This section defines compulsory road traffic insurance and provides
you with information about when you need to take out such traffic
insurance as well as what happens if your vehicle is uninsured.
What is ‘traffic insurance’?
Traffic insurance is compulsory insurance (sometimes called
'third party insurance') which provides compensation in the event
of certain kinds of road traffic accident. Some examples:
- Anyone injured in an accident involving an insured vehicle will
receive compensation for personal injury. This applies to both
drivers and passengers.
- This compensation may be reduced if the injured person has
knowingly helped bring about the injury through intent, gross
negligence or other negligence in conjunction with
drink-driving.
- As a basic rule, if a collision with another vehicle causes
property damage, this damage will be paid for by the traffic
insurance. If you have caused the accident, your insurance will
compensate the damage. If the person with whom you have collided is
responsible for the accident, this person's traffic insurance will
compensate the damage.
- If you collide with something other than a motor vehicle (for
example, a lamp post), the property damage is usually compensated
by your traffic insurance.
Please note that you will not receive compensation
for
- damage to your own vehicle,
- goods being transported if you have caused the damage
yourself.
All motor vehicles used on the road must be insured under the
Motor Traffic Damage Act (1975:1410). You can take out other
vehicle insurance (comprehensive or third party, fire and theft
insurance) if you so wish.
If the vehicle only has traffic insurance, you will not be
compensated for, for example, malicious damage, fire or theft.
Who should take out traffic insurance?
The registered owner of the vehicle must take out traffic
insurance.
When should you take out traffic insurance?
You should take out traffic insurance when you become the owner
of a motor vehicle. This insurance must be taken out from the day
on which the vehicle
is used on the road (licensed for use) or immediately if the
vehicle is already on the road. You do not have to take out traffic
insurance if an off
road notification has been made for the vehicle.
When can you give notice terminating your traffic insurance?
You can give notice terminating your insurance if you:
One precondition for terminating your insurance is that the
current vehicle details are registered with the Swedish Transport
Agency.
What happens if your vehicle is uninsured?
If you have not taken out traffic insurance, you will
automatically be reported to the Swedish Association of
Motor Insurers and will have to pay a charge. This charge is
considerably higher than the premium that you would pay for
ordinary traffic insurance.