicle Nr. LV-01/04-02 valid from 15.09.2023. Covers passengers' medical expenses and compensation in case of disability or death resulting from a traffic accident.
Key conditions
territorial_scope
The Balcia OCTA policy is valid in all EEA countries, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, Montenegro, Serbia, and the United Kingdom. A Green Card is required for travel to Albania, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Moldova, Tunisia, Turkey, North Macedonia, and Ukraine. The optional 'Atlīdzība pie Balcia' direct settlement add-on is only valid for accidents occurring in Latvia, Estonia, or Lithuania.
green_card_rules
The standard Balcia OCTA contract acts as a Green Card (International Motor Insurance Certificate) for all EEA countries, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, Montenegro, Serbia, and the United Kingdom; this document is issued free of charge. When travelling to countries outside this scope (e.g. Albania, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Moldova, Tunisia, Turkey, North Macedonia, Ukraine), a coverage extension is required and a Green Card will be issued at no extra charge to evidence that extended cover. When travelling abroad, Balcia recommends carrying a printed version of the MTPL policy.
driver_restrictions
The policy covers the vehicle owner, registered holder, or authorised user. The 'Atlīdzība pie Balcia' add-on is void if the driver is found at fault in the accident, if shared fault is established, if the driver was under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or psychotropic substances, or if the vehicle was used in any type of competition at the time of the accident.
claim_notification_deadline
Upon occurrence of an MTPL insured event, the insured must act in accordance with statutory requirements and contact Balcia as soon as possible. For the 'Atlīdzība pie Balcia' add-on, no repairs should be made to the vehicle before Balcia's approval, as this could affect determination of the cause and extent of losses. Balcia will issue a claims decision within 5 (five) business days of receiving all required documents.
bonus_malus_rules
Latvia's Bonus-Malus (BM) system has been transformed into a centralised insurance history data provision service as of August 1, 2024. Each insurer independently assesses policyholder risk based on insurance history provided by LTAB, which reflects the number of insurance days and claims for all vehicles owned or held by the person since May 2004. The BM system is no longer recalculated annually on September 15; instead, insurance history data is updated daily. Insurers use this data alongside other factors (penalty points, vehicle purpose, etc.) to determine the MTPL premium.
Documents
Atlīdzība pie Balcia – Terms and Conditions Nr. LV-03/03-02 (effective 15.09.2023)
terms_and_conditions
Atlīdzība pie Balcia – Terms and Conditions Nr. LV-03/03-02 (alternative source)
terms_and_conditions
Balcia OCTA Product Page (includes links to T&C, IPID and Roadside Assistance T&C)
other
Policy specifics
Direct Damage Settlement (Atlīdzība pie Balcia)
Optional supplementary coverage that provides direct damage settlement for the insured vehicle in case of traffic accident
Fault determination in traffic accident
MTPL coverage eligibility and claim settlement depends on official determination of fault by competent authorities
Repair network or direct payment options
For Indemnity coverage (Atlīdzība pie Balcia), repair costs may be paid directly to repair shop or as compensation to policyholder
Mandatory claim notification within statutory period
Insured must notify insurer of traffic accident within prescribed time limit as required by Latvian MTPL law