Atlas Insurance
Atlas Insurance is a motor third-party liability insurance for the MT market with online purchase and limited assistance availability.
Direct payment
Atlas pays third party liability claims directly to claimants as required by Maltese legislation (Motor Insurance Third Party Risks Ordinance Cap 104). For own-damage claims, Atlas pays repairers directly or settles with the policyholder. Finance/hire-purchase balances are paid directly to the finance company first, with any surplus paid to the policyholder.
Geographic scope
MT
Primary cover in Malta (Geographical Area). Section C (third party liability) automatically extends to all EEA Designated States (Andorra, San Marino, Switzerland, UK, Vatican City and EEA member states excluding Malta) and to Third Countries on direct transit between Malta and a Designated State where no Foreign Bureau exists. Full policy cover automatically extends to Designated States for up to 30 days per policy year for private cars.
Unique selling points
- Third party liability limits of €6,450,000 for bodily injury and €1,300,000 for property damage, automatically upgrading to any higher Designated State legal minimum when driving abroad.
- Free 30-day full policy cover across EEA countries, UK, Switzerland, Andorra and San Marino is included automatically with comprehensive and third party fire and theft private car policies — no notification required.
- Uninsured third party protection refunds the policyholder's excess and preserves the No Claim Discount when the at-fault third party is uninsured — a market-differentiating consumer protection benefit.
- Free Atlas RoadAssist 24-hour emergency roadside assistance included with all comprehensive private car and motorcycle policies, extendable to most European countries as an optional add-on.
- Specialist electric vehicle cover including up to €20,000 for Drive Battery short-circuit damage and up to €1,000 for battery scrapping and decontamination costs, included at no extra charge with comprehensive and third party fire and theft private car policies.
Coverage limits
Third party bodily injury liability
Covered
Covers legal liability for death or injury to third parties arising from the use of the insured motor vehicle. The limit is €6,450,000 per claim or series of claims from one cause, or any higher amount prescribed by Maltese legislation.
SourceThird party property damage liability
Covered
Covers legal liability for damage to third party property arising from the use of the insured motor vehicle. The limit is €1,300,000 per claim or series of claims from one cause, or any higher amount prescribed by Maltese legislation.
SourceRecovery of uninsured losses / legal assistance
Covered
Section J provides cover for legal costs (Lawyer fees and related expenses) to recover uninsured losses arising from a motor accident involving the policyholder's private car, where there are Prospects of Success. The maximum payable is €1,000 per incident. Available to all private car policies (comprehensive, third party fire and theft, and third party only). Section C also provides for legal and other costs incurred with Atlas's prior written consent in defending or settling third party liability claims, paid in addition to the liability limit.
SourceGreen Card / international motor insurance certificate
Covered
All Designated States (EEA member states, UK, Switzerland, Andorra, San Marino) have agreed that a Green Card is not required for cross-border travel; the Certificate of Motor Insurance provides sufficient proof. For travel to Third Countries (non-EEA, non-designated states), a Green Card extension must be arranged with Atlas and an additional premium paid (Section G2, Endorsement AMP003). The Green Card itself is issued free upon request for countries requiring it.
SourceRoadAssist (roadside assistance)
Conditional
Section K1: RoadAssist in Malta is included free with comprehensive private car and motorcycle policies; available at a discounted rate for other cover types including third party only and third party fire and theft. Section K2: RoadAssist outside Malta (most European countries) is available as an optional extension for all policy types upon payment of the relevant charge. The specific terms and service details are governed by the RoadAssist Terms of Agreement provided separately.
SourcePersonal accident benefit (driver/policyholder)
Conditional
Section E provides a personal accident benefit payable to the policyholder (and/or their Partner) if accidentally injured while travelling in or getting into/out of the insured private car, or any other private car not belonging to or hired to them, resulting in death, permanent total loss of sight in one or both eyes, or loss of any limb within three calendar months of the injury. Maximum benefit per person per policy year is €5,000. Aggregate maximum per policy year is €10,000. Only available on Comprehensive private car policies. Persons below age 18 or aged 76 or older are excluded.
SourcePersonal accident benefit (passengers)
Conditional
Section E also covers any other adult in the policyholder's private car who is accidentally injured while travelling in or getting into/out of the vehicle, resulting in death, permanent total loss of sight in one or both eyes, or loss of any limb within three calendar months. Maximum benefit per injured person is €5,000; aggregate maximum per policy year is €10,000 across all persons and accidents. Only available on Comprehensive private car policies. Persons below age 18 or aged 76 or older are excluded. Section C also covers passengers' third party liability separately.
