Nearly 19,000 cars will be stopped due to unpaid Civil Liability. This was announced by the Labor Guarantee Fund. "So far, about 19,000 car numbers have been sent by the fund to the Traffic Police to begin their official deregistration in connection with the implementation of the new Insurance Code," said Borislav Mihailov, executive director and chairman of the Guarantee Fund.
The owners of these cars will have 14 days to pay the Civil Liability before their car is officially deregistered, Mihailov added.
According to the fund, about 18% of motor vehicles in the country are without compulsory motor third party liability insurance.
According to the Insurance Code, every car registered in Bulgaria is obliged to take out Civil Liability Insurance. According to the old rules, however, the owner of the car, in order not to pay "Civil Liability", had to go to the traffic police and file an application to stop his car from registration. Now this will be done automatically by the traffic police.
The car owner must receive two notifications - first from the Guarantee Fund, then from the Traffic Police that he has no insurance and that he must renew it. If he fails to do so, automatic deregistration follows.
A distinction must be made between deregistration and the removal of registration plates. There will be no removal of the license plates, experts say.
When a person is informed that his car has been deregistered, he is not allowed to drive.
According to the National Revenue Agency, in 2015 only 2.2% of the fines imposed for driving without liability insurance were collected. The amount collected amounts to BGN 21,158. As of this year, the fine for driving without Civil Liability Insurance has been reduced from BGN 400 to BGN 250.