​Drivers who drive without an RCA, as well as those who do not immobilize their vehicle in a private space or drive while their insurance is suspended, risk fines of between 2,000 and 15,000 lei depending on the type of vehicle, according to changes to the RCA law. , passed by the Senate on Monday. Now these fines are from 1000 to 2000 lei.

On Monday, the Senate passed, as reported by the first chamber, new amendments to the RCA law that impose very high penalties if drivers are caught without an RCA or driving their cars while their auto insurance is suspended.

• SEE – RCA AMENDMENTS PASSED BY THE SENATE

Rules for RCA suspension: The car must be removed from the public domain

The policyholder will be able to submit a written request to the RCA insurer for voluntary suspension of the RCA contract concluded for a period of 6 or 12 months, only during the period provided for in the original RCA contract and specify the start and end date of the suspension.

The period of suspension shall be at least one month and may not exceed the period between the date of suspension and the date of termination of the RCA contract.

The insurer extends the period for which he accepted responsibility to the period for which the contract was suspended by issuing an additional act.

• During the entire period of suspension of the RCA contract, the insured is obliged to immobilize the vehicle in a private space outside the public domain.

Failure to fulfill this duty is punishable as a misdemeanor.

Penalties can be applied both to the owner of the car and to the owners authorized to drive this car, which must be specified when taking out RCA insurance.

Penalties for no RCA or failure to comply with insurance suspension rules

Drivers who drive a vehicle without an RCA or fail to immobilize their vehicle in a private space or drive their vehicle while the RCA insurance is suspended may be subject to the following fines:

• a) in the case of vehicles classified as passenger cars – 2,000 lei;
• b) for passenger vehicles, including trams – 7,000 lei;
• c) in the case of goods vehicles or with a different destination:
  (i) with a total permissible maximum weight less than or equal to 3.5 tons, – 5,000 lei;
  (ii) with a permissible maximum weight of more than 3.5 tons and less than or equal to 12 tons – 7,000 lei;
  (iii) the maximum permitted weight exceeds 12 tons – 15,000 lei;
• d) vehicles, other than those specified in letters a) – c) – 1,000 lei.

Fines may be applied:

• officers and police agents of the Romanian police;
• employees of the National Company of Motorways and National Roads from Romania (N/A CNAIR) which monitors the national road network in Romania with video camera systems that have the function of identifying and recording vehicle registration/registration numbers.

In addition, those driving without an RCA or with a vehicle whose insurance has been suspended can also be penalized by the withholding of the registration or registration certificate and the confiscation of plates with the registration or registration number by police officers and agents.

The bill passed by the Senate on Monday also includes other major changes to the RCA, such as revising the bonus-malus system, introducing a deductible or paying the insurance premium in monthly installments.

The bill is currently being discussed and adopted in an emergency manner in the Chamber of Deputies, which is the decision-making body.

• Read more: RCA changes in the Senate: victims will receive a maximum of 400 euros for independent repairs / Zamfir: We no longer want repairs behind the house and in the dark