MAPFRE - Seguros Gerais, S.A.
MAPFRE
MAPFRE is a motor third-party liability insurance for the Portugal market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
MAPFRE offers an optional Direct Settlement to the Insured (Indemnização Direta ao Segurado) arrangement, allowing certain claims to be settled directly with the policyholder as a special condition of the policy.
Geographic scope
Portugal (mainland, Azores and Madeira)
Coverage extends to all countries whose national insurance bureaux have adhered to the Green Card multilateral agreement (EU/EEA member states, Switzerland, Andorra and others), plus certificated cover in other Green Card system countries.
Unique selling points
- Independently recognised for consistently faster claims settlement times, according to the Portuguese insurance regulator (Instituto de Seguros de Portugal).
- Covers windscreen/glass breakage even when it is not an isolated break, regardless of which other coverages were contracted - broader than typical market practice.
- Extends optional liability cover to material damage caused to vehicles owned by direct family members, which the law otherwise excludes from mandatory MTPL.
- Optionally extends third-party liability to cover the policyholder riding bicycles on public roads, a cover competitors typically sell as a separate policy.
- Includes cover for damage to clothing and footwear resulting from a covered accident, not typically offered by conventional motor policies.
Coverage limits
Bodily injury liability (mandatory)
€6,070,000
Mandatory third-party liability cover for bodily injury caused to third parties by the insured vehicle, up to €6,070,000 per claim, fulfilling the obligation under Decree-Law 291/2007.
Property damage liability (mandatory)
€1,220,000
Mandatory third-party liability cover for material damage caused to third parties by the insured vehicle, up to €1,220,000 per claim.
Legal protection (Proteção Jurídica)
€6,000
Included in all modalities of MAPFRE AUTO. Covers legal defence and claim costs related to a road accident with the insured vehicle, with free choice of lawyer, up to €6,000 per year and €3,000 per claim, with sub-limits of €1,500 for lawyer/solicitor fees, €1,500 for court costs, €1,250 for expert reports and €1,250/€3,000 for criminal bail.
Green Card / international insurance certificate
Covered
Coverage automatically extends, at no extra cost, to all Green Card agreement countries. Where a physical international certificate (Green Card) is required for other countries, MAPFRE issues it free of charge within 5 business days upon request.
Travel/roadside assistance
Covered
Included in all modalities. Covers towing/transport after breakdown or accident and vehicle recovery/extraction (combined limit of 3 claims per vehicle per year), plus medical transport/repatriation and related services for insured persons, valid in Portugal, Europe and Mediterranean-bordering countries for the vehicle, and worldwide for persons (up to 60 consecutive days abroad).
Driver/policyholder personal accident
€5,000 – €50,000
Included in all modalities. Pays a capital of €5,000 to €50,000 (as contracted) for death or permanent disability of the driver/policyholder from a traffic accident, plus medical/hospital expenses (€500-€5,000), a daily hospitalisation allowance (€5-€50/day, up to 360 days), vehicle adaptation expenses (up to €2,500) and home adaptation expenses (up to €15,000) for disability ≥65%, and clothing/footwear damage (up to €1,000).
Occupants (excluding driver) personal accident
€10,000 – €50,000
Optional in all modalities. Pays a capital of €10,000 to €50,000 (as contracted) for death or permanent disability of vehicle occupants other than the driver, plus medical/hospital expenses (€1,000-€5,000) and clothing/footwear damage (up to €1,000).
Key conditions
Territorial scope
Compulsory MTPL cover applies in Portugal and in all countries whose national insurance bureaux adhere to the Green Card agreement (EU/EEA states, Switzerland, Andorra and others), and can extend to other Green Card system countries with a valid international certificate.
Green card rules
Coverage within Green Card agreement countries is automatic and requires no separate document; for policies paid in instalments shorter than a quarter, MAPFRE may only auto-issue provisional certificates, but the policyholder can request the full international Green Card certificate free of charge, issued within 5 business days.
Driver restrictions
Any driver who is legally licensed and authorised by the policyholder, owner or usufructuary may drive the insured vehicle under the mandatory cover. MAPFRE retains a right of recourse against unlicensed drivers, drivers over the legal alcohol/drug limits, or those who caused the accident intentionally, fled the scene, or committed theft/joyriding of the vehicle.
Claim notification deadline
The policyholder or insured must notify MAPFRE in writing of a claim within a maximum of 8 days from the date of the occurrence or from becoming aware of it.
Bonus-malus rules
Premiums follow a 32-level bonus/malus scale: claim-free years progressively reduce the premium down to a minimum of 43.68% of the tariff premium (RC Obrigatória) at level 1, while at-fault claims in a year move the policy up the scale, up to a maximum surcharge of 224.25% at level 32. Only claims that resulted in an indemnity payment, or an accepted reserve, count for this purpose.
Where to buy
Policy specifics
Third-party liability coverage (mandatory)
Mandatory coverage for bodily injury and material damage caused to third parties by accidents with the insured vehicle
SourceOptional own damage coverage
Optional coverage for damage to the insured vehicle, including collision, fire, theft, and catastrophic risks
SourcePersonal accident coverage
Optional coverage for personal accident protection of driver and occupants
SourceReplacement vehicle option
Vehicle rental coverage in case of total or partial loss, up to 30 days
SourceVehicle eligibility
Product available only for light vehicles, mixed-use vehicles, pickup trucks up to 3,500 kg
SourceClaims notification period
Policyholder must notify MAPFRE of claims within maximum 8 days of occurrence
SourcePremium payment terms
Annual payment or flexible fractional payment options (semi-annual, quarterly, monthly)
SourceDirect settlement to insured
MAPFRE offers direct settlement option (IDS) for claims payment directly to policyholder
Source