SourceKey conditions
territorial_scope
The primary Geographical Area is Malta. Section C (third party liability) automatically extends to all Designated States (EEA member states, UK, Switzerland, Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City) and to Third Countries on direct transit between Malta and a Designated State where no Foreign Bureau exists. For Designated States, the cover guaranteed is at least the minimum required by the law of that state. Full policy cover (Sections A, B, D, E, F, etc.) for private cars and private motorcycles automatically extends to all Designated States for up to 30 consecutive aggregate days per policy year; beyond 30 days requires prior written agreement and additional premium (Endorsement AMP001). For other motor vehicles, prior notification and additional premium are required for any Designated State extension. Green Card extension to Third Countries requires prior notification and payment (Section G2, Endorsement AMP003). Judgments are only enforced from courts within Malta or a Designated State; awards from Third Country courts are not honoured.
green_card_rules
Within all Designated States (EEA countries, UK, Switzerland, Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City), a Green Card is not required; the Certificate of Motor Insurance serves as sufficient proof of compliance. For Third Countries (states outside Malta and outside Designated States), a Green Card must be obtained from Atlas before travel by notifying Atlas and paying an additional premium (Section G2, Endorsement AMP003). The Green Card extension applies only for the period and countries shown on the Green Card issued. Customs duties and general average charges incurred in covered countries due to an insured loss are also reimbursed.
driver_restrictions
All drivers must be Authorised Drivers shown in the Schedule and/or Certificate. Drivers must hold a valid licence for the class of vehicle being driven (extended to 30 days past expiry pending renewal). Excluded drivers include: those disqualified from driving; those who have had insurance cancelled, declined, or special terms imposed; those with undisclosed criminal convictions; those banned from driving in any country; those with a medical condition or disability affecting their ability to drive (unless accepted in writing by Atlas); and those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The policy covers driving by motor trade employees for maintenance/repair, hotel/restaurant/car-park employees parking the vehicle, and situations where the vehicle is stolen without the policyholder's permission.
claim_notification_deadline
The policyholder must notify Atlas as soon as possible of any incident that may lead to a claim. In all cases, Atlas must be advised in writing within fourteen (14) days of an accident occurring, or Atlas may refuse to pay the claim (except as required under Legislation). The policyholder must complete a 'front to rear' form in duplicate in the event of a front-to-rear collision; co-operate with police in the event of theft or criminal acts; and immediately forward any unanswered legal documents (notices of prosecution, writs, summonses, etc.) to Atlas. Repairs to the motor vehicle must not be authorised in excess of €125 without Atlas's prior approval.
bonus_malus_rules
Atlas operates a No Claims Discount (NCD) scheme governed by its declared NCD Rules (separate insert forming part of the Policy). NCD is reduced at renewal following any at-fault claim. For comprehensive private car policies, NCD at the 6th year (65%) is automatically protected; optional NCD protection is available at a nominal additional charge for the 4th year (60%) and 5th year (65%) levels (Section H1). For third party fire and theft and comprehensive private car policies, one at-fault claim in a 2-year period does not forfeit NCD. NCD is totally forfeited at renewal if the cover is third party only (private cars and commercial vehicles), third party fire and theft (commercial vehicles), or comprehensive (motorcycles), and one or more at-fault claims occurred. Claims for windscreen/window damage and personal accident do not affect NCD on comprehensive private car policies. Claims for loss of keys, child seats, emergency expenses and legal assistance do not affect NCD on comprehensive and third party fire and theft private car policies. If an accident is not the policyholder's fault and expenses are recoverable, there is no NCD effect on any motor policy. If the third party is uninsured and the policyholder is not at fault, the excess is refunded and NCD is not affected (private cars).
Where to buy
Policy specifics
Free courtesy car
Free €100 courtesy car provided during repairs of private cars and while awaiting parts
No Claim Discount protection
Automatic protection of NCD at 65% (6th year) for private comprehensive cover; optional protection available at nominal charge for 60% (4th year) and 65% (5th year) levels
EEA travel cover
Free 30 days cover during annual policy when travelling within EEA, UK, Switzerland, Andorra and San Marino for comprehensive and third party fire & theft covers
Market value basis (not agreed value)
All motor policies in Malta do not cover vehicles on agreed value basis; policy values vehicle at market value at time of loss
Electric vehicle battery damage coverage
Covers damage to electric cars following short-circuit to drive battery up to €20,000 or market value (whichever lower); covers scrapping of drive battery and decontamination up to €1,000
Third party liability limits
Standard legal minimum limits under Maltese law: €1,300,000 for property damage and €6,450,000 for bodily injury or death to third parties
Compulsory and voluntary excess
Compulsory excess payable on claims; policyholders may opt to increase excess amount for insurance premium reduction
Uninsured third party protection
Refund of excess and no effect on No Claim Discount when third party is uninsured and at fault for the accident
Road licence fee refund
Refund of unrecovered road licence fee from when vehicle is written off (deemed total loss)
Multiple car discount
Automatic 10-15% discount on all vehicles when insuring more than one car with Atlas