Insurance Joint Stock Company BALTA
BALTA
BALTA is a motor third-party liability insurance for the Latvia market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
Balta offers a 'compensation from your own insurer' option: if you are the injured party, you can file and receive your vehicle/property damage claim directly from Balta instead of the at-fault driver's insurer, with Balta settling the case with the at-fault insurer afterwards.
Geographic scope
Latvia
Valid in EEA member states, as well as Switzerland, Serbia, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Unique selling points
- "Compensation from your own insurer" lets accident victims claim directly from Balta instead of chasing the at-fault driver's insurer, speeding up the payout process.
- Access to a network of more than 200 partner repair shops with a 2-year warranty on all repairs.
- Optional theft/hijacking cover of up to EUR 7,000 can be purchased alongside the OCTA policy.
- Claims can be reported 24/7 via website, mobile app, or phone, with online tracking of the claim's progress.
- Flexible policy terms of 1, 3, 6, 9 or 12 months let customers match coverage duration to their needs.
Coverage limits
Bodily injury / personal damage liability (Latvia)
€6,450,000
For accidents occurring in Latvia, Balta covers damages to injured persons up to EUR 6,450,000 per claim, regardless of the number of victims, per the amended OCTA law (raised from EUR 5,210,000). Note: the standard-contract IPID PDF on file still shows the pre-amendment limit of EUR 5,000,000 and the Green Card IPID shows EUR 5,210,000; both are superseded by the current statutory limit confirmed on Balta's current product page.
Property damage liability (Latvia)
€1,300,000
For accidents occurring in Latvia, Balta covers property damage (incl. to third-party vehicles) up to EUR 1,300,000 per claim, regardless of the number of third parties, per the amended OCTA law (raised from EUR 1,050,000). The standard-contract IPID PDF on file still shows the pre-amendment limit of EUR 1,000,000 and the Green Card IPID shows EUR 1,050,000; both are superseded by the current statutory limit confirmed on Balta's current product page.
Legal defence costs
No limit stated
No legal defence / legal expenses cover is mentioned as part of the standard OCTA product in the reviewed sources.
Green Card (extended territorial cover)
Optional
The Green Card is a separate contract (concluded in person or remotely) that extends OCTA cover to non-EEA countries not already included in the standard contract's territory (e.g. Ukraine, Turkey, Moldova, Albania, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Tunisia), valid from 15 days up to 12 months; it is not valid in Russia or Belarus.
Roadside assistance (add-on)
Optional
Optional add-on providing 24/7 telephone consultation, towing/evacuation (up to 50 km in Latvia or to nearest repair shop abroad), on-site minor repairs, replacement car up to 3 days (or EUR 25/day reimbursement if unavailable), driver/passenger transport, and hotel costs abroad up to EUR 40/night per person (max EUR 240). Abroad, total service costs are capped at EUR 500 per claim. The base risk 'Transportation' is valid only in Latvia; the full 'Palīdzība uz ceļa' risk is valid in all countries where the OCTA policy is valid; a separate 'Palīdzība uz ceļa' IPID states cover is valid in the Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania).
Driver accident insurance (add-on)
Optional
Optional add-on covering the driver of the insured vehicle for death, invalidity, injuries ('Traumas'), and medical expenses resulting from a road accident within 1 year of the event, in situations not already covered under the OCTA law (e.g. when the driver caused the accident). The insured sum depends on the chosen insurance programme; it is not a fixed amount.
Passenger accident insurance
No limit stated
The reviewed driver-accident add-on (Noteikumi Nr. 4306.01) explicitly defines the insured person as the driver of the insured vehicle only; no separate passenger accident product is described in the reviewed sources.
Key conditions
Territorial scope
Cover applies in EEA member states, as well as Switzerland, Serbia, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and the UK. If an accident occurs outside Latvia, the types and amounts of recoverable damages are set by the law of the country where it occurred. When travelling abroad, a printed policy copy should be carried, as foreign police cannot access the Latvian LTAB register.
Green card rules
The Green Card is a separate document/contract (in person or remote) needed for travel to countries not covered by the standard contract's territory (e.g. Ukraine, Turkey, Moldova, Albania, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Tunisia); valid from 15 days to 12 months; not valid in Russia or Belarus.
Driver restrictions
No specific driver-age or experience restrictions are stated in the reviewed sources; OCTA insures the registered owner's/user's civil liability regardless of who is driving, subject to the driver holding a valid licence for the vehicle category.
Claim notification deadline
The insurer must be notified within 10 days of the accident. In Latvia, claims for property damage must be filed within 1 year of the accident, and claims for personal injury within 3 years of the accident.
Bonus-malus rules
No bonus-malus (no-claims discount) table or rules are detailed in the reviewed sources.
Documents
General Insurance Contract Terms No. 07 (in force from 26.06.2023)
Terms & conditions
OCTA (standard contract) IPID
IPID
OCTA Green Card IPID
IPID
Roadside Assistance Terms No. 2103.103
Terms & conditions
Roadside Assistance IPID
IPID
Driver Accident Insurance Terms (reviewed copy)
Other document
Driver Accident Insurance IPID (reviewed copy)
IPID
Policy specifics
Liability limit for property damage in Latvia
Maximum coverage for damage to third-party property within Latvia territory
SourceLiability limit for personal injury in Latvia
Maximum coverage for damage to persons within Latvia territory
SourceTheft coverage optional add-on
Optional add-on coverage for vehicle theft or hijacking with additional premium
SourceAccident insurance optional add-on
Optional coverage for medical expenses and compensation for disability or death from traffic accidents
SourceTerritorial coverage
Standard OCTA contract valid in European Economic Area countries and additional territories
SourceEuropean Accident Statement procedure
Required procedure for accidents involving two vehicles with no casualties and no third-party property damage
SourceDirect settlement option by Balta
Victim can submit claim directly to Balta instead of at-fault driver's insurer for simplified process
SourceRepair network and quality guarantee
Balta ensures repair quality and appropriate repair costs through partner network
SourceElectronic registration in LTAB database
OCTA policy electronically recorded in Latvian Motor Insurers' Bureau database; paper format not required in Latvia
SourceRegulated by OCTA Law
MTPL insurance governed by Sauszemes transportlīdzekļu īpašnieku civiltiesiskās atbildības obligātās apdrošināšanas likums
Source