Road accidents abroad or with a foreign vehicle

Injured abroad

A foreign driver in the EU was at fault

1. At the scene: take photos, note the registration number, the insurer and the policy number of the driver at fault. If local rules do not require the police, fill in a European accident statement — it is the same in every language and the fields have the same numbers. Ask the driver at fault to sign it.
2. Find the foreign insurer’s claims representative in the register of the Information Centre at the Bulgarian Guarantee Fund, section “In Bulgaria”.
3. Send a written claim to the representative with the documents and your bank account. Compensation is assessed under the law of the country where the accident happened.
4. If there is no reasoned reply within 3 months, if the insurer has no representative for Bulgaria, or if the insurer cannot be identified within 2 months of the accident — file the claim with the National Bureau of Bulgarian Motor Insurers (NBBMI) as the compensation body. It decides within 2 months.

Have comprehensive (Kasko) cover? Claiming under it is often faster — your insurer then recovers the amount from the party at fault.

Outside these countries (for example Turkey or North Macedonia), the claim is made in that country, to the insurer of the driver at fault.

Legal basis: Art. 503, 515 and 516 of the Insurance Code.

At fault abroad

You caused an accident abroad

1. Fill in a European accident statement, or wait for the police if local rules require it. Sign only what you understand — the fields are numbered the same in every language.
2. Give the other driver your motor insurance details; outside the EU, your Green Card too.
3. Notify your insurer in writing within 7 working days of becoming aware of the accident.
4. Do not admit liability beyond the statement and do not pay at the scene — the claim is settled by the insurer.

Legal basis: Art. 430 and 503 of the Insurance Code.

Accident in Bulgaria

A foreign vehicle hit you in Bulgaria

1. Note the registration number, the country, the insurer and the policy or Green Card number; photograph the documents. A joint accident report is possible under the same conditions as between Bulgarian vehicles, but with a foreign driver it is safer to call the police (112) — especially if there is a language barrier or a dispute.
2. Look up the foreign insurer’s correspondent for Bulgaria in the NBBMI list and make the claim to them.
3. If there is no correspondent, the vehicle is uninsured or the insurer cannot be identified — contact the NBBMI. For frontier insurance issued by a Bulgarian insurer — that insurer.
4. The correspondent or the bureau decides within 3 months. If they do not, refuse, or you disagree with the amount — compensation can be sought in court.

Legal basis: Art. 496 and 510–512 of the Insurance Code.

Kasko abroad

Comprehensive (Kasko) cover and assistance abroad

1. Call the assistance number on your policy straight away — for roadside help, repatriation and guidance on the documents to collect.
2. Check your policy terms for whether a police report is needed for an accident abroad — some insurers require it.
3. Notify the insurer within the deadline in the policy terms; after a theft — immediately, with a report from the local police.
4. Cover differs by country and risk — theft, for example, is not covered in some countries outside the EU.

Where to find the representative or correspondent

The lists are kept by the official bodies and change — check them on the day you make the claim.

• Foreign insurers’ representatives in BulgariaFor an accident abroad with an injured party from Bulgaria. Information Centre at the Guarantee Fund — section “In Bulgaria”. (opens in a new window)
• Bulgarian insurers’ representatives abroadIf you were at fault and the injured party asks whom to contact. Same register — section “In the European Union”. (opens in a new window)
• Correspondents of foreign insurersFor an accident in Bulgaria caused by a foreign vehicle. NBBMI list. (opens in a new window)
• Don’t know the insurer of the driver at fault?The Information Centre at the Guarantee Fund identifies the insurer from the registration number — on a written request with the accident report. (opens in a new window)

Questions and answers