We all know that car insurance is compulsory , but we do not always know well what the third party liability ( RCA ) covers : this is how it works.
RCA Motor liability: what it is
The RCA policy is a mandatory insurance contract to be stipulated directly with an insurance company and is used to circulate in accordance with the law: according to article 193 of the Highway Code , without RCA coverage you risk a penalty ranging from 841 to 3,366 euros, in addition to seizure of the vehicle.
But what does this compulsory insurance cover? First of all, it compensates for the damage that you will unintentionally cause to other motorists while using a car.
All third-party liability policies cover damages caused to third parties, up to the limit set by the contract, with different rates depending on the various insurance companies.
These “tariffs” are actually the so-called “Insurance premium”, ie the amount to be paid annually (then possibly divided into installments) to be in good standing.
RCA: what it covers
Compulsory car insurance also indemnifies parked or driverless vehicles, intervening to pay damages to third parties; once the “fault” has been established, the latter will then be compensated within the limits provided for in the policy ceiling.
The RCA policy therefore protects anyone driving your car, and not just yourself, but in this case, pay attention to the clauses on the “Free Drive”, and the exception of the case of theft reported to the public authorities.
As we have just said, you are never covered by TPL only, but you must have additional guarantees , such as that relating to driver accidents , always paying a separate premium, with the signing of an ad hoc contract: among these Optional policies also include those against theft, fire, atmospheric events or for crystals.
TPL: prices and ceilings
The Liability Auto is associated with every registered vehicle circulating on the road, be it a car, a motorcycle or a van, but each with different costs.
TPL is based on standard prices, on the Region, on the ceilings, but also on some characteristics of the car to be insured, such as age, model, equipment and its displacement: all variables that the insurer identifies in a few minutes through plaque and booklet, the main method to have a realistic and detailed quote.
Furthermore, the insurance premiums are based on your age and your risk certificate (if any).
Do not forget that the compensation through RCA occurs exclusively if the accident caused is accidental and involuntary; moreover, in cases where the extent of the damage is greater than the ceiling, you will have to integrate the amount necessary for total compensation.
To determine the ceilings, the legislative decree 06/11/07 n.198 is followed:
- damage to property– minimum ceiling of € 1,000,000.00 per claim, regardless of the number of victims
- personal injury– minimum ceiling of € 5,000,000.00 per claim, regardless of the number of victims
RCA: the tacit renewal
Until December 2012, TPL contracts could include tacit renewal: what does this mean?
It means that before this date the renewal of the insurance was automatic, and you had to worry about giving the possible cancellation (perhaps for having found better conditions) in the correct time.
Positive, one was always covered, negative, one was a little “bound”.
Contracts today no longer include tacit renewal (deadline) and you have to worry about making a request at each annual policy expiration.
Remember that very often this “deadline” does not apply to accident insurance, so you continue in the old way: always ask for detailed information when signing the contract.
TPL check
Thanks to the registration number it is possible to make a first check on compliance with RCA insurance obligations.